We fish a lot of spinnerbaits here in Alabama so we plan to take plenty of them on our trip (Saganagons early June). Can y'all suggest some size and colors for the box. Already have some 3/4 oz. double willow blades and some single blades with white skirts. But I'm wanting to add more sizes and colors. Thanks in advance.
William

Quote" Can y'all suggest some size and colors for the box?"

I can't speak for all of us but any spinnerbait you are used to fishing with down south will probably work just fine :)

A 3/4oz double willow is a great start.

I will be bringing about 8 of these this year. I have had good luck with green with gold spinners and black with silver spinners.

I spent some time on Lake of the Woods last September fishing walleyes and northern pike. When it was time to fish pike, we used spinner baits almost exclusively. Because of our good luck, I'm planning to bring some to Q this summer.

I don't recall which size worked the best - I think it was 1/2 oz. - but the hammered copper Colorado blades seemed to be the hot color. That information, however, is probably useless as you try to figure out which size & color works best when you are there. Bring a good selection of blades and skirts and change them out as you need to.

Good luck!

Black sometimes not a color everyone uses. Not sure why. It's the first one in my box. And yea I figure anyone fom the south could school those of us in the north on spinnerbaits.

color......WHITE!!!!
1 oz.(cast a long way and have big hooks)
Brand:Terminator. You know how catfish spin?? Well, so do Pike...only they are REALLY AGGRESSIVE, and fight for a LONG TIME!!!!

I am from N.E. Okla. I know how bass, catfish fight. Well, the average Pike is BIGGER, and when you get the fish in the canoe it will try to bite YOU!!! Think about that when want to land one!!!!

Thanks a lot for the fast replies. We will try to get a good mix of colors and sizes without over packing.

Have had good luck with Mepps #4 and #5, and Mepps Musky Killers.

When I'm trying to travel light I just bring two bodies and a half dozen blades and skirts to play around with if necessary. A rubber core sinker can be pinched on to the hook shaft if you want to make it run deeper or really fast. White, black and chartreuse are good choices.

Great for targeting pike in reedy areas. Bass will obviously hit them pretty good too. I try to find spinnerbaits with the wire twisted at the line tie. That way I can throw them with a leader and not have the clip sliding up the wire and fouling the bait between casts.

I like a white bait in single or double Colorado blade. I've beat them up on white blades. Also done really well on gold Indiana blades.

Also, instead of bringing a ton of different baits, bring some extra blades...that's what I do. I'll switch them out when I'm tinkering around the fire at night.

quote TeamTuna06: "Great for targeting pike in reedy areas. Bass will obviously hit them pretty good too. I try to find spinnerbaits with the wire twisted at the line tie. That way I can throw them with a leader and not have the clip sliding up the wire and fouling the bait between casts.

I like a white bait in single or double Colorado blade. I've beat them up on white blades. Also done really well on gold Indiana blades.

Also, instead of bringing a ton of different baits, bring some extra blades...that's what I do. I'll switch them out when I'm tinkering around the fire at night."

If you have a favorite spinnerbait that doesn't have a twist at the tie, you can place a split ring over the tie "bend" before you snap your leader to the bait and it will stay in place.

quote vandolomeiu: "

quote TeamTuna06: "Great for targeting pike in reedy areas. Bass will obviously hit them pretty good too. I try to find spinnerbaits with the wire twisted at the line tie. That way I can throw them with a leader and not have the clip sliding up the wire and fouling the bait between casts.


I like a white bait in single or double Colorado blade. I've beat them up on white blades. Also done really well on gold Indiana blades.


Also, instead of bringing a ton of different baits, bring some extra blades...that's what I do. I'll switch them out when I'm tinkering around the fire at night."

If you have a favorite spinnerbait that doesn't have a twist at the tie, you can place a split ring over the tie "bend" before you snap your leader to the bait and it will stay in place. "

Good tip...that definitely works. I usually stop off at a little gas station/bait shop in N. WI on the way up and pick up a few new ones each year. They have a great selection and offer the twisted wire baits for fishing in waters with the toothy critters.

Have you caught many pike? They're impossible to not catch in the Canadian Shield. They're numerous and aggressive. Spinnerbaits are nice because, as others noted, they have a single hook. Unhooking a pike can be the most problematic part of catching them. I don't bring them into the boat because they will flop, hurting themselves and maybe you. I just leave them in the water, squeeze on the shaft of the spinnerbait's hook, aim the point of the hook at the water, and let the pike free itself. No slime and safe!

