Landing a monster pike is the ultimate rush, and getting the right lure in front of them is the critical factor. With new artificial baits hitting the shelves every season, trying to pick the best gear for 2026 can feel overwhelming.
This Buyer's Guide cuts straight to the chase, highlighting the essential lures that will deliver consistent results and help you nail a new personal best. Whether you're working a deep reservoir, a sluggish canal, or a weedy local lake, mastering your lure selection is the fastest route to a successful session.
Check out our handpicked recommendations for must-have lures this season.
This Buyer's Guide cuts straight to the chase, highlighting the essential lures that will deliver consistent results and help you nail a new personal best. Whether you're working a deep reservoir, a sluggish canal, or a weedy local lake, mastering your lure selection is the fastest route to a successful session.
Check out our handpicked recommendations for must-have lures this season.
1. Savage Gear 3D Line Thru Trout
This lure sets a new bar for realism. Born from a 3D scan of a real trout, the 3D Line Thru Trout is designed to fool the wariest pike. Every detail, from the scale pattern to the lifelike fins, has been perfected to mimic natural prey.
Key features: It features a superb, realistic S-curve swimming action, made durable by mesh-reinforced joints. The body is also scented for increased attraction, and a subtle chin ring allows you to adjust the sink rate, effectively controlling the lure's depth and speed.
The updated, perfected Line Thru System uses a changeable Carbon49 wire rig with ultra-sharp SGY trebles. This system is crucial: when a pike strikes, the main body slides up the line, preventing the fish from using the lure's weight for leverage, dramatically increasing your hook-up ratio and protecting the bait from damage.
How to fish it best: This is your go-to lure for clear water conditions and pressured fisheries where pike are highly selective. Use the Slow Sinking model for working shallow bays or drop-offs, and the Sinking model for deep trolling or quickly reaching pike holding near the bottom of deep reservoirs. It excels on a steady retrieve, letting its natural action do the work.
Key features: It features a superb, realistic S-curve swimming action, made durable by mesh-reinforced joints. The body is also scented for increased attraction, and a subtle chin ring allows you to adjust the sink rate, effectively controlling the lure's depth and speed.
The updated, perfected Line Thru System uses a changeable Carbon49 wire rig with ultra-sharp SGY trebles. This system is crucial: when a pike strikes, the main body slides up the line, preventing the fish from using the lure's weight for leverage, dramatically increasing your hook-up ratio and protecting the bait from damage.
How to fish it best: This is your go-to lure for clear water conditions and pressured fisheries where pike are highly selective. Use the Slow Sinking model for working shallow bays or drop-offs, and the Sinking model for deep trolling or quickly reaching pike holding near the bottom of deep reservoirs. It excels on a steady retrieve, letting its natural action do the work.
2. Savage Gear 3D Line Thru Glide Roach
The Glide Roach is a phenomenal roach imitation that combines hyper-realism with a highly versatile action. It’s based on a 3D scan, giving it the profile and look that big, cautious pike find irresistible.
Key Features: As a 'glide bait', it doesn't rely on a fixed swimming action; instead, a skilled angler dictates its movement. Its most critical feature is the Line Thru System rigged with Carbon 49 wire and robust SGY-1X BN Trebles, which slides freely on the strike, just like the Line Thru Trout, to prevent a hooked pike from gaining leverage.
How to fish it best: This lure shines when fishing around structure, such as reed beds, submerged trees, or bridges. Work it with taps and pulls of the rod to make it glide aggressively from side to side. The key to triggering a strike is the pause: when you stop retrieving, the lure hangs and slowly flutters down, imitating a dying or injured fish—a presentation that often drives large pike into striking instinctively. It's a shallow to mid-depth specialist (0.1 - 0.7m).
Key Features: As a 'glide bait', it doesn't rely on a fixed swimming action; instead, a skilled angler dictates its movement. Its most critical feature is the Line Thru System rigged with Carbon 49 wire and robust SGY-1X BN Trebles, which slides freely on the strike, just like the Line Thru Trout, to prevent a hooked pike from gaining leverage.
How to fish it best: This lure shines when fishing around structure, such as reed beds, submerged trees, or bridges. Work it with taps and pulls of the rod to make it glide aggressively from side to side. The key to triggering a strike is the pause: when you stop retrieving, the lure hangs and slowly flutters down, imitating a dying or injured fish—a presentation that often drives large pike into striking instinctively. It's a shallow to mid-depth specialist (0.1 - 0.7m).
3. Strike Pro Pig Shad Jr
Inspired by the classic 'Pig' jerk bait, the Pig Shad Jr is a proven soft plastic lure that excels in moving a lot of water at slow speeds, making it an essential year-round performer.
