rig.solved
Northern Pike rig for Hardwater / Ice
For Northern Pike in Hardwater / Ice, the cheapest build in our catalog that clears every engine check is a 3/0 octopus hook on 20 lb copolymer to a 40 lb wire leader, fished with 0.1875 oz bullet sinker, Trick Worm on a 6.6 ft M spinning rod and a spinning reel. About $143 at street prices.
- hook
- 3/0 octopusGamakatsu Octopus Hook
- mainline
- 20 lb copolymerStren Original Copolymer
- leader
- 40 lb wireAmerican Fishing Wire Surflon Micro Supreme Wire
- weight
- 0.1875 oz bulletBullet Weights Lead Bullet Worm Weights
- bait
- Trick Wormsubtle straight-tail glide
- rod
- 6.6 ft M spinningUgly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
- reel
- spinning 2500Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel, 13 lb drag
The studio's own simulation, driven by the same numbers as the checks below.
Every check, with the numbers
15 checks from the compatibility engine. Each line shows what this build measures and what it is measured against; the verdict comes from the same engine call the studio makes.
| Check | This build | Against | |
|---|---|---|---|
| pass | species.water | Hardwater / Ice: fresh | Northern Pike: fresh |
| pass | rod.reel.seat | spinning reel | spinning rod |
| pass | mainline.species | 20 lb | 20–50 lb window (warns over 75) |
| pass | mainline.rod | 0.44 mm ≈ 19 lb mono | rod rated 8–20 lb (under 4.8 warns) |
| pass | rod.power | M rod, rated to 20 lb | 20 lb fish (warns over 35 lb, fails over 50 lb) |
| pass | reel.capacity | ~210 yd of 20 lb copolymer | 200 yd for a 20 lb fish |
| pass | reel.drag | 13 lb max drag | 10 lb floor |
| pass | hook.size | 3/0 | 1/0 to 7/0 |
| pass | hook.strength | 30 lb before it opens | 24 lb (1.2 × 20 lb fish) |
| pass | leader.abrasion | 40 lb wire | abrasion 1.00: wire only |
| pass | leader.ratio | 40 lb on 20 lb | 0.75× to 2× mainline (15–40 lb) |
| pass | weight.bore | 1.6 mm bore | 0.61 mm (0.46 mm line + 0.15) |
| pass | cast.weight | 0.307 oz on the line | rod rated 0.25–0.625 oz |
| pass | weight.still | 0.188 oz | under 1 oz in still water |
| pass | bait.hook | octopus hook | Trick Worm rigs on ewg / j / jig / octopus |
Why these numbers
- Hardwater / Ice runs 4–40 ft and Northern Pike feeds at a depth bias of 0.50 (0 is the surface, 1 is hard bottom), so the engine puts the fish near 22 ft.
- Hardwater / Ice has effectively no current (0.00), so the lightest weight that still loads the rod is the right weight: 0.3075 oz on the line against a 0.25 oz rod minimum.
- The water is gin-clear and Northern Pike rates 0.20 for line shyness and 1.00 for abrasion. Teeth decide this one: the leader is wire.
- Typical fish run 3–20 lb. That sets the 10 lb drag floor (this reel makes 13 lb) and the hook strength floor of 24 lb (this hook is rated 30 lb).
Parts list
| Stage | Part | Option | Approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| hook.terminal | Gamakatsu Octopus Hook | 3/0 | ~$7 |
| weight.terminal | Bullet Weights Lead Bullet Worm Weights | 0.1875 oz | ~$5 |
| leader.connection | American Fishing Wire Surflon Micro Supreme Wire | 40 lb | ~$16 |
| mainline.connection | Stren Original Copolymer | 20 lb | ~$10 |
| reel.platform | Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel | – | ~$55 |
| rod.platform | Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod | – | ~$45 |
| lure.platform | Zoom Trick Worm | – | ~$5 |
| Street-price estimate, not a live price | ~$143 | ||
Gamakatsu Octopus Hook
Chemically sharpened short-shank hook with a turned-up eye. The default for live bait, drop-shot, and any rig where the bait needs to sit naturally.
