Smash Spring Pike On Upsized Crushcity Plastics

Expanding the proportions of two potent CrushCity minnow soft plastics, Rapala now offers The Jerk and Heavy Hitter in larger versions. These upsized baits have already been catching big predators this ice-fishing season, and will certainly continue catching countless big northern pike this spring.

Originally released at 3-3/4 inches, The Jerk (a fork-tailed minnow) became an immediate hit. Based on this success, larger sizes of this successful jerk-shad style bait were soon in the works, coming to fruition with the release of the 5 and 7 inch versions. 

The variety of swimbait sizes within the CrushCity collection has also grown. The new 5-1/2-inch Heavy Hitter being the largest paddletail available. 

Pro Tip: A pike’s eyes are always bigger than its stomach, but anglers will find the original, 4-inch Heavy Hitter potent for triggering inactive pike during tough-bite conditions.   

Thanks to Rapala’s extremely durable Super TPE (aka Thermoplastic elastomer) composition, The Jerk and Heavy Hitter will withstand the constant abuse from pike. As such, anglers can expect significantly longer lifespans from CrushCity’s Super TPE baits than traditional PVC plastics.

Another benefit of Super TPE’s resiliency is it keeps The Jerk and Heavy Hitter properly rigged on a hook longer. And should a particularly aggressive pike thrash one of these baits out of position, Super TPE’s durable, stretchy characteristics allow for the quick re-rigging the bait in seconds.  

Rapala’s unique Smart Injection Technology enables the creation of impressive colour patterns. Baitfish, Perch, Gold Rush and Sun Gill are a few natural, realistic pallets well suited for clear water scenarios. Bold, bright colours are just as important to have when chasing pike in dingy water — and for triggering reaction strikes in any conditions — and anglers have their pick of several standouts, including Bombshell, Bubblegum, Orge, Neon Pearl and Whitebait.

Northern pike are relatively predictable in spring. After spawning in creeks, marshes, back bays and flooded shorelines, pike loiter in these areas as well as other fast-warming, shallow locations, including beaches, shorelines, points and sheltered bays. Anglers often see pike sunbathing and soaking up heat in shallow water in spring, make no mistake pike are also on the hunt for food. As such, anglers are wise to pay attention to the location of cover and structure pike use to conceal themselves from unsuspecting prey. Sunken logs, rock piles, aquatic vegetation and a creek channel trench along bottom are just a few examples.

Tip: Cold fronts typically see pike inhabiting deeper areas within or adjacent to bays and shorelines, returning to shallow territory upon stabilizing weather and rising temperatures.

Super TPE’s buoyancy gives anglers the option of fishing The Jerk or Heavy Hitter on a 4/0 to 6/0 Heavy Duty Wide Gap Hook as a surface bait. Either bait can also be used as a trailer on a buzzbait, spinnerbait or vibrating jig.

When pike won’t rise to feed, Tex-pose rigging either bait on a weighted swimbait hook makes an effective presentation. Use it for working over the top of emerging weeds and through lanes in wild rice, lily pads and other vegetation. 

In some lakes and rivers, anglers regularly catch pike in May and June from secondary drop-offs, flats, sand bars, points and other structures between 10 to 25 feet. Forward facing sonar is helping anglers put pieces of the puzzle together, such as revealing groups of pike suspending along drop-offs directly adjacent to flats and sand bars holding walleye, yellow perch and suckers. 

For these kind of “deeper” springtime pike patterns, anglers can’t go wrong fishing The Jerk or Heavy Hitter on a jig outfitted with a stout, wide-gap hook.

Leaders prevent bite-offs, so be sure to have some 80-pound Fluorocarbon Leaders and 75-pound Titanium Leaders on hand.

Strong, no-stretch ProMix Braid is ideal for spring pike tactics involving CrushCity plastics. Use 50-pound ProMix for 13 Fishing’s heavy rod combos, and 30- or 40-pound for medium-heavy rod outfits.

Always have proper catch and release tools, including a Jaw Spreader, Fishermen’s 11” Pliers, Hook Removers, a quality, net with rubber treated mesh and a Floating Fish Gripper. 

Polarized glasses significantly improve an angler’s sight-fishing prowess when chasing pike in shallow water.