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Northern Pike Fishing Tips
Gear & Tackle
Canadian northern pike are among the largest, most aggressive freshwater fish in America. Pike can reach upwards of 20 pounds, while the big trophies can tip the scales at 30. (That’s 45 plus inches in length) Stout tackle is the obvious choice- heavy baitcasting rods from 6' to 8', Big spinning or open face baitcasting reels filled with 14# to 30# test is your best tackle choice. Also essential is a stiff wire leader ahead of the bait, which prevents these toothy giants from biting through the line.
Lures & Presentation
Think big. Topwaters, buzz baits, stickbaits, crankbaits, bucktail spinners, big spoons and hair jigs all have their place in your arsenal. Be prepared to fish everything from thick, shallow weeds to deep rocks. Casting, trolling and jigging are all effective, most often dictated by time of year and water temperature. Rule of thumb: cast shallow, jig deep, troll both.
How to Locate
For most likely success, work shallow (2' to 10') warm water bays in spring; deeper (18' to 25') main-lake weedlines and rock reefs in summer and a combination of both in the fall. Moving water, such as an incoming stream or narrows, is nearly always attractive to pike as is close access to deep water.
Effective Baits
Big fish look for big bait, often up to a quarter of their own length. Active fish attack flashy, fast-moving lures, while neutral fish need a bit of coaxing with slower presentations and scented baits. Large sucker minnows on a jig or spinnerbait are popular for working weedlines.
Berkley PowerBait grubs, lizards, craws, shad and frogs are ideal for use as trailers on a variety of big fish lures. Liquid Power Bait also work very well in ,tempting these monsters to come out and play.