Key features: This is a soft, flexible, and durable shad with a fat baitfish profile. Its signature movement is a highly enticing rolling action where the head rocks side to side and the paddle tail gives a subtle, twisting kick. This perfectly mimics an injured baitfish weakly swimming forward.
It comes in two popular sizes: the 15cm (20g) for a slightly smaller profile, and the 20cm (50g) for a more substantial target. Its soft construction ensures maximum tail movement, even at the lowest speeds.
How to fish it best: This lure is a phenomenal choice for slowly retrieving over shallow areas such as submerged weed beds or flats. Due to its versatility, it can be rigged in multiple ways, including a standard jig head for deeper fishing or, crucially, a shallow screw and stinger to keep it running just above the weed tops where big pike often ambush prey. The soft action makes it highly effective during colder periods when a more subdued presentation is required.
Key features: This is a soft, flexible, and durable shad with a fat baitfish profile. Its signature movement is a highly enticing rolling action where the head rocks side to side and the paddle tail gives a subtle, twisting kick. This perfectly mimics an injured baitfish weakly swimming forward.
It comes in two popular sizes: the 15cm (20g) for a slightly smaller profile, and the 20cm (50g) for a more substantial target. Its soft construction ensures maximum tail movement, even at the lowest speeds.
How to fish it best: This lure is a phenomenal choice for slowly retrieving over shallow areas such as submerged weed beds or flats. Due to its versatility, it can be rigged in multiple ways, including a standard jig head for deeper fishing or, crucially, a shallow screw and stinger to keep it running just above the weed tops where big pike often ambush prey. The soft action makes it highly effective during colder periods when a more subdued presentation is required.
4. Westin Ricky The Roach Inline
The Ricky The Roach Inline is a hyper-realistic, hard-bodied swimbait that delivers a smooth, aggressive S-shape action (even at slow speeds) and is built for durability and maximum hook-up efficiency.
Key features: Created from a detailed 3D scan of a real roach, it boasts unparalleled detail, right down to the scales. The core feature is its Inline Rig System: the stinger rig is connected via a heavy-duty wire leader that passes through the body. On a strike, the custom-made release plug activates, and the lure body slides up the line.
This inline design eliminates the lure as a leverage point, significantly boosting the hook-up ratio and minimising lost fish. It also features a hard foam core in the head for stability and reinforced mesh joints for fluid movement.
How to fish it best: Available in multiple sizes and sink rates, this lure is a true all-rounder. The heavier Sinking options are superb for deep trolling on large waters, while the Slow Sinking model is deadly for casting and retrieving over deep drop-offs or along the edges of weed lines in lakes and canals. The inline system makes it a favourite for trophy hunters seeking to land that fish of a lifetime securely.
Key features: Created from a detailed 3D scan of a real roach, it boasts unparalleled detail, right down to the scales. The core feature is its Inline Rig System: the stinger rig is connected via a heavy-duty wire leader that passes through the body. On a strike, the custom-made release plug activates, and the lure body slides up the line.
This inline design eliminates the lure as a leverage point, significantly boosting the hook-up ratio and minimising lost fish. It also features a hard foam core in the head for stability and reinforced mesh joints for fluid movement.
How to fish it best: Available in multiple sizes and sink rates, this lure is a true all-rounder. The heavier Sinking options are superb for deep trolling on large waters, while the Slow Sinking model is deadly for casting and retrieving over deep drop-offs or along the edges of weed lines in lakes and canals. The inline system makes it a favourite for trophy hunters seeking to land that fish of a lifetime securely.
5. Wolfcreek Shad
The Wolfcreek Shad is a modern classic in the world of big soft baits, famed for its exceptional reliability and superior swimming dynamics. It has been a go-to lure for big pike specialists globally.
Key features: This bait features the perfect balance of softness and stretchiness that translates into an irresistible, lifelike swimming action while providing superior tear resistance against sharp teeth. It comes in a variety of sizes (15cm up to 30cm) to match any conditions or target species. The 2.0 design remains true to the handmade original, delivering a deep roll and tail kick.
How to fish it best: Its standout feature is its rigging versatility. It can be fished effectively with an offset hook (for fishing snaggy areas), a stinger rig, or a classic jig head.
For fishing shallow water or over weed, a Shallow Screw is recommended to present the lure just under the surface. For deeper work, combining a Corkscrew style head or heavy jig head will take it right down to the bottom. It is a fantastic choice for anglers who like to customise their presentation.
