Rare Underwater Footage: Why a Pike Will Hit Dead Bait
I get a small electric thrill with watching a Northern Pike explode from the deep water — and I get even more when the video footage shows it attacking what looks like a, dead bait. At first glance, a dead fish shouldn’t be interesting. But underwater behavior is different and more nuanced than that: scent, silhouette, and timing all combine to turn something still into tasty prey.
Using underwater cameras brings in the excitement on how pike hunt. They don’t simply crash in blindly; more often they stalk, circle, and test the bait. A pike may approach from an angle it hides in the shadow, pause to checkout the bait, then commit. That brief hesitation — a predator risking it all for the reward — is exactly what anglers see in slow-motion footage. It’s a reminder that predation is equal in parts patience and power.
For anglers, the takeaways are practical. First, don’t dismiss dead bait. Even when it isn’t thrashing, it gives off scent and offers a convincing profile in the water. A fresh, well-prepared deadbait still smells alive and can draw attention from a hungry pike, especially in low visibility or colder water when fish rely more on smell than sight.Best dead minnows I use are suckers and creek chub.
Second, presentation matters. Let the bait sit naturally where pike like to ambush — along weed edges, beside submerged logs, or on drop-offs. A small amount of current or a tiny twitch from the current can be enough to mimic a weakened prey item. Resist the urge to overwork the bait; sometimes stillness is the most realistic and effective action. I sometimes like to put the dead bait under a bobber. I get good results with that as I do with the bait sitting on the bottom.
Third, read the bite. Deadbait strikes can feel softer than the explosive lunges associated with live offerings. That means your hookup timing needs a little finesse: be ready, but don’t yank the rod the instant you sense movement. Hold for a heartbeat, feel for the weight, then set the hook decisively. Too many anglers lift too early and miss those gentle engulfing strikes.
I remember one chilly morning when a friend and I watched a huge shadow glide in and then slowly close on a suspended deadbait. We both froze, thinking it wouldn’t commit — and then it did, as if finally accepting the offer. The heart-pounding grab that followed came with no theatrics, just a long, thorough engulf. It was a quiet lesson in why patience wins more often than aggression. I love watching a big bobber disappear under the water before a hook set.
Footage like this nudges us to rethink assumptions. Nature favors efficiency: if a motionless prey item is easy to eat and smells right, a pike will take advantage. So next time you rig a deadbait, try letting it do the talking. Give it time, set it in likely ambush spots, and watch the water more than your rod tip. Those split seconds of hesitation and the eventual strike — subtle, precise, and primal — are what make pike fishing unforgettable. I can't wait until my next pike fishing adventure.
Tight lines — and keep your camera rolling. You never know when you’ll catch something rare.
