Pike Fishing in Sodus Bay
Pike can be caught from fall to spring on open water. A very effective method for catching pike is trolling big spoons (Doctor Spoons, evil eyes, red devils) as well as stick baits along weed-lines near drop offs. You can also anchor and cast big spoons, spinners and stickbaits along the same areas, near weedlines and drop offs. Mostly we catch pike in 8-15 FOW. I do NOT use steel leaders- rarely have I ever been bitten off by a pike! I think that steel leaders greatly detract from the lure action, and aren’t worth the trouble.
When the ice forms, pike can be taken in 6-20 FOW with tip ups ad big shiners. From shaker heights to thorton point along the south shore are great areas. Most of the time, I will set up a line of tip ups, then sit and jig towards the deep side of the set for perch. When the perch stop biting all of the sudden, I know that a predator (pike or walleye) must be near. Also, I have accidentally caught a pike on my jigging rod, both on a jig itself and a small perch that hit my jig just before he got eaten!