Verified destination: Octopus · 4/0 · black · 100 hooks (2026-10-20). Other sizes or packs are not verified by this link.
Bullet Weights Lead Bullet Worm Weights
The Texas rig weight. Slides on the line ahead of the hook, noses through cover, and costs almost nothing when you break one off.
No exact product destination has been verified for this item.
American Fishing Wire Surflon Micro Supreme Wire
Nylon-coated 7-strand stainless. Supple enough to knot with a uni, tough enough that pike and mackerel teeth do not touch it.
Verified destination: Surflon Micro Supreme 90 lb, 5 m (2026-10-21).
Stren Original Copolymer
A blend that splits the difference: less stretch than straight mono, more manageable than fluoro, and cheap enough to respool often.
No exact product destination has been verified for this item.
Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel
The floor for a reel that is actually worth owning. Smooth enough, a real drag, and light enough not to fatigue you on a full day.
Verified destination: Ceymar C-30 (2026-10-21). Other sizes or packs are not verified by this link.
Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
Effectively indestructible. A graphite-fiberglass blend that shrugs off car doors, tailgates, and everything a beginner will do to it.
Verified destination: GX2 6'6" Medium 2 pc (2026-10-21). Other sizes or packs are not verified by this link.
Zoom Trick Worm
A 6.75-inch straight-tail worm. Texas-rigged, wacky-rigged, or on a shaky head, this is the highest-percentage bass plastic ever made.
Verified destination: 6.75 inch · green pumpkin · 20 pack (2026-10-20). Other sizes or packs are not verified by this link.
Scope: the solver builds a tied hook-and-line rig from the parts in our catalog, cheapest first among builds with the fewest problems. Hard baits with their own trebles, flies, and field gear (waders, clothing, boats) are left to you. A different catalog would give a different answer, and the studio will check whatever you swap in.
Change one variable
Northern Pike, other water
- Northern Pike in Weedy Lake3/0 · 20 lb · ~$143
- Northern Pike in Clear Reservoir3/0 · 20 lb · ~$143
Hardwater / Ice, other fish
- Rainbow Trout in Hardwater / Ice#6 · 4 lb · ~$116
- Brook Trout in Hardwater / Ice#8 · 4 lb · ~$116
- Walleye in Hardwater / Ice#1 · 6 lb · ~$114
- Crappie in Hardwater / Ice#6 · 4 lb · ~$116
- Bluegill & Panfish in Hardwater / Ice#8 · 4 lb · ~$116
frequently asked
05What size hook for Northern Pike in Hardwater / Ice?
3/0, on a Gamakatsu Octopus Hook (octopus). The working window for Northern Pike is 1/0 to 7/0; the size is matched to the bait, so a bigger bait moves you toward 7/0.
What pound test line for Northern Pike?
20 lb copolymer in this build, inside the 20–50 lb working window. It measures 0.44 mm, the diameter of about 19 lb mono, and rod line ratings are printed for mono. This rod is rated 8–20 lb.
How much weight for Northern Pike in Hardwater / Ice?
As little as casts. Hardwater / Ice rates 0.00 for current, so weight is only there to load the rod and get the bait down: 0.3075 oz total on the line, 0.1875 oz of it bullet. The engine warns at 1 oz or more in still water.
Do I need a leader for Northern Pike here?
Yes. Northern Pike rates 1.00 for abrasion and 0.20 for line shyness, with a leader window of 40–90 lb. This build uses 40 lb wire.
What does this Northern Pike setup cost?
About $143 for the 7 parts listed, using street-price estimates kept in our catalog. That is not a live Amazon price, and it covers the tackle only: bait, waders, clothing and boats are not included.