The jerkbait minnow
The opening period for pike is at the end of April, when the fish start to leave their breeding area. At this time, the water can still be very cold depending on the department you are fishing in. Generally speaking, the water does not exceed 14 to 15 degrees in the south, while it varies between 3 and 8 degrees in most of France. These temperatures are perfectly adapted to fishing with jerkbaits minnows, preferably suspending.
Fish are often posted in shallow areas and low temperatures greatly reduce their activity. To get almost inactive fish to move, the use of a jerkbait minnow is almost essential. You can then animate the lure violently to arouse interest in the fish, then take long breaks. It is during these pauses that the attack will take place, because your lure will be an easy prey even for a not very active pike.
The spinnerbait
Many of the best spots for pike are often very crowded. Whether it's residual grass beds that have survived the winter or submerged trees, there are plenty of opportunities to get hooked. To get through these obstacles without leaving too many lures, opt for a spinnerbait.
This lure has the particularity of being able to pass from everywhere and to be very effective during the opening period. Choose preferably light models, but which have large paddles. These paddles will imitate the vibrations and produce flashes of light like a fish in distress. The advantage of having a light spinnerbait is mainly to be able to fish slowly and to focus on the areas that seem to be the most suitable for you.
When it comes to the trailer to add, there are many options, shad, finess, craw or none. Try to vary the type of vibration as much as possible to determine what the fish like best.
The inevitable big shad
Without a doubt the most versatile lure for pike fishing. A big shad can save most of your post-opening sessions. You can use it as a shallow-rig to fish flats, as a texan to fish in a crowded area or as a classic rig to fish deep areas.
If you want to use a big shad, the minimum size I recommend is 18 cm. This size allows you to move a large number of fish, even the smallest ones. You can of course use larger lures to select larger individuals.
Don't forget to vary the colors frequently to find a pattern that will be repeatable during the first weeks of May. The pike color is a must since big fishes do not hesitate to eat their fellow fishes after a tiring reproduction.
