Northern Pike Tackle Report: Lower Foster Lake, SK | Linn Creek Outdoors

Lower Foster Lake, Saskatchewan

Northern pike gave us some of the most exciting fishing of our week at Lower Foster Lake. Two classic baits stood out:

• Heddon Super Spook

• Len Thompson 5 of Diamonds, 3/4 oz

They produced fish in very different ways. The Super Spook created explosive topwater strikes over shallow weeds, while the 5 of Diamonds allowed us to cover water quickly and consistently put pike in the boat.

Heddon Super Spook: Topwater Over Shallow Weeds

We fished the Super Spook over shallow weed beds where pike could ambush bait from below.

The key was a steady twitch-and-retrieve that kept the bait walking across the surface. We did not need long pauses. Keeping the lure moving produced follows, violent strikes and several pike launching completely out of the water.

More than once, we watched a fish follow the bait before exploding on it close to the boat.

Elliott landed a beautiful 34-inch northern pike on the Super Spook. Watching a pike of that size attack a topwater bait was one of the highlights of the trip.

The Super Spook worked best when:

• Pike were holding over shallow weeds

• The water was calm enough to work the bait cleanly

• Fish were willing to chase an active surface presentation

Topwater fishing will not always produce the most fish, but it is hard to beat when the pike are willing to come up.

Len Thompson 5 of Diamonds: Covering Water

The 3/4-ounce Len Thompson 5 of Diamonds gave us a completely different presentation.

Its casting distance and steady action made it an effective search bait. We could cover water quickly, work the edges of weed beds and locate active fish without spending too much time in one spot.

The 3/4-ounce size was heavy enough to cast well and fish efficiently, while still being manageable around the shallower areas where we found pike.

A steady retrieve was usually all it took. The spoon’s wobble and flash did the work.

The 5 of Diamonds was most useful when:

• We wanted to cover a larger area

• Wind made topwater fishing more difficult

• Fish were not committing to the Super Spook

• We needed a reliable subsurface presentation

It was not a complicated technique. Cast, retrieve and keep moving until we found active fish.

Two Baits, Two Different Jobs

These two baits did not compete for the same role.

The Super Spook was our shallow-water excitement bait. It allowed us to fish over weeds and watch every follow and strike unfold on the surface.

The 5 of Diamonds was our search bait. It covered water efficiently and consistently caught fish.

That is an important distinction when packing for a remote Canadian fishing trip. You do not need dozens of lures that all do the same thing. You need a smaller group of proven baits that give you different ways to reach and trigger fish.

At Lower Foster Lake, the combination was simple:

• Super Spook: shallow weeds and aggressive topwater fish

• 5 of Diamonds: covering water with a dependable subsurface presentation

Two classic baits. Two very different presentations. Both earned their place in our tackle box.

— Randal
Linn Creek Outdoors
Gear You Trust When It Matters.