Best Pike Lures by Type, From Spoons to Crankbaits

Our verdict

Top Picks for Pike Lures

This guide reads “top 5” as five lure types rather than five ranked lures: spoons, inline spinners, spinnerbaits and bladed jigs, minnow plugs, and crankbaits. Each type gets one or two picks, eight in all, in no ranked order. Every pick is a lure its maker, or a named fishing site, ties to northern pike, and each link opens the exact size, weight and colour described.

Related guide: Best Lures for Freshwater Fishing: All-Round Picks by Lure Type

Related guide: Best Lures for Brook Trout: 8 Picks Compared

Already read our northern pike lure roundup? This page uses none of its eight lures, so the two work as one bigger tackle box. Rods, reels and line for the rest of the setup are in the fishing gear section.

Price tiers: $ = entry level, $$ = higher priced, relative to the products in this guide.

Compare the picks

Compare the 8 Pike Lures

Each row is the single lure the link opens, with the source first in each cell.

How These Pike Lures Were Chosen

What each pick had to meet

• A maker, or a named fishing site, ties the lure to northern pike in its own words.
• The link opens that exact size, weight and colour, sold new and in stock on Amazon at the time of writing.
• Size, weight, running depth and hook as the maker lists them; “not published” where it gives none, and “not confirmed” where its size table did not load (Mepps).

Why five lure types and sources and how they are graded

Why five lure types

The five types are this guide’s grouping, not a source’s ranking. Westin’s Paul Garner lists five pike lures he would not be without: soft shadtails, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, hybrid lures and swim lures. This guide keeps his spinnerbaits and crankbaits, adds the inline spinners and spoons Mepps’s pike article recommends, and splits hard baits into minnow plugs and crankbaits; soft, hybrid and swim lures are left for another guide. For how each family works, see types of fishing lures.

Sources and how they are graded

Five picks rest on their makers’ words (Rapala, Mepps, BOOYAH), graded as maker sources, not independent tests. Three rest on Master Fishing Guide’s spring pike list, an Amazon-affiliate site that names the size and colour it uses; it does not sell the lures, and it says it fishes these lures; we have not verified that. A poster thread on r/Fishing_Gear adds owner views in the FAQ.

Detailed Reviews: Pike Lures in Five Types

Rapala Weedless Minnow Spoon RMS10, Weedless Spoon

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Rapala (maker blog): Weedless Minnow Spoon, size not stated.

Rapala’s product page says it is “Built with a heavy-duty single hook and a weed guard to be fished in areas of heavy vegetation” and lists the RMS10 at 10 cm and 32 g, slow sinking. Rapala’s blog writes, “For years, the Nordics have had a secret weapon for freshwater pike fishing – the Weedless Minnow Spoon.” The listing names the colour only as “FT”. Sold by Nordic_Art_Store and shipped by Amazon at the time of writing.

Specs: Rapala Weedless Minnow Spoon RMS10, 10 cm, 32 g, colour FT

• Length and weight: 10 cm, 32 g (Rapala)
• Hook: single weedless hook (Rapala)
• Price tier: $$ (live price in the table above)

Mepps Aglia #5, Plain Inline Spinner

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Mepps (maker’s pike article): Aglia #4 and #5.

In its pike article, Mepps writes that “Mepps Aglias in sizes #4 & #5, and Mepps Aglia Longs in size #4 are super pike catchers,” and calls the #5 “the hefty ½ oz. #5 Aglia” in another article. It adds that big Mepps spinners “require medium-heavy to heavy duty equipment” (what medium-heavy means). The listing gives its weight as 9.07 g, which disagrees with Mepps; we use Mepps’s figure. Sold by Hunting_Stuff at the time of writing; we could not confirm Mepps’s own price for the #5.

