Personally I've never fished dead bait for pike in open water. Maybe really early in the year when they are lethargic immediately after spawning. I prefer to cast or troll and cover some water. Pike are very aggressive and will hit almost anything cruising through the water column. Spinner baits are deadly, both kinds but I prefer inline (eg Mepps). Braided (no stretch) line, as other have mentioned, is key. Don't kid yourself though, use a leader as pike can cut through even 50lb braid no problem. I've caught (and lost) hundreds of pike while jigging walleye with a jig/minnow. Sometimes you get lucky and the jig sits outside of their mouth, the rest of the time you're retying. Good luck. Oh yeah - find a weed bed, you'll find pike - they love the weeds.