Think deep, shallow, cover, no cover and everything in between!

This Fall has been a great year for Toronto pike and its surrounding areas. What I have learned over the years about big pike is that forage is the number one feature I would focus on when the water is relatively cool everywhere. Although Spring temps are cool like Fall temps, spawning areas play a huge role in where pike can be found in Spring but in Fall this no longer plays a role and the key is to focus on forage. When the water cools in the Fall, the pike can be found anywhere that food can be found. Many times this year my clients and I have caught big pike in water 2-8 feet and on the same day have caught them in 25-30 feet of water. I have also caught them suspended in nothing, on weed lines, structureless flats and on rock this time of year. The key thing in all the areas I have mentioned is that there has been lots of forage in every area. Perch, shad, suckers, bass, shiners, sunfish, bluegill, alewives, trout and other smaller pike have been the different types of food sources that I have personally recognized in the GTA. Calm days have been great because you can see bait break on the surface - this is how I have found and caught many suspended pike over the years. As a soon as see bait break I make a mental reference and drive with the trolling motor to the area. I then use the GPS to mark the spot as soon as I mark bait on the finder. As I drive over we are always casting to the area, many times we have caught fish as we are approaching the area. If it is rough out I look for birds diving as this also suggests forage is present.

In terms of bait selection, I have caught them on a wide variety of lures. The best advice I can give in this department is to change your baits often until you lock onto what they really want on that given day. Also think big - the one thing the baits I have been using have in common is that they are bigger than a lot of baits I may use in Spring. There definitely seems to be a preference for the big stuff this time of year but always keep an open mind.

This small pike has a big appetite and attacked a 6 3/4" Rapala MaxRap.

The hand full of baits that are an absolute must this time of year are big spinnerbaits, #5/#6 in line spinners, 5" - 10" jerkbaits, big jigs, gliding baits and big swim baits. In terms of specific baits there are a couple I really like that are new. The new Max Rap MXR 17 has been a killer - the baits casts a mile and has a injured role like no other. It has been a key bait when the fish have suspended up high or in water 4-10 feet. There is also a new in line spinner that is a must in every serious pike fisherman's box and that is the #6 Vibrax Bullet. The center piece is solid brass and the spinner weighs 25 grams! The bait casts a mile and is so versatile, you can fish it super slow and deep in water 25-30 feet, and the spinner spins great at even super slow speeds. I have caught numerous fish by casting it out and letting it sink to the bottom in 15-30 feet and then slow roll it back but I have also fished it shallow by keeping my rod tip up and have had great success.

But I have had days out there where key baits have produced one day and have completely shut down the next. The key for this years success has been looking for forage and rotating baits until you find the right one for that day, sometimes we catch them on every big bait we throw and then other times they lock in to one or two baits.

If you keep these few little things in mind I think it might help with your Fall success. Don't forget I am a guide so I would love to show you around. www.fishcity.tv

Also here is a Youtube video of a weird humpback Toronto pike caught this Fall:

Peace,

Taro