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**Doog_Si_Reeb** · 06-25-2009, 06:55 PM

I'm heading to Navajo lake with a few buddies this weekend to do some fishing. I've always wanted to catch a northern pike but have never even seen one. Any tips, tricks, techniques, baits, lures that anyone has had great success with?

The fishing report said Navajo lake fishing was good for pike so I'm getting my hopes up. I have a few different crankbaits and various lures. Any advice you have would be much appreciated!

**GreenwoodRover** · 06-25-2009, 06:58 PM

Don't know much about New Mexico.
Up in Wisconsin and Minn (where I mostly fish) I like Johnson's silver minnow (weedless) toosed at the weed lines. Sometimes a Rapala Husky jerk (#14 I think). That's about it.

However in NM I'm assuming it's been warm/hot for a while so some deep trolling might be necessary...

**marubozo** · 06-25-2009, 06:59 PM

I always go Crappie fishing with a black beetle spin with yellow stripes and a spinner. While we'd catch a lot of crappie, the stupid pike would always hit those as well. When you're fishing with ultralight gear the pike are just an annoyance. Never tried to fish for pike specifically, but it seems like whenever we were crappie fishing with those lures we'd haul in a number of small pike or broken lines on bigger ones.

**Doog_Si_Reeb** · 06-25-2009, 07:06 PM

We'll definitely be fishing for crappie as well. It's near the end of the good season for catching crappie in NM. With any luck I will inadvertently land a pike.

The water is definitely warming up. I heard that it was up to ~65 but I don't know how deep that measurement was taken. I'll give the trolling a try as well as try the weeds. I've seen Rapala at a couple stores but haven't seen Johnson's. I'll look for that Rapala tonight.

**Mike M** · 06-25-2009, 07:06 PM

Ask Larry. He knows how to catch some Northerns - bigguns too.

Larry Dahlberg's Hunt for Big Fish

**Doog_Si_Reeb** · 06-25-2009, 07:10 PM

That's a good link. Several people have already asked the same question. I'm reading through responses now...

**jkarp** · 06-25-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doog_Si_Reeb

I'm heading to Navajo lake with a few buddies this weekend to do some fishing. I've always wanted to catch a northern pike but have never even seen one. Any tips, tricks, techniques, baits, lures that anyone has had great success with?

The fishing report said Navajo lake fishing was good for pike so I'm getting my hopes up. I have a few different crankbaits and various lures. Any advice you have would be much appreciated!

Used to fish a lot of pike with my dad here in CO when I was a kid. We just trolled and they'd hit on anything shiny. Definitely use a steel leader - those buggers got sharp teeth!

**Doog_Si_Reeb** · 06-25-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkarp

Definitely use a steel leader - those buggers got sharp teeth!

I hadn't thought about that. I'll have to pick up a couple steel leaders. Also, is 12 lb line strong enough? Or should I use my reel with stronger line meant for snagging?

**Bernie Brewer** · 06-25-2009, 07:36 PM

My dad used to hook a chub on a big treble hook and cast it off the pier with a big bobber on it. Then he'd go off into the kitchen or whatever, have a beer or two and keep an eye out for that bobber. He'd catch some huge northern that way.

Casting with a red Daredevil is an old standby, too.

**GreenwoodRover** · 06-25-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doog_Si_Reeb

I've seen Rapala at a couple stores but haven't seen Johnson's.

It's basically a weedless spoon with a single hook positioned under the spoon.

Daredevele is also a good option.