It's trickier with trebles, which is why I go barbless to make it less tricky. I suspect bassnut was joshing when he said they'll try to bite you. They won't. The danger is in their flipping in a tight canoe with a lure in their mouth, so, again, don't bring them in the boat. As far as colors, anything, but if you're taking a bigger one, bring a baitcaster. QueticoMike just noted they do grind the gears of a spinning reel with their resistance.

quote Wclark85: "We fish allot of spinnerbaits here in Alabama so we plan to take plenty of them on our trip (Saganagons early June). Can y'all suggest some size and colors for the box. Already have some 3/4 oz. double willow blades and some single blades with white skirts. But I'm wanting to add more sizes and colors. Thanks in advance.
William"

If you have a Black Spinnerbait with Gold Blades, a chartreuse spinnerbait with silver blades, and a White spinnerbait with silver blades, then you will be good to go. You can experiment with blades, I like tandem willows or willow indiana combos so I can burn them. If you get a chance and your fishing very clear water at night,throw a black spinner bait with a big thumping colorado blade and hold on, you can get giant smallies doing this if your on the right lake.

Well......they try to bite me anyway.....that'a the way I see it!!

quote bassnut: "Well......they try to bite me anyway.....that'a the way I see it!!"

LOL

I only take one color, size and style and I do just fine. I use a 3/8 oz. double willow blade with chartreuse spinners and chartreuse skirt made by BooYah. Bring 3 or 4 on each trip.

I was watching a fishing show and they were killin' the smallies on these lures so I had to buy a couple and take them to Quetico. Traveled about 30 miles paddling and portaging that first day, set camp and ate dinner and then rigged my rod with one of these spinnerbaits. My partner was whipped from traveling so far, I couldn't talk him into fishing with me so I left him on an island and headed out by myself. I paddle to the top of the lake that has current flowing out towards a river. I start at a point jutting off the shoreline. I make my first cast, crank it a few times and then snagged! I was sitting there thinking I paddled all of the way up here, tied on this new lure I am all excited about and on the first cast I am snagged. Then suddenly my snag started to move. Turns out I had a 3.5 lb smallie on the other end. Good way to start. Caught 11 more in less than an hour and then headed back to camp.

quote missmolly: "Have you caught many pike? They're impossible to not catch in the Canadian Shield. They're numerous and aggressive. Spinnerbaits are nice because, as others noted, they have a single hook. Unhooking a pike can be the most problematic part of catching them. I don't bring them into the boat because they will flop, hurting themselves and maybe you. I just leave them in the water, squeeze on the shaft of the spinnerbait's hook, aim the point of the hook at the water, and let the pike free itself. No slime and safe!


It's trickier with trebles, which is why I go barbless to make it less tricky. I suspect bassnut was joshing when he said they'll try to bite you. They won't. The danger is in their flipping in a tight canoe with a lure in their mouth, so, again, don't bring them in the boat. As far as colors, anything, but if you're taking a bigger one, bring a baitcaster. QueticoMike just noted they do grind the gears of a spinning reel with their resistance. "

No, we have never caught a pike before. We do a lot of salt water fishing and bass/ bluegill fishing. We are not trying to target any fish, just want to fish for what ever is biting.
Thanks for all the replies.
William

Another nice thing about a spinnerbait is that you really don't need a leader. I suppose a huge pike could inhale the whole thing but I think that is rare.

The down side of these lures is that if you are traveling light and just bring med or med light spinning rods a spinnerbait can literally be a DRAG. A baitcaster and a med-heavy rod is much better.

quote Arlo Pankook: "Another nice thing about a spinnerbait is that you really don't need a leader. I suppose a huge pike could inhale the whole thing but I think that is rare.


The down side of these lures is that if you are traveling light and just bring med or med light spinning rods a spinnerbait can literally be a DRAG. A baitcaster and a med-heavy rod is much better. "

The first bite I had this spring was a pike and I was using a spinnerbait. When the lure was coming to the surface about 5 feet away from me this big pike comes out of nowhere and inhales the lure right in front of me. It took a good run on the drag and I thought for sure the line was going to be cut off so I loosened the drag and it took another run and then somehow shook the lure. That was a couple of weeks ago. I finally caught my first pike of the year yesterday on a jointed perch rap J9. Not a third of the size ( in weight) of that first pike but it was still a pike maybe 2 feet long.

Last September I was casting from camp on LLC with a bigger spinnerbait and a med action baitcasting set-up. I knew this rod was too light for the spinnerbait as the rod was loaded up just from the drag of the lure. Needless to say, on the 3rd cast a Pike hammered that spinnerbait. My campmates heard that rod shatter from a 1/2 mile away. I did land that Pike (5#ish) and I traded that Shimano rod in for a new one when I got home.

Pike let you be lazy. Not only can you catch them at 1 a.m., they're easier to catch then. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. are the prime pike times.

quote bassnut: "Well......they try to bite me anyway.....that'a the way I see it!!"

I suspect you're salt and anise impregnated.

Try a little red in that white skirt and see how pike react. Also, Terminators, because those pike tear up the others.

Dark in clear water, white or chartreuse in stained or dirtier water. Same premise as fishing for anything. Gold on Cloudy days, silver on sunny days. Black at night...