Key features: This bait features the perfect balance of softness and stretchiness that translates into an irresistible, lifelike swimming action while providing superior tear resistance against sharp teeth. It comes in a variety of sizes (15cm up to 30cm) to match any conditions or target species. The 2.0 design remains true to the handmade original, delivering a deep roll and tail kick.
How to fish it best: Its standout feature is its rigging versatility. It can be fished effectively with an offset hook (for fishing snaggy areas), a stinger rig, or a classic jig head.
For fishing shallow water or over weed, a Shallow Screw is recommended to present the lure just under the surface. For deeper work, combining a Corkscrew style head or heavy jig head will take it right down to the bottom. It is a fantastic choice for anglers who like to customise their presentation.
6. Strike Pro Guppie
A legend reborn, the Strike Pro Guppie is a high-performance sinking glide bait based on the iconic, handcrafted designs of Joe Peterson, now made accessible with injection moulding technology.
Key features: Visually, the Guppie stands out with its remarkable, three-dimensional layered paintwork that was once only possible on custom wood baits. Functionally, its compact shape ensures maximum hook coverage, and the convex body design exposes the hook points for positive hook sets. A highly innovative spring screw tail system allows you to quickly swap between the included paddle and curl tails, drastically changing the lure's dynamics and action on the retrieve.
How to fish it best: The Guppie is a dedicated glide bait that works best with a rhythmic twitch-and-pause retrieve. With a steady pull, it glides wide from side to side.
The ability to change the tail allows you to adapt to conditions—use the paddle tail for maximum water displacement and vibration, or the curl tail for a subtler, snaking action. Being a sinking model, it’s highly effective for counting down to target fish holding at specific depths over open water or deep structure.
Key features: Visually, the Guppie stands out with its remarkable, three-dimensional layered paintwork that was once only possible on custom wood baits. Functionally, its compact shape ensures maximum hook coverage, and the convex body design exposes the hook points for positive hook sets. A highly innovative spring screw tail system allows you to quickly swap between the included paddle and curl tails, drastically changing the lure's dynamics and action on the retrieve.
How to fish it best: The Guppie is a dedicated glide bait that works best with a rhythmic twitch-and-pause retrieve. With a steady pull, it glides wide from side to side.
The ability to change the tail allows you to adapt to conditions—use the paddle tail for maximum water displacement and vibration, or the curl tail for a subtler, snaking action. Being a sinking model, it’s highly effective for counting down to target fish holding at specific depths over open water or deep structure.
7. Strike Pro Miuras Mouse Pig Shad
This lure is a genuine big-fish hybrid, combining the massive profile of the Miuras Mouse bucktail with the seductive, lifelike rolling action of the Pig Shad tail. It’s engineered specifically to trigger strikes from the largest, most selective pike.
Key features: The combination is deadly: the large bucktail head pushes huge amounts of water, creating an irresistible signal that pike can detect from a distance. The body provides superb stability and control, meaning this 26cm lure can maintain its wide rolling motion and tail kick even when retrieved at an exceptionally slow speed.
How to fish it best: This lure is a must-have for cold-water fishing and targeting massive, territorial pike. Its ability to work effectively at minimal speed makes it unmatched when pike are sluggish or conditions are tough.
Cast it over deep areas, along reservoir contours, or simply work it in large, open water sections of a lake for the best chance at a true giant. Its large silhouette and low-frequency vibration are critical attracting factors.
Key features: The combination is deadly: the large bucktail head pushes huge amounts of water, creating an irresistible signal that pike can detect from a distance. The body provides superb stability and control, meaning this 26cm lure can maintain its wide rolling motion and tail kick even when retrieved at an exceptionally slow speed.
How to fish it best: This lure is a must-have for cold-water fishing and targeting massive, territorial pike. Its ability to work effectively at minimal speed makes it unmatched when pike are sluggish or conditions are tough.
Cast it over deep areas, along reservoir contours, or simply work it in large, open water sections of a lake for the best chance at a true giant. Its large silhouette and low-frequency vibration are critical attracting factors.
Choose Your Weapon
The modern pike angler has an arsenal of incredible baits available for 2026. Choosing the right lure isn't just about what looks good; it's about matching the bait's size, depth, and action to the specific environment and mood of the fish on the day.Whether you opt for the ultra-realism of a Line Thru swimbait in clear water, or the bulky water displacement of a Miuras Mouse hybrid in colder conditions, understanding how and where to deploy each bait is the key to consistent success.
Remember to always handle your catch responsibly, and make sure your tackle (especially your wire traces and trebles) is up to the challenge of a truly large pike.
Explore our full range of pike and predator lures today and get ready to hook into your next personal best!
