Pike Hunter Spinnerbait-Exclusive to MNO

[DDSBYDAY]

     This topic started out in the Bass forum but this is where it should be.  We are making some modifications on spinnerbaits designed for Pike instead of bass or muskie.  There does not seem to be tweeners on the market.  Either huge or small.  Well not anymore.  The Pike-Hunter spinnerbait is being developed here at MNO.  Our Grand Pooba Hunterdown has put in the specs and I am in the process of putting them together.  Many members of this site have contributed to it's design so if these end up working this will be the only place to get them.  It is an ongoing project just as our site is.  After many failures I think the Pikehunter is going to work.  Stay tuned for the end results.  I really think that these things will catch more than pike.  I will post pics at each step.  There are several steps to a spinnerbait and all can be lost right up to the last stage.  Here are some picks of the New born PIKE HUNTER.   The hooks will be red when the casting success increases.  Note the commercial spinnerbait in comparison.  The size for the demo's are 5/8 oz.  These will be double bladed. 

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[DDSBYDAY]

    Good news.  All four or the PIKE HUNTER spinnerbaits made it through the painting process.  They are now drowning  in d2t epoxy.   Please remember I started out with Hunterdowns idea and a plan.   If all goes well these will hit the wire bender and then the fun for me will begin.   They will be 5/8 oz. and double bladed.  My guess is they can be cast a mile and have a slow helicopter drop.  These are the prototypes and the final product will be field tested by Hunterdown.  I already know they will catch tree limbs so I may have to send one to BB.  Just to find out if they catch fish.

[DDSBYDAY]

     Phase 2 finished.  4 survivors still.   

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[HD]

Looking good so far! 

[Fawkinnae]

Would Hunterdown's signature appear on each spinnerbait?

[DDSBYDAY]

     Only if you can put it  there Fawk. I am done. Here it is.  I have no idea if this will work .  Hunterdown send me your address in a pm.   Let's see what happens.

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[DDSBYDAY]

     Hunter I will be sending 3 of these out for you to test.  I am going to try  one myself this weekend.   What I did find is that they get springy with the longer legs even with the .040 wire.  I used ball bearing swivels so the blade action should be good.  I have a feeling these will fall slow and run high but we will see.  Good luck and I hope the prototypes work out.  We can make modifications after the field tests.

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[DDSBYDAY]

    I have 1 other style that I am going to try.  I really like the look but I forgot to place the terminal bead.    I don't think it will affect the action. Ijust did not want to send it out.  This one has a little shorter blade arm.  It will be getting wet soon.      Hunterdown I think yours should be in your mail box Sat.  If not you will have them by Monday for sure.

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[redbull135]

  Good luck

[DDSBYDAY]

     I tossed the Pike Hunter shiner a little yesterday.   At 5/8 oz. they can be launched.  They also can run quite deep with a slow retrieve.  I did not have any hits but I plan on trying them on a bass-pike lake today.   I think I will increase the size of the lead blade to slow the drop(the one on the clevis).  I was thinking about a larger top blade also but I think we will have to see if bass will still hit it.  I was impressed with the action.  If they will work is yet to be determined.

[HD]

I'm going out in a couple hours to toss these around....
I'll give ya a report when I get back.

[HD]

I went out for a few hours....after a few adjustments and some fine tuning, I caught a couple of pike. I added a yellow twister tail on one of the ones I caught. On one of the spinner baits, I shortened the willow blade hoop to make it ride equal with the hook length and bent the jig head to run true with the blades. But, this stuff is normal when tuning a spinner bait. The overall size was about the size I throw for muskie, and pike will hit them as well.

So for a dry run.... I would give them a 

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[DDSBYDAY]

     Thanks for the report and pics Hunter.  I went out to a pike  and bass lake Monday in a puddle jumper boat.  I fished it hard.  Wind was blowing hard and boat control was a problem.  I did manage a 27.5 on the Pike Hunter shiner in the first 15 min.  I couldn't take a pic cause I had 6 rods in the boat and that thing would have tangled everything up.  Caught a few other small pike no bass and a cold.   The next set will have a little shorter blade arm.  I think I will go with a little bigger lead blade too.  Not much time left so this project may have to be continued next spring.  Thanks again for the input.    One question.  What about the weight?  At 5/8 oz. do you think they run too deep.  Bigger blades will slow the drop and retrieve speed but I don't know if it will be enough.   I am a walleye fisherman so targeting pike is new to me.  I usually catch them by accident.

[HD]

The weight is fine for pike fish'in.
I retrieve it a little faster for active pike. When they are less active, I bulk it up with a trailer and or, more skirt.

[DDSBYDAY]

     I'm looking for color preferences for next spring.  I am thinking about some red and whites with daredevil  blades and some orange/black color combinations.  Im also thinking about some tied feather skirts as well.  Everones input is welcome.

         In summary=  We are trying to design a go to spinnerbait for pike.  It will go by the name Pike Hunter compliments of our fearless leader.

                        So far we are going with a little larger wire form than your typical bass spinner bait.  We are going to stay with a little heavier head (around 5/8oz.).  Closed eye wireform.  Ballbearing swivel.

                       Questions for pike fishermen
 
                 Single or double blades?
                 Color favorites?                           
                  Rubber,silicone,feather skirt?
                 

[BiggA]

I have always liked orange and black with copper blades for pike. I like hair skirts like a bucktail.

[Brian]

My 2 cents
Blades-I would go with double willow blades. I think it give the bait a larger profile and more flash.  But than again these things go after anything, so even a bottle cap from a beer bottle might work.
Colors-I like black and orange combos, and all white.
Skirt-No matter what is chosen it will get messed up.  A replaceable skirt would be nice which would lead to rubber and silicone.  Sometimes the action of a feather skirt works better.  I guess in the end options,options,options.  So far they look great and are producing fish.  By the time spring comes along hopefully you have some good ideas to try on the lake.
Have you tried any inline spinners yet? 

[DDSBYDAY]

     Inlines are easy to make but for me not as fun to fish.  I will be working on the ice stuff now but for next spring I hope to have the ATI Pike Hunter Spinnerbait finished.  The failure rate on these is pretty high.  I will have some seconds to send out to our members in the spring.  I have some open eye ones that I have been playing with.  I like the perch version.  I started these too late in the year to get a true idea of the effectiveness. 

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[HD]

I think we should make the wire frames a little shorter than the ones you sent me. Around 3/4 to a inch shorter. Other than that, they trailed nice. I like the rubber skirts better, with the double blades...lots'a flash.

Black and red are good colors along with the white, yellow and perch. 

[DDSBYDAY]

     I agree.  The arms should be a little shorter.  They seemed a little too springy for my liking.  I am going to dabble with these this winter.  I really want to make a daredevil red and white one.  Blades, bead, and skirt all red and white.  Once we get the design down maybe I can take a loan out to see if BB would give one a try.  I know he doesn't come cheap.