Pickerel vs Pike

Funny,I just got a pm about big baits.You can use them dead,it doesnt seem to matter with pike,sometimes its even better dead

Make sure you know what your catching for bait if you choose to find your own.Those big sucker looking things you catch in faster streams and sometimes ponds are Redbellied dace and you will be screwed if the warden sees you with them lol.They are bigger than most shiners and minnows and have black/olive backs,silver sides and the throat/belly area is a red patch.Goldens are just that with red fins

heres some referance
golden shiner
sucker
red belly dace
You can see the similarities between suckers and dace,easy to confuse if you dont know

This is a stock photo(and a crappy one) and not mine but this is the size I'm talking about.When you find them the most effective way to get them is one at a time with a salmon egg hook.They dont fit in legal minnow traps and are fairly hard to net imo.

Great info Bam!!!
I like to pike fish myself. There is another website great for ice fishing. But they think they are professionals and won't help much.
Your advice is great and i think i know where to catch some big goldens with a hook?

Thanks for all the info Bam! I've never used live bait for pike, I just recently got into pike fishing. I am going to have to give those huge suckers a try. Thanks again for all the helpful info!