Pike bait?

[tweedwolfscream]

So I'm planning to fish for pike next weekend (zone 20 opener) at a spot where live minnows are illegal. My plan is basically to cast a red and white weedless spoon from shore into shallow areas where they were probably just spawning, though I could use jerkbaits too. What should I tip the hooks with though? I've heard worms aren't much good on pike, should I go with dead minnows? artificial/scented ones? It's probably too soon to salt minnows properly but I could just throw some salt on fresh dead ones for flavour?

[OldTimer]

(04-29-2013 12:48 PM)tweedwolfscream Wrote:  So I'm planning to fish for pike next weekend (zone 20 opener) at a spot where live minnows are illegal. My plan is basically to cast a red and white weedless spoon from shore into shallow areas where they were probably just spawning, though I could use jerkbaits too. What should I tip the hooks with though? I've heard worms aren't much good on pike, should I go with dead minnows? artificial/scented ones? It's probably too soon to salt minnows properly but I could just throw some salt on fresh dead ones for flavour?

I see no such restriction against live bait in Zone 20 ---????????


  mnr_e001339 - Zone 20.pdf (Size: 1.09 MB / Downloads: 8)

OT

[tweedwolfscream]

No, I'm going to Tommy Thompson Park which is a TRCA property, TRCA has a live bait ban. Just mentioning zone 20 so it doesn't look like I'm fishing before opening day

Actually I should check into whether dead minnows are even okay, it's a bit ambiguous on the TTP website.

[OldTimer]

I'm sure one of the local TO anglers will avise on the TRCA rules........... and perhaps laso suggest tried and true succeessful lures used there.

But in the mean time your lure selection looks appropriate............ me : I'd tip the weedles spoon with a short white plastic twister tail.

OT

[MuskieBait]

Not really necessary to tip the lures with bait. Sometimes tipping a lure with bait will throw the action off on the lure, especially lures like crankbaits and jerkbaits.

Spoons and spinners are a bit more forgiving in terms of tipping them with bait, but if you use too large a minnow, it can again throw the action off the lures.

The water is still cold. I would suggest fishing a deadbait under a float or slowly working soft plastic jerk shads or suspending crankbaits. Focus on shallow areas where water warms up faster...dark bottom is better than light bottom. Areas with immediate access to deeper water is good since fish can slide up onto shallow areas to sun and feed, then slide back to rest in the deeper water.

[tweedwolfscream]

Thanks. Maybe I'll cast without bait or try MuskieBait's techniques. I've emailed the TRCA for clarity about deadbait so hopefully I can get a straight answer.

[MikeH]

(04-29-2013 04:00 PM)tweedwolfscream Wrote:  Thanks. Maybe I'll cast without bait or try MuskieBait's techniques. I've emailed the TRCA for clarity about deadbait so hopefully I can get a straight answer.

http://fishontoronto.com/tommy-thompson-park/

TTP is zone 16 (2013 Pike opener is May 11th), Commercial deadbait that is labelled as VHS free is not a problem.

[tweedwolfscream]

(04-29-2013 07:51 PM)MikeH Wrote:  http://fishontoronto.com/tommy-thompson-park/

TTP is zone 16 (2013 Pike opener is May 11th), Commercial deadbait that is labelled as VHS free is not a problem.

I really think the thing about zone 16 on that page is a mistake, or rather it's technically correct but misleading... take a look at the legal zone 16/20 boundary map for the Toronto Harbour: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/...241378.pdf (see Detail 10). It shows that the boundary follows along the shoreline of Lake Ontario, including along all the lagoons of Leslie Spit. So while it's true that the land of Tommy Thompson Park is in FMZ 16, the waters I'd be casting into are FMZ 20.

And I had assumed that regs go according to the water you're fishing, not the land you're standing on, or else shore fishers could never take advantage of extended season rivers. But if that's not clear, I'll contact the MNR to be sure.

[MikeH]

I just emailed Wil Wegman to get clarification. I had been told by a CO in the park back in 2011 that it was zone 16.

[tweedwolfscream]

Thanks - I agree that the park itself is zone 16, but that would only really apply to landlocked ponds within it (and I only know one of those). The lagoons and embayments connected to Lake Ontario should be zone 20 per the boundary map.

I just got a response from TRCA on the deadbait question - "Thanks for your email. We have no big concerns with using dead bait. I hope you enjoy fishing at the park."

I'm not gonna bother asking what "big concerns" means haha