That being said, when asked what to fish with in the Quetico, I always say "whatever you want the fish to bite." While some lures you fish will do better than others, almost everything you throw will catch fish. These fish see very little fishing pressure. Throw what you enjoy fishing and you will catch fish. We usually get tired of catching fish under the water and throw top water lures. Seeing a big pike hit a buzzbait is a lot of fun. In early June, the smallmouth are on bed and will hit pop-rs. You get two or three hits before one connects on casts sometimes. Those are just examples. Frogs, Zara Spooks, etc. will work too. Throw it and they will eat it...

I know this is a spinnerbait thread but if you want a wild ride throw a Jitterbug on top, seeing a Pike making a v through the water to come smash it is incredible.

Most of my smallie fishing is with spinnerbaits on the surface at dusk and dawn, mid-June to mid-August. I mostly use 1/4 oz chartruese with tandem willow blades and 3 inch chartreuse power grub. I go with the 1/4 oz so I can retrieve on the surface slower than if I used 3/8 or 1/2 oz spinnerbaits. Have tried other color combos but for whatever reason smallies in the Q seem to take the chartreuse more often. Also sang a few big pike as well, and then swear at them as I get them "unsnagged"....

quote missmolly: "

quote bassnut: "Well......they try to bite me anyway.....that'a the way I see it!!"

I suspect you're salt and anise impregnated. "

Funny!

quote Basspro69: "I know this is a spinnerbait thread but if you want a wild ride throw a Jitterbug on top, seeing a Pike making a v through the water to come smash it is incredible."

+++1 Jitterbugs are fun for almost anything but seeing that V is awesome. You can come close to it by bulging a spinnerbait but that bloop-bloop-bloop SMASH!!!! Good times.

Man...every time I read a new thread I have to make more room in the tackle box. LOL

quote bfurlow: "

quote Basspro69: "I know this is a spinnerbait thread but if you want a wild ride throw a Jitterbug on top, seeing a Pike making a v through the water to come smash it is incredible."

+++1 Jitterbugs are fun for almost anything but seeing that V is awesome. You can come close to it by bulging a spinnerbait but that bloop-bloop-bloop SMASH!!!! Good times.


Man...every time I read a new thread I have to make more room in the tackle box. LOL"

We already have a couple of jitterbugs in the tackle box :)

It's not funny!! Those Pike have gotten very close to some of my MOST important body parts!!! Instead of a Jiterrbug, 'ya might try a Scum Frog. It is a topwater-chugger thing...but less hooks.(if you really get in to Pike, that is a real problem!!

quote bassnut: "It's not funny!! Those Pike have gotten very close to some of my MOST important body parts!!! Instead of a Jiterrbug, 'ya might try a Scum Frog. It is a topwater-chugger thing...but less hooks.(if you really get in to Pike, that is a real problem!!"

I actually have a scum frog that I use in a friends pond with lots of lilly pads. But, I wasn't planning on taking it. Might have to rethink that.

It won't last long, teeth will rip it. Pike are kinda a weird duck.....sometimes they fight like crazy, sometimes they don't move until you just have 3 ft. of line out. less hooks the better! spinnerbait is a great choice!

Orange and black. Put one on on Basswood in the fall and had a pike jump out of the water to take it while two feet over the water with my pole resting on the thwart as I was putting stuff away and getting ready to cast. Kind of sold me. Caught a three pound walleye on it that same outing.

quote bassnut: "It won't last long, teeth will rip it. Pike are kinda a weird duck.....sometimes they fight like crazy, sometimes they don't move until you just have 3 ft. of line out. less hooks the better! spinnerbait is a great choice!"

When I fish with one guy, our running joke is to say, "Closer, closer, closer," whenever a pike is nearing the boat, imaging that the pike is saying that, trying to keep itself calm until it's close enough to go point black berserk.

I imagine it saying(in a Hannibal Lecter voice) "patience old boy"...

quote gutmon: "Orange and black. Put one on on Basswood in the fall and had a pike jump out of the water to take it while two feet over the water with my pole resting on the thwart as I was putting stuff away and getting ready to cast. Kind of sold me. Caught a three pound walleye on it that same outing."

Yes. A Mepps Black Fury in the orange and black color is a go-to lure for me.

quote gutmon: "Orange and black. Put one on on Basswood in the fall and had a pike jump out of the water to take it while two feet over the water with my pole resting on the thwart as I was putting stuff away and getting ready to cast. Kind of sold me. Caught a three pound walleye on it that same outing."

Orange and black is a favorite of ours on local lakes. I will try them in the BWCA.

I like heavy ones to get down deep. 3/4 to 1 ounce. Single willow.

yup, cast easier and they have bigger hooks

Another advantage with spinnerbaits is that they are great lures to start your kid with. With the protected hook, they are less likely to hook themselves, someone else, gear, or weeds.