When YouTuber Matt Nelson found a spinnerbait snagged on a branch he launched a successful salvage mission then took the lure out for a shot at some pike.
“Free spinner bait. Score! River treasure,” said Nelson as he cut the lure free from his fishing kayak. Before long, Nelson took the lure for a spin in hopes of landing some pike.
Pike love rescued spinnerbait
What followed was a wild day of pike action, with the pike smashing Nelson’s rescued lure and splashing him as they swam off upon release. As Nelson pulled out pike after spunky pike, the video clearly shows each pike’s approach to the lure and dramatic strike.
Pike are ambush predators, making them especially fun to watch as they slowly approach, staying as hidden as possible before their attack.
“I am just so entertained by these pike,” commented Nelson in the video as he pulled out fish after fish.
Nelson’s wildest catch comes from minute 13 of the video, when a missile-like pike attacks the lure, launching through the air after the bite.
“Man, look at that fish,” said Nelson, displaying the catch for the camera. “A beauty of a pike right there. Well that was awesome. Followed that spinnerbait back, ate it right next to the kayak.”
Pro tips for fishing for pike
According to expert pike fisherman Finn Sloth, a team angler with Hobie Fishing Europe, pike prefer a slow retrieve on a curly-tailed soft bait when the water is cold and as the water warms hang out in shallow, weedy bays near deep water. Sloth also shared that the largest pike prefer to follow a lure for a while before striking, so trolling is a great option to give the fish time to follow before hitting the bait.
Meanwhile, angler Mike Zilkowsky emphasized that a durable leader is also key, as the teeth of pike are known for easily cutting through fishing line.
