Northern Pike Fishing

Northern pike fishing is both challenging and exciting. Known as Esox Lucius to fisheries experts, this rod-breaking chunk of battling fish grows to huge proportions in favorable waters. Noted for his strength and wiliness, lunkers aren't caught until creeled. The whoppers that get away would stretch tail to tail for miles.

Native to cold water streams and lakes, great northen pike range widely. Roaming southward as far as a lateral line through Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Massachusetts, this gamefish is sporty even when transplanted. The Artic Circle bounds this species in the north. In northern pike fishing, Ontario, Manitoba, and Minnesota are noted for the giants they produce.

Tighter creel limits, sportfishing influences and light-weight tackle have given pike the nod. At one time considered a pest, the predacious pike, slaughtered and thrown away, waned to fast-diminishing numbers. Dog food was the usual reason for netting pike. Few are the pike anglers who scorn it on the platter today, for it is a delicacy when dee-fat fried, baked, smoked or used in fish chowders.

A rod-jarring, gamey challenger, whose white filleted meat is a real treat, pike may be credited with high angle interest over legions of casters and spin fishermen. A sucker for spoons and deep-diving plugs, this predators following is growing. Giant pike are high on the ladder of sportfishing. He'll fight -- win, lose, or draw. The rules are his making, and he's a rough and ravenous predator.

Pike Fishing Tackle

Take pike fishing lures, for example. Spoons of the wobbler type rank first place and are closely followed by deep-diving plugs. Surface lures and live bait tail the list. Successful old-timers in the North Country give identical opinions, pointing out that bait-casting and spinning tackle lead trolling and still-fishing.

Although every fisherman has his favorite lures, it's a good idea to take along a handful of deep-diving FlatFish, silver and gold-plated Johnson Silver Minnows in the larger 1-1/8 ounce size, Daredevle Five-O-Diamonds, and a red-eye Wobbler or two. Also include a few floating surface lures that really create a commotion when retrieved.

Northern Pike Location

Where do big pike stay? Keep in mind that pike are daytime feeders, and best pike fishing hours range from sun-up to sundown. Trpphy-sized pike feed in depths from two to twelve feet around inundated stumpage, close-by weed beds and in bays and backwaters. Avid pike fishermen, who have mastered the art of catching huge pike, watch their casts and retrieves. Cast are free and lengthy, plopping the lures on target -- log, weedbed or rocky shoreline. As the bait settles, retrieve it fast, pumping the rod to achieve an erratic action. Line test should range in the 17-20-pound test category. A fine wire leader to prevent bite-offs and big hooks are the order of the day in most northern pike fishing circles.

There's a gamble about pike fishing that anglers like. Not all of the strikes are rod-breaking. Few of them, in fact. But whether it's a five pounder -- the kind which fillet best -- or a 25-pounder, there's plenty of adrenalin-pumping action! Give northen pike fishing a try!