Specs: Mepps Aglia Plain Treble, #5 (1/2 oz), Hot Pink (B5 HP)

• Weight: 1/2 oz (Mepps)
• Hook: treble (listing); size not confirmed (Mepps’s size table did not load)
• Price tier: $$ (live price in the table above)

Mepps Dressed Aglia #4, Dressed Inline Spinner

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Mepps (maker’s pike article): Aglia #4 and #5, dressing not stated.

Mepps names the #4 alongside the #5 for pike, and its pike lure guide lists “Aglia & Dressed Aglia”. Mepps sells squirrel-tail dressed Aglias “only with a treble hook”. Frank’s Great Outdoors lists the dressed #4 at 1/3 oz; Mepps’s own size table did not load for us. Trade-off against pick 2: one size down, lighter, with a tail. Sold by Frank’s Great Outdoors at the time of writing.

Specs: Mepps Dressed Aglia, #4 (1/3 oz, retailer), Gold blade / Grey tail (B4ST G-G)

• Weight: 1/3 oz (Frank’s Great Outdoors, retailer)
• Hook: dressed treble (listing); size not confirmed (Mepps’s size table did not load)
• Price tier: $ (live price in the table above)

BOOYAH Pikee 1/2 oz, Pike Spinnerbait

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. BOOYAH (maker page): Pikee 1/2 oz (only size).

BOOYAH’s product page describes a “Vibra-Flx wire frame that can stand up to powerful jaws and mouths filled with teeth” and says “Each Pikee also comes with a 12” steel leader.” It lists one size: 1/2 oz with #3.5 and #4.5 willow blades. Westin’s Garner says spinnerbaits are “very snag resistant, thanks to the single hook being located behind the frame.” Sold by Amazon at the time of writing, above BOOYAH’s list price.

Specs: BOOYAH Pikee, 1/2 oz, Midnight (BYPK12708)

• Weight and blades: 1/2 oz, #3.5 and #4.5 willow (BOOYAH)
• Leader: 12 in steel, included (BOOYAH)
• Price tier: $$ (live price in the table above)

Z-Man Original ChatterBait 1/2 oz, Bladed Jig

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Master Fishing Guide, Best Spring Pike Lures: Original ChatterBait 1/2 oz, Shad/Blue Glimmer.

Master Fishing Guide writes, “We strongly prefer the 1/2 oz size,” and “Shad / Blue Glimmer is our top choice in stained water and wind.” Its writers say the bait “dominates wind-blown banks, muddy water, warming flats, and shallow vegetation edges”, and add that “Color matters — but with this bait, vibration always comes first.” Trade-off against pick 4: no leader in the pack, and a 5/0 hook per the listing. Sold by Tackle World at the time of writing; the Amazon seller has changed between our checks.

Specs: Z-Man Original ChatterBait, 1/2 oz, Shad/Blue Glimmer (CB12-14)

• Weight: 1/2 oz (Z-Man)
• Hook: 5/0 (listing)
• Price tier: $ (live price in the table above)

Rapala Original Floater F11, Floating Minnow

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Master Fishing Guide, Best Spring Pike Lures: Original Floater F11.

Master Fishing Guide writes, “We recommend the F11 size,” and calls the Floater “made for warming bays, reed flats, skinny backwaters, and dark-bottom shallows.” Rapala’s table gives the F11’s size, depth and hooks (below); Rapala’s page names no species. Sold by Amazon at the time of writing.

Specs: Rapala Original Floater F11, 4-3/8 in, 3/16 oz, Silver

• Running depth: 4 to 6 ft (Rapala)
• Hooks: three No. 6 (Rapala)
• Price tier: $ (live price in the table above)

Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnow 4 in, Suspending Jerkbait

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Master Fishing Guide, Best Spring Pike Lures: 3DS Minnow 4 in, Holographic Ayu.

Master Fishing Guide writes, “We stick to the 4″ size for spring,” and “Our top producer is Holographic Ayu.” Yo-Zuri’s product page lists it as suspending, with “Black nickel round bend hooks”. Yo-Zuri’s page names no species. Trade-off against pick 6: it suspends on the pause where the F11 floats up. For jerkbait cadence, see our jerkbaits for bass guide. Sold by Amazon at the time of writing.

