Pike Spearing Questions???

[KDM]

Took up "Gator Giggin'" this past winter and discovered how much like bow hunting it is and had a blast doing it. So much so, that I bought a spear and built a spearing house. I have scoured the Youtube Encyclopedia and have a couple questions for the spear guys. First, is it better to use the brightest most outrageously colored decoys regardless of water clarity?? I noticed that most of the decoys used in the clips were loud and crazy. Second, one decoy or two?? Two seems to me to be a pain with the strings hanging down, but does it bring in more fish better than a single decoy?? Third, Does having a Mono leader tied to the decoy help finish the illusion or doesn't it matter?? Fourth, what makes the best "whitener" for the bottom?? I saw lots of interesting things used from potatoes and rocks to egg shells and white boards depending on the states regulations. I know these are just gators and not the most difficult fish to pull in, but if I'm going to do this, I'd like to make the most of it. Thanks Fellas!!!

 

[Lycanthrope]

corn is probably the best/cheapest bottom whitener I have found, 50lb bag will last you a while. Could use white beans also but they are considerably more expensive.

 

[KDM]

Never thought of corn. Thanks Lycan!!!

 

[Lungdeflator]

Decoys, how many you run, depends on the lake and fishes attitudes. I have found that a standard red/white decoy is the "go to" color for most lakes. Doesn't hurt to have other colors and combos along to try if it is slow.
I hardly ever run 2 decoys, if I do, it is because it is slow and I am trying things to get the pikes to perk up.
As far as string, usually only need 15-20 ft of it so it is hard to go spend 30$ on a spool of flouro just for that. Depends on water clarity too. Most of the time the string will not matter, clear or murky. I have ran braided tip up line, flouro, and spider wire braid without noticing a big difference. I like the spider wire braid, probably because it is the thinnest.
I'm not 100% sure on the regs for ND, but might want to read in depth on what you can dump into a lake. Or call your local warden and ask. There is a lot of things that will work. Egg shells work well, the corn works well, cut up potatoes work. Instead of putting something down hole, try just raising your decoy up a little bit.
I've spent a ton of time in a darkhouse, so any questions or anything feel free to ask or send a PM.

PS- If you want a spearing buddy in VC, just drive 50mph in town until you get pulled over. It will probably be my cousin, he likes to spear.

 

[Lycanthrope]

I guess in some states you are not allowed to 'leave' anything in the lake, which is silly as long as its organic/inert, but for those areas some people take a metal grate of some sort, chicken wire or whatever and paint it white and lower it down using rope/line/string so it can be retrieved when you leave. Something worth trying maybe but I havent bothered.

 

[TFX 186]

KDM
I use one decoy. Saves from getting tangled lines. I like to work my decoy fairly high in the water to attract them from a distance. My thinking is they can see it farther away if it's higher in the water. My go to decoy is about 6" long and bright orange. I have a bright red one also but I always go back to the orange. I think any bright color and fast action attracts them. It's fairly heavily weighted so it really drops and darts in the hole. I find that lots of fast darting action really attracts the sharks. Then when they come in for a look, I like to slow it down and lead them to the spear. I do use about a 15" leader tied to my line just because I don't want them to bite my decoy off and I think it helps to hide the line somewhat. I have used beans to lighten the bottom so you can see at low light conditions. I don't know about the rest of the guys, but I have noticed that if I get too much lightener down it seams to deter the fish a little bit. I try to spear without anything down, if possible. The first time I speared I was hooked. I actually would rather spear than ice fish most of the time. Just like you said, it reminded me of bow hunting, which I can usually never get enough of. Hope this helps!
I don't think there's any right or wrong way to spear.

Fish On!

 

[Duckslayer100]

Back in MN, grandpa used to always run a red-and-white decoy alongside a decoy sucker minnow. I know in ND suckers are a no-no, but I wouldn't doubt that a dead smelt threaded on a line and just laying on the bottom wouldn't work great. If you think about how many pike are on forage mode in the winter, they're more than willing to pick up a stinky, greasy dead bait off the bottom. If the decoy didn't bring them in, the oil slick from the smelt sure would. Or at least, it would keep them cued in a bit longer if they're hesitate to the decoy.

 

[tman]

Corn is the cheapest and best thing I have found to put down the hole to help see. And as far as decoys I usually only use one but I will also jig a live target to get some noise down there to help attract them. Careful you do it to much and its hard to go back to fishing out of an 8 or 10 inch hole.

 

[tikkalover]

Lycan, do you buy the corn by the pickup load, and does Shaniqua get mad when you use her food for fishing? ;:;boozer...............:;:stirthepot

 

[KDM]

Sorry tman. Already hooked!!!! It's so much like bow hunting deer I couldn't help myself. Do you take the trebles off the lure?? Thanks!!

 

[Big Iron]

Egg Shells or Potato shavings on the bottom to brighten things up. Congrats on catching the spearing itch!

 

[remm]

Sit in a dark blind, be very quiet and still, and dump a big pile of corn out. That is dam near like bow hunting.;:;rofl

 

[Wildyote]

I thought NDGF made a rule that we can no longer use corn, potato peels, beans, and ect???? I couldn't find it in regulations though.

 

[KDM]

I thought NDGF made a rule that we can no longer use corn, potato peels, beans, and ect???? I couldn't find it in regulations though.

I didn't see anything addressing that either, which is why I asked what was best. Please let me know if you find something. Thanks!!

 

[Opie11]

I just started spearing 3 years ago thanks to my father in law that had a lot of equipment and know how. One of those things that I always thought sounded fun and never got around to trying until then. I thought the same thing, that it was a lot more like hunting than fishing. I have used egg shells and yellow peas for bottom lightener. We have been spearing on Sakakawea and the first two years we had quite a bit of success. This last winter was very slow for us. Did anyone else that spears on Sakakawea notice that? We were in the same general area that we had done very well previously.

 

[Lungdeflator]

Yeah the past 2 years on Sak have been slow for me. Partly because our time spent has been cut in half. Even fishing with tip ups has been a struggle for us.
If I have more time next year I would like to try different spots instead of just throwing the permy out and leaving it.

 

[Lycanthrope]

I didn't see anything addressing that either, which is why I asked what was best. Please let me know if you find something. Thanks!!

If they make rules about tossing a couple cups of corn down a hole they better get on the farmers spilling grain along the roads when they are driving their trucks around, etc. You are allowed to feed animals above water but not under, stupid.