Fishing for pike is both exciting and challenging, as these predatory fish are known for their aggressive strikes, strong fights, and sharp teeth. A successful pike fishing strategy requires understanding their behavior, habitat, and feeding patterns. Here's an advanced guide to help you master the art of catching pike.

1. Understanding Pike Behavior and Habitat

  • Pike Characteristics: Northern pike (Esox lucius) are ambush predators that rely on stealth and explosive speed to catch their prey. They often lurk in weedy areas, drop-offs, or near submerged structures where they can hide and wait for unsuspecting fish.
  • Preferred Habitats:
    • Shallow Weedy Areas: Pike prefer weedy bays, channels, and lake edges where smaller fish congregate. In warm months, focus on these areas.
    • Deeper Waters in Summer: In midsummer, pike move deeper as the shallow waters warm up. Look for pike in 10-20 feet of water near drop-offs or structures.
    • Cooler Months: As water cools in spring and fall, pike return to shallow areas to feed aggressively.
    • Current and Structure: Rivers and lakes with current attract pike, especially near submerged logs, rocks, or structures.

2. Best Times for Pike Fishing

  • Early Morning and Late Evening: Pike are most active during low-light conditions. The first few hours after dawn and the last few hours before dusk are prime times to fish.
  • Spring and Fall: These seasons are typically the best for pike fishing, as they are more active in cooler water temperatures (50-65°F or 10-18°C).
  • Weather Conditions: Overcast days with a slight breeze tend to yield better results as pike are more willing to hunt in these conditions.

3. Choosing the Right Gear

Pike are powerful fighters, and their sharp teeth require robust tackle. Here’s the essential gear setup:

  • Rod and Reel:
    • Rod: A medium-heavy to heavy power, fast-action rod between 6'6" and 7'6" in length is ideal. Longer rods allow for longer casts and better hook sets.
    • Reel: A baitcasting reel or a large spinning reel with a high gear ratio (6:1 or higher) is best for fast retrieves and controlling large pike.
  • Line:
    • Braided Line: Use 30-50 lb test braided line for strength and durability. Braided line has a smaller diameter than monofilament, allowing you to cast farther and handle the sharp teeth of pike.
    • Leader: Always use a steel or fluorocarbon leader (20-50 lb test) to prevent pike from biting through the line.
  • Hooks and Terminal Tackle:
    • Use strong, sharp treble hooks or single hooks with large gape sizes. Many anglers prefer single hooks for catch and release as they are easier to remove.
    • Snap swivels are recommended to prevent line twist, especially when using spoons or spinnerbaits.

4. Effective Pike Fishing Lures and Baits

Pike are aggressive and will attack a variety of artificial lures and live baits. Here are the best options:

Artificial Lures:

  • Spinnerbaits: Large, flashy spinnerbaits are great for attracting pike in weedy or shallow areas. The vibrations and flash mimic prey and entice pike to strike.
    • Best colors: White, chartreuse, red, and black.
  • Spoons: Spoons are classic pike lures that work well in both shallow and deep water. Their erratic wobbling action mimics a wounded baitfish.
    • Best colors: Silver, gold, and red.
  • Crankbaits and Jerkbaits: Use large, suspending jerkbaits or deep-diving crankbaits to target pike at different depths. Jerkbaits, in particular, can be retrieved with a stop-and-go motion to trigger strikes.
    • Best colors: Perch, firetiger, and natural baitfish patterns.
  • Soft Plastics: Swimbaits, soft plastic frogs, and large paddle tails are highly effective, especially in thick weed beds. Rig them weedless when necessary.
  • Topwater Lures: In shallow waters, topwater lures like frogs and prop baits can create explosive surface strikes. Use them during low-light hours or over dense weed beds.

Live and Dead Bait:

  • Live Bait: Large live baitfish like shiners, suckers, and chubs are irresistible to pike. Use a float rig or bottom rig depending on the depth.
  • Dead Bait: Dead bait like smelt or herring fished under a float or on the bottom is a great cold-water tactic, especially in the fall and winter.

5. Advanced Techniques for Pike Fishing

1. Power Fishing with Lures:

Power fishing involves using large, fast-moving lures to cover a lot of water. Cast to potential ambush points such as weed edges, submerged logs, or rocky drop-offs, and retrieve quickly to provoke a reaction strike.

  • Jerk-Stop-Retrieve: Use this with jerkbaits or crankbaits by giving the lure sharp jerks, pausing it to suspend, then retrieving it. The erratic action mimics a fleeing or injured fish, which pike find irresistible.
  • Fast Spinnerbait Retrieval: When using spinnerbaits, reel quickly through the weeds or open water, and occasionally pause to let the spinnerbait drop. This triggers strikes from following pike.

2. Float Fishing for Pike:

Float fishing with live bait or dead bait is an excellent tactic, particularly when targeting deeper waters, drop-offs, or slow-moving rivers. Use a large bobber or float to suspend your bait at the desired depth.

  • Adjustable Slip Float Rig: Set the depth with a slip float to keep the bait in the strike zone, allowing you to adjust for deep or shallow waters easily.
  • Patience and Timing: Let the pike take the bait fully before setting the hook. Pike often grab prey sideways before turning it headfirst to swallow.

3. Trolling for Pike:

Trolling is an effective method to cover large areas of water, especially when targeting deep summer pike.

  • Use large crankbaits or spoons designed to dive to specific depths.
  • Troll at speeds between 2-4 mph, adjusting for water temperature. In colder months, slow down the trolling speed.
  • Maintain varied depths by using downriggers or lead-core lines to keep lures in the strike zone.

4. Ice Fishing for Pike:

In winter, pike fishing under the ice can be just as rewarding. Here's how:

  • Tip-Up Rigs: Set tip-ups with live or dead bait (like smelt or herring). Use fluorocarbon leaders and position your bait just above the weed line or along drop-offs.
  • Jigging: Vertical jigging with large spoons or soft plastics can also entice winter pike. Jig aggressively and then pause to allow curious pike to strike.

6. Reading the Water and Location Tactics

  • Weed Beds and Edges: Pike love hiding in weeds to ambush prey. Fish along the edges of weed beds, drop-offs, and submerged vegetation.
  • Points and Bays: Focus on areas where points extend into the lake or river, creating natural bottlenecks for baitfish. Pike often patrol these areas.
  • Structure: Submerged rocks, logs, and stumps provide cover for both prey and pike. Cast near these structures to find lurking fish.
  • Shallow to Deep Transitions: Pike often move between shallow and deep water depending on the season. In early spring or fall, focus on shallow areas; in summer, target deeper water.

7. Hook Setting and Fighting Pike

  • Setting the Hook: Pike have bony mouths, so a strong, firm hook set is required. Don’t be afraid to give an extra pull when you feel the strike.
  • Fighting the Fish: Let the pike run, but keep steady pressure on the line. Pike are known for their head shakes and sharp turns, so maintain tension to avoid slack. Use your drag wisely.
  • Landing the Pike: Use a large net, and be cautious of the pike’s sharp teeth. Long-handled pliers and a jaw spreader are essential tools for unhooking pike safely.

By combining these advanced techniques, understanding pike behavior, and using the right gear and tactics, you'll significantly improve your chances of landing big pike. Always adapt your strategy to the conditions and keep experimenting with different lures and presentations.