11-25-2013, 02:40 PM
In a very long quest to figure out how to constantly take pike at Yuba, I have tried many, many lures and techniques. I have become very obsessive and have yet to find any one technique or lure that will work every time.
I keep 8 or 10 rigged rods on my boat depending on what I am planning on trying that day. One is always the 7' ultralight seen in the picture. The small box of light lures are for use with that rod.
Occasionally, the small lures are effective and always a pleasure to cast in contrast to when I am throwing big heavy lures.
I don't profess to be an expert pike fisherman, but through the years I have put in my time and occasionally all that experience and experimentation pays off. I believe that through the years at Yuba we have put well over 100 pike over 10 pounds in the boat. Several have been over 20 pounds, but not much over 20. It is that 30 pound mark that obsesses us as we know that there are giant females in Yuba that will approach that weight. I have seen them on occasion and we have lost two at the net that I estimated at 48".
The lures that have been most productive over the years have been Rapala's, Yo-Zuri's and Luck E strike Rick Clunns and Lucky crafts. For a couple of years rattle traps were the go to lure. Big buck tail spinners were also productive for awhile. This fall the Luck E Strike Rick Clunns suspending hardbaits and the Yo_Zuris floating lures from 4" to 6" have been good and we have caught a few fish with Big Hammer swim baits. If I had to choose only one bait it would probably be a suspending Rapala flat rap in perch color.
That is way more information than you asked for, but fishing is my passion and pike in particular since I have left Lake Powell. I hope to see you on the water to compare notes. The weather looks decent so I hope to get another trip or two in before December. Who knows...We might catch that 30 pounder. Steve
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I keep 8 or 10 rigged rods on my boat depending on what I am planning on trying that day. One is always the 7' ultralight seen in the picture. The small box of light lures are for use with that rod.
Occasionally, the small lures are effective and always a pleasure to cast in contrast to when I am throwing big heavy lures.
I don't profess to be an expert pike fisherman, but through the years I have put in my time and occasionally all that experience and experimentation pays off. I believe that through the years at Yuba we have put well over 100 pike over 10 pounds in the boat. Several have been over 20 pounds, but not much over 20. It is that 30 pound mark that obsesses us as we know that there are giant females in Yuba that will approach that weight. I have seen them on occasion and we have lost two at the net that I estimated at 48".
The lures that have been most productive over the years have been Rapala's, Yo-Zuri's and Luck E strike Rick Clunns and Lucky crafts. For a couple of years rattle traps were the go to lure. Big buck tail spinners were also productive for awhile. This fall the Luck E Strike Rick Clunns suspending hardbaits and the Yo_Zuris floating lures from 4" to 6" have been good and we have caught a few fish with Big Hammer swim baits. If I had to choose only one bait it would probably be a suspending Rapala flat rap in perch color.
That is way more information than you asked for, but fishing is my passion and pike in particular since I have left Lake Powell. I hope to see you on the water to compare notes. The weather looks decent so I hope to get another trip or two in before December. Who knows...We might catch that 30 pounder. Steve
[signature]