Alien Eel vs Custom Pro Ultra Magnum Bull Dawg Black Hills Gold

For pike, the Custom Pro Ultra Magnum Bull Dawg is not automatically worth the extra money over the Alien Eel—it depends heavily on the size of pike you’re targeting, your gear, and how you fish.

Quick comparison for pike

Alien Eel ($15.99)

• Better value for most pike anglers
• Slow-sinking, tail-kicking action that works well at slow retrieves
• Strong choice for open water, low light, dirty water
• Easier to cast and fish on more standard musky/pike setups
• More versatile if you want to cover water without committing to giant-bait tactics

Bull Dawg ($55)

• A true giant bait
• 17 inches and 19.5 oz is a lot of lure for pike
• Best for trophy pike and anglers using heavy musky-grade gear
• More specialized, more expensive, and more demanding to fish
• Better suited to anglers specifically trying to trigger the biggest fish in a system

Is the Bull Dawg worth it for pike?

For most pike fishing, probably no. The Alien Eel is much more practical and cost-effective. Pike are aggressive predators, but they don’t always need an enormous bait to bite. In many waters, especially where fish are average-sized or pressured, the Alien Eel’s more moderate profile and tail-kicking action will be plenty effective.

The Bull Dawg becomes worth the price only if:

• you’re specifically hunting large trophy pike
• your rod, reel, and line can handle a 19.5 oz bait
• you fish waters where big pike regularly eat big prey
• you want to intentionally target the largest fish and don’t mind fewer casts, more fatigue, and a more specialized setup

Where the Alien Eel is the better buy

The Alien Eel is the smarter choice if you:

• want a budget-friendly pike lure
• fish with standard heavy pike gear rather than extreme musky tackle
• want a bait that’s easier to use all day
• fish dirty water, low light, or open water where vibration and silhouette matter
• are not sure whether your local pike are big enough to justify a giant bait

Its slow-sink design and kicking tail make it a very practical predator bait. For pike, that often means more casts, more confidence, and more fish-per-dollar.

Where the Bull Dawg is the better choice

The Bull Dawg makes more sense if you:

• are already fishing for big pike and musky
• want a bait that can specifically target the largest fish in the system
• have the right gear and don’t mind the effort
• fish around vegetation where a huge bait can stand out and trigger ambush strikes
• are fishing in fall, which is listed as its best season

The big advantage of the Bull Dawg is not that it catches “more” pike, but that it may catch bigger pike when conditions and tackle are right. It’s a trophy-hunting tool, not a general-purpose pike lure.

Practical recommendation

If your goal is simply to catch pike, the Alien Eel is the better value by far. It gives you strong action, easier handling, and much less cost. If your goal is to specifically chase giant pike and you already own the heavy gear needed to throw a lure that big, then the Bull Dawg can be justified—but it’s a niche purchase.

Bottom line: For most pike anglers, buy the Alien Eel. Spend the extra money on the Bull Dawg only if you’re deliberately trophy hunting with heavy tackle.