Still-dirty pike lures

In May 1999, I wrote a feature for Ontario Out of Doors that focused on a dozen must-have lures for pike, with the headline “The dirty dozen for pike.” Over the years, I’ve received messages from many people who say that story inspired them to take northern pike fishing more seriously. Since some of the lures mentioned in that original article are no longer made, I decided to have a fresh look at what's been producing big catches in recent years. So, here is the dirty dozen (plus a couple more) from my own tackle box, revisited for 2026. Eppinger Dardevle In the fishing industry, lures can appear on the market, burn brightly for a few seasons, and then disappear. Then there is the Eppinger Dardevle. Like death and taxes, the Dardevle is inevitable. The lure has a simplicity that has never gone out of fashion. It also has the extraordinary ability to catch pike under all conditions. In 2026, the Dardevle comes in a huge variety of colours and sizes. Besides the classic red and white, I’ve found the black and white, fire tiger and pink-coloured Dardevles to be excellent. This spoon is still a must-have. Joe Bucher Buchertail 700 Here is a classic muskie spinner that’s also an extremely effective trophy pike lure. The Buchertail keel weight system keeps it running true with no line twist. This spinner is on the heavy side, at 1.2 ounces, but can be fished effectively at all speeds. There is no wrong time to use it, but it’s my favourite in cold water. My two largest cold-water Ontario pike hit a silver Buchertail. A 47-incher in mid-May and a 46-incher in mid-October. I sometimes replace the treble hook with a large single siwash, and add a four or five-inch white twister-tail bait. Thread the twister up the hook so it runs straight. This little trick has been the undoing of many large pike. Johnson Silver Minnow Pike have a real affinity for being tight to cover. Sometimes they will bury themselves right inside heavy weeds and reeds. Other times they are tucked inside a bunch of stumps or in fallen wood. It’s in this heavy cover that the Johnson Silver Minnow really earns its keep. The Silver Minnow slips through and over weeds, branches and stumps with ease. The silver finish is classic, but I’ve had great luck with the bronze on overcast