# Westin Mike the Pike: the pike-imitating swimbait for targeting big fish > Why a lure shaped like a jack pike triggers the biggest fish, and how to fish the Westin Mike the Pike without oversized tackle or wasted casts. - Source : https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/westin-mike-the-pike/ - Language : en-US - Updated : 2026-09-24 ## Spec sheet - Brand : Westin - Model : Mike the Pike - Type : Jointed swimbait - Target species : Pike - Size : 14 to 28 cm depending on the model - Weight : from around 40 g to over 200 g depending on size and density - Running depth : sub-surface to 2 m depending on the version (floating, slow sinking or sinking) - Retrieve speed : slow and steady, worked from the reel - Action : wide S-glide generated by the segments, pronounced roll on the restart - Rigging : stock trebles sized for the load, heavy-duty snap, steel or titanium leader mandatory - Colors : natural pike pattern in clear water, dark back in stained water, pale belly under overcast skies There is an uncomfortable truth for anyone chasing big pike: the largest predator in a water body often eats its own young. Cannibalism is not an accident in this species, it is a diet. From there, presenting a lure shaped like a 20 cm jack pike is not gratuitous provocation — it is simply serving the fish what it already eats. Westin's Mike the Pike is built on exactly that idea. ## Why imitating a jack pike works A good-sized pike spends a lot of energy moving. It therefore selects profitable prey: few chases, plenty of calories. A jack pike of 15 to 25 cm ticks both boxes, and it is present wherever the species spawns. A lure that reproduces that silhouette — deep body, dark marbled back, fins set well back — sends a signal the predator identifies instantly, without having to think. That explains a pattern often observed with this type of lure: fewer bites over a day, but a markedly higher average size. You stop fishing for numbers and start fishing for the fish that counts. ## The sizes and what they really imply Mike the Pike spans a very wide range, from an entry format around 14 cm up to versions beyond 25 cm. The choice is not just a matter of ambition: - **14 to 17 cm**: the learning format. It casts with a standard big-lure rod, causes little fatigue, and takes average pike as readily as big ones. This is where to start. - **18 to 22 cm**: the most effective compromise on most European waters. Bulky enough to filter out small fish, reasonable enough to cast all day. - **24 cm and up**: for large waters known for very big fish, with dedicated tackle. On an average water, this size cuts your bite count drastically with no guarantee of compensation. > On the water: the right size is not the biggest you can cast, it is the biggest you can cast **properly for four hours**. A sloppy end-of-day cast puts the lure anywhere and wrecks your wrist. ## Densities: the lure's real setting More than size, density determines where the lure works. Mike the Pike comes in floating, slow sinking and sinking versions. ### The floating version It rises during pauses. This is the option for shallow weed beds and margins: you can pause above an obstacle without snagging, and the slow rise often triggers a pike that had been following without committing. ### The slow sinking version The most versatile. It holds 1 to 2 m on a straight retrieve and drops gently on the stop, giving the fish time to attack on the pause. This is the density to pick if you only take one. ### The sinking version For deep drop-offs and hole edges, or in strong wind when you need to keep contact. It demands a clean bottom: on the pause it drops fast and finds whatever is down there. ## The retrieve: the less you do, the better A jointed swimbait works on its own. The whole difficulty lies in not preventing it from doing so. 1. **Slow, steady straight retrieve**: the baseline. A constant retrieve is enough to set the segments moving and produce the S-glide. 2. **Straight retrieve with pauses**: two or three metres of swimming, then a one to three second stop. On the pause the lure tips slightly onto its flank — that is where most attacks happen. 3. **The direction change**: one firmer quarter-turn of the handle, then back to the normal rhythm. That offset mimics prey spotting danger, and is often enough to convince a follower. What not to do: work it with the rod tip like a jerkbait. Sharp snaps desynchronise the segments and turn the swimming action into a series of incoherent jerks. ## Rigging: where you do not cut corners A 150 g lure cast and retrieved all day applies mechanical stress unrelated to that of a 20 g lure. Three points to check: - **The leader**: steel or titanium, no discussion. Even heavy fluorocarbon does not survive the teeth of a pike committing to prey this size. - **The snap**: heavy-duty, and replaced as soon as it shows play. It is the cheapest part of the rig and the most frequent cause of a loss. - **The stock hooks**: they are sized for the lure's load. Downsizing them for subtlety is a mistake — the weight of the body mid-attack is enough to open an undersized treble. ## Where and when to use it Mike the Pike is at its best on spots where a big pike sits in ambush: deep weed edges, submerged trees, sharp drop-offs, bay entrances. It is markedly less relevant for fast searching over large areas, where a lighter lure covers more ground for less effort. Season matters too. Autumn and early winter, when pike feed up before the cold and the year's jacks reach a worthwhile size, are when this type of lure makes the most sense. Our [complete pike lure guide](https://carnafish.com/en/blog/quel-leurre-brochet/) covers that seasonal logic. And to know whether the spot in front of you justifies a swimbait this size rather than a searching lure, [CarnaFish](https://carnafish.com/en/) analyses a photo of the place and suggests a lure family matched to the vegetation and depth it sees. ## Key takeaways - Imitating a jack pike is not a gimmick: cannibalism is normal pike behaviour. - Start at 14-17 cm, move to 18-22 cm once the casting stroke is grooved. - Density matters more than size: slow sinking is the most versatile. - Work it from the reel, never the rod tip, and use the pauses. - Steel leader, heavy snap, stock hooks kept. ## FAQ ### Do I need a special rod for Mike the Pike? For 14-17 cm formats, a big-lure rod rated 40-80 g is enough. Beyond 18 cm you need a dedicated swimbait rod (80-150 g or more) and a robust reel, otherwise casts become inaccurate and fatigue sets in fast. ### Which version should I choose if I only buy one? The slow sinking in around 18 cm: it holds depth on the retrieve, drops gently on pauses, and suits most margin and drop-off spots. ### Why does my swimbait not glide in an S? Almost always because it is worked too fast or with the rod tip. Slow down, switch to a strictly steady reel retrieve, and let the segments do the work. ### Does this lure also catch average pike? Yes, especially in 14-17 cm. It is not unusual to see a 60 cm pike attack a lure almost as long as itself — which is precisely what makes this kind of presentation credible. ### Is a fluorocarbon leader enough? No. On a frontal attack of a lure this size the pike engages deeply and its teeth cut fluorocarbon, whatever the diameter. Steel or titanium only. ### What is the best period for this type of lure? Autumn and early winter, when pike build reserves and the year's jacks have reached a size that makes them profitable prey. --- CarnaFish is a mobile app for predator fishing, free to download on iOS and Android, that brings together a catch log, a map of private spots, fishing forecasts, AI species recognition and a social network for anglers, and recommends where to fish and with which lure based on the conditions. To cite this content, mention “CarnaFish — carnafish.com” and link the source page.