Walleye/Pike Jig and Rod

Five of Diamonds are Staple Diet for Pike

The Walleye will take a typical jig, I prefer a 3/8 oz yellow or white head and tail, or throw on the “go to” five of diamonds and hook them up on that as well, but expect the Pike to smack it as well or even the odd trout. Walleye are typically in the two to three pound range but don’t be surprised if you happen to hook a couple in the six to eight pound range.

The Northern’s seem to hit almost anything. They typically run in the five to eight pound range with the larger Pike in the twenty plus pound range hanging out in the mix. I like to us a six foot rod, Shimano spinning reel, 30lb Stealth Spider Wire as a main line with no leader, I prefer it for presentation. Five of Diamonds are a staple diet for the Pike with Rapala’s and Storm baits working very well, but at around $10 to $15 a pop, Rapala’s take a pretty good beating after a few fish and are sometimes retired.

For some fun, grab a 6wt. fly rod and toss a line. I’ll take a 4 piece (it fit’s in our Cessna 185 much easier) St. Croix rod and prefer to use a reel with a cartridge system for quick line changes. I use a BFR reel with Cortland’s 444 dry lines, and leader loops as I like to change up leaders of different lengths. Casting poppers into the weeds is always intense as you wait for the water to explode, but I enjoy casting a dark coloured leech patterns and stripping it in letting the Pike chase. One huge disadvantage of catching those monster Pike on the fly is that one to one ratio on your reel and all that backing you have to haul back in when the Pike takes that big run.