Ice fishing for pike.
First of all, safety first. Up here in Norway, ice sometimes comes late, due to most probably global warming, so some people say. But it’s usually enough with couple of weeks with -5C at least, so a layer of 4-5cm of ice will freeze on the lakes. 4-5cm is usually enough too hold a grown man like me (140kg with all the equipment). Always take a stick with you, usually 1,5-2m long so you can have something too hold on too in case you break thru. And if you do break thru always have a plan, sometimes a change of dry clothes is enough too keep you warm. I never go out on the ice alone, have a travel buddy with you. Murphy is always out there! Even in Norway.
Always dress warm, sitting on the ice can be very cold experience. Good warm shoes are a must.
Bring a backpack with a folding stool. About fishing equipment, I usually use homemade stuff, it’s cheaper to make and repair. First of all too get a good size pike, you will need to catch a fair amount of small perch everything from 50-100g is good enough. I use perch as bait for pike.
Now: for perch I use following technique. Lower jig all the way till you hit ground, raise it approximately 10-20 cm, and start to move it up and down for 10-15 sec, than stop and wait for 20 sec and start moving it again, perch will usually hit it one you start moving it. I use jigs with 3way small hooks size ultra small (size 12-14). Line size 0.10 mm max.
Here is pictures of most used equipment:
Than it comes to pike, it is easy. I make equipment my self, but you can use almost anything.
The only things I recommend are: Line size 0,40mm to 0,60mm, Triple hooks size 4, and a small weight. Attach one end of the line to a stick or rod, and hook a fresh perch using 2 hooks, so the last hook is bent outward. Lower it down the water till ground, and lift it up approximately 1-1,5 meters. All you have to do now is wait, i usually set out 6-8 devices, approximately 15-20 meters out, and go home. Pike will hook itself on the third hook, so all you have to do is actually just pull it up. Remember, most people say that northern pike is lone predator, but my experience says otherwise. I usually get 2-3 pikes of good size (6-8kg) from the same hole within 40min from the first bite.
Happy fishing.
