Do you catch more pike in open water or on the ice?

3 tip ups with stationary minnows? Or, 1 lure flying around covering a lot of area? When do you catch more pike per time out? 

I've never ice fished for them. So yeah...more open water lol. 

I'm going to lean towards open water after the slow start to ice this year. 3 trips. 14 hours total maybe.....1 pike. Other years are much better. Just a bad start for whatever reason. I think sometimes I see more pike caught ice fishing and get the feeling that it's "better" since it's easier to fish with a group of people or the kids and just lay out boards, and see more pike in a day caught. While in the boat, I'm often alone or with kids or others fishing pan fish or bass. So, ice fishing seems more "pikey" to me, but if I isolate apples to apples, just my pike fishing, hmmm....not sure. I do have a log I keep for fun, would be nice to analyze it deeper. 

It really depends on the day, lake, or season.  I'd say I'm 50-50.  I've had days where I catch Pike one after another while casting and others when I don't get a strike.  I'd say I might be slightly more consistent on the ice chasing flags as it seems like I never have a day without at least a couple.

On the ice as this is the only time I chase them. Spring and fall is catfish and walleye time. Summers are spent either fishing pannies or trolling for salmon. I love to eat fish. All legal pike I get through the ice come home basically, which is about 4-8 an ice fishing season. They get fried or pickled depending on the mood.

Always done far better in open water casting, trolling, or drifting suckers. Running for flags is fun but the lack of mobility and the fact that the pike can be anywhere in the water column under the ice makes it way harder to dial in a good bite.

The more I think on this...I'd have to say all things equal with 100 focus on pike- it's slightly winter. However, there are times on rivers or backwaters, ditches whatever where my summer average easily outpaces winter. But summer can be really tough for me on big lakes unless targeting the small shallow pike. 

Its pretty close for me, but prolly a bit better success on the ice

Way more through the ice.  With that said, I target them more in winter.  Most that I catch in open water are incidental while targeting other species.

Good question! I've had days when you have 3 flags before you get the first fish off. But then you could get 2 within a few casts. Depends on the day. Over all, probably through the ice. I fish more in the winter.