In the middle of Sweden the temperature dropped well below zero already in October this year. It seemed like the pike fishing season on open water would close much earlier than normal. Usually autumn is the best time to chase big pike, as they generally get more active with dropping water temps. This year everything happened to fast, water temps dropped from +11 to below +6 in just over a week in many waters. I really wanted to get one last pike to close the season and time was running out.

Together with anglers Manuel Fyrestam (Illex) and Martin Wasberg (Gunki) I headed out for one last push! In this part of Sweden most lakes are deep, barren and rocky and most often hold lots of bait fish like smelt and whitefish. With the lack of shallow bays and grass we often find pike feeding on pelagic bait fish and the best strategy to find bigger individuals is often to dig deep. With long drifts over deep edges and reefs this style of fishing is not for the restless soul. 
 

Strategies

There is essentially three ways to present your bait; shallow, mid column or deep (bottom bouncing). You mainly fish on spots where pikes are either likely to stand (and wait for passing baitfish) or pass through. Active pike have no problem rising several meters to strike and therefor presenting your bait right under the surface can often be the key to success since it also covers a lot of area. I tend to use big baits that can be retrieved really slow for this type of fishing. Ideally 4D line thru trout (25 or 30 cm), 4D Pulse tail trout (25 cm) or 3D Burbot. Since these baits are tiering to cast when fishing several days in a row, I often alternate with a lighter jig such as the 25 cm Herring shad with a 5-15 g Cork Screw head.
 

Always have a couple of trouts and burbots ready!

When pikes are less active, fishing closer to the bottom can be a better strategy. When bottom bouncing, I really want to make my baits present them self’s as much as possible. On deep waters it´s also important to fish a bait that dives fast so that you maximise the time of presentation to the depth you want to fish. With its wider body profile (that pushes a lot of water) the Goby Shad is my go-to jig when fishing deep. I rig my Goby´s with a 20 g cork screw head or a Punch rig and place one rattle chamber in the tail and one extra in the body to make as much noise as possible. 
 

How did it go?

We had three cold and tough days on the water but eventually I got my goal fish. This 119 cm 10,9 kg pelagic pike unleased itself on my 30 cm 4D Line Thru trout fished slowly right beneath the surface over 12 m of water. I couldn’t have hoped for a better season ending!
 

Pelagic cruiser in prime condition.