Specs: Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnow (SP) 4 in, 9/16 oz, Holographic Ayu (F1157 HHAY)

• Running depth: 4 to 6 ft (Yo-Zuri)
• Hooks: round bend, size not published (Yo-Zuri)
• Price tier: $ (live price in the table above)

Rapala Super Shad Rap 14, Big Crankbait

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Rapala (maker page): Super Shad Rap, all sizes.

Rapala’s product page says the balsa Super Shad Rap “is rigged with heavy-duty hardware and hooks”. Westin’s Garner writes that “For pike lures in the 5-6 inch range are best,” which the SSR14’s 5-1/2 in falls in. Trade-off against the minnows: heavier and deeper, with more lure to cast. Sold by Amazon at the time of writing.

Specs: Rapala Super Shad Rap 14, 5-1/2 in, 1-5/8 oz, Firetiger (SSR14 FT)

• Running depth: 5 to 9 ft (Rapala)
• Hooks: two No. 3/0 (Rapala)
• Price tier: $$ (live price in the table above)

Matching the Lure Type to Pike Water

Weeds and shallow bays

Mepps writes that pike “haunt the shallow bays and weed beds of northern lakes throughout the year.” In thick weeds, the weed-guarded Rapala spoon (pick 1) or a spinnerbait such as the Pikee (pick 4) fits Garner’s point that spinnerbaits are “very snag resistant”; Master Fishing Guide says it works the ChatterBait (pick 5) along “shallow vegetation edges”. Over the top of weeds, Garner suggests shallow crankbaits, and Master Fishing Guide uses the F11 (pick 6) on reed flats.

Deeper water and cold water

Mepps notes that “Big pike, however, go deep,” sometimes “in water 15 feet deep or deeper.” Mepps’s own deep spoon for that is the 1 oz #3 Syclops, which it says “drops deep quickly.” Rapala lists the Super Shad Rap (pick 8) at 5 to 9 ft.

Leaders: what each source says

• Mepps: “You’ll need a stiff rod, 14 to 17 pound test line, and 9 to 12 inch steel leaders” for big Mepps spinners.
• BOOYAH: each Pikee “comes with a 12” steel leader”.
• Master Fishing Guide: it pairs the F11 “with a strong leader” and the 3DS Minnow “with a quality leader”, without naming a material.

For the knot at the snap, see how to tie on a fishing lure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pike Lures

No source we read ranks five lures. Read as five types: spoons (pick 1), inline spinners (2 and 3), spinnerbaits and bladed jigs (4 and 5), minnow plugs (6 and 7) and crankbaits (8).

A poster on r/Fishing_Gear lists spoons, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, bucktail spinners, topwater and inline spinners, adding, “Don’t forget to use a decent leader.” Another wrote, “In line spinners have given me the most success.”

In its Aglia article, Mepps advises lure colours “that will contrast with the water color and background.” Master Fishing Guide picks Holographic Ayu for clear water and Shad/Blue Glimmer for stained water.

Mepps calls for “9 to 12 inch steel leaders” with big spinners, and BOOYAH packs a 12-inch steel leader with the Pikee. A poster on r/Fishing_Gear put it as “wire leader,regardless of lure choice. pike got teeth.”

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For spoons, the Rapala Weedless Minnow Spoon RMS10 (check price), built for weeds. For inline spinners, the Mepps Aglia #5 (check price) or the dressed Mepps Dressed Aglia #4 (check price). For blades, the BOOYAH Pikee 1/2 oz (check price) with its own leader or the Z-Man Original ChatterBait 1/2 oz (check price) for wind and stain. For plugs, the Rapala Original Floater F11 (check price) in shallow bays, the Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnow 4 in (check price) in clear water, and the Rapala Super Shad Rap 14 (check price) deeper down. Pair them with the lures in our northern pike lure roundup.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.