Had a great trip... but I have a question

[Polar Bear]

Just got home from a couple days of very good perch fishing. Spent yesterday in one of Nodak's rentals with a hot bite going on. The action started at 8:40 AM in 22 feet of water and was fast and furious till almost 10:20. We started keeping all fish over 8 inches but soon realized we could bump the lower limit up to 8.5 inches. After a mid-day lull they started up again at 1:30 and by 3 pm the 4 of us had our limit of 80 nice perch from 8.5 to just over 12 inches with most of the bucketful close to 10 inches in length. We released almost as many as we kept.

It was one of those days where you could only handle 1 rod. They slammed my gold rattling buckshot lure tipped with a minnow head. They also liked any small green jig and whole minnow. The Gem-n-eye spoon worked very well.

Only problem was, whenever the northerns moved in the perch cleared out. We used 2 cameras and a dozen different presentations but could not make the pike bite. I tried everything I knew of including ciscos, shiners, fatheads and every jigging lure in my box but the pike would only sniff the bait and hang back.

So... my question is: How the heck can you make those pesky pike bite when they aren't in the mood?

[BuckSutherland]

[Please Read Forum Policy Before Posting Again, Thank You]

[blue_healer_guy]

I have the answer, kitchen sink. Or just bring Kooney with you.)

[Polar Bear]

Hey BHG...I think the sink knows more about fishing than Kooney!

[leech~~]

A wax worm on a small Swedish pimple seems to work for me. I'm not trying to fish for them but when fishing Perch with that setup that's when I seem to always get them?

[SAC]

Polar Bear,

When I'm jigging for Perch with a Buckshot and a head I'll have a set line with a full fatty next to me. When those Norbies come in they seem to take the Buckshot/Minnow Head presentation 4 out of 5 times. I was up there last weekend too. I go out of Denny's. Didn't do quite as well as you on the perch... only 1 over 12 inches and a handful 8-10, but I got two 4 pound pike on a minnow head with the orange and white buckshot. The Walleye were biting on the set line/full minnow rig. My advice would be to leave that minnow head dangling down there and hold on tight!

[Wanderer]

If you want to cut down on the risk of losing that Buckshot spoon to the toothies, tie one up on a rod with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. It's not invincible but will help.