Do I need a special sunscreen for pike fishing, or is scent-free sunscreen overkill for northern pike?

For casting, mostly overkill; for dead bait, cheap insurance. The only documented fish-repelling sunscreen ingredient is PABA, shown for bass in Keith Jones's Berkley work, and most modern sunscreens no longer contain it. Nothing comparable exists for pike. Still, buy a fragrance-free mineral lotion or stick (zinc oxide / titanium dioxide) rather than a scented spray, apply it at home 20–30 minutes before, use the back of the hands, and let a UPF hoodie, buff and sun gloves do most of the work. A pike hitting a spoon or spinnerbait decides in a fraction of a second on sight and vibration; there is no good evidence a sunscreen trace costs you that fish. Dead bait is different. A smelt or cisco soaking for an hour is found by its scent plume, and your hands rigged it. Wipe the palms before handling dead baits.

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