Many anglers love trying their luck at the elusive northern pike. These fish can get quite large and are fun to land.
Those who fish for food find the white flaky meat tasty and it can be prepared in many different ways. For catch and release enthusiasts, the pike is one of the trophy fish that can really make a day at the lake worthwhile and can net some monsters. For the novice, however, it can be tough to fish for northern pike if you do not know where to look for them and what to use to catch them, even though they are mean and tend to strike at just about anything that invades their territory. The following are 5 northern pike fishing tips that the novice angler and seasoned piker fisherman can use to find and land them:
Using Live Bait – Some areas do not allow for the use of live bait so make sure you check your local fishing guide to find out if live baits can be used. If they are allowed in your area, then you need to find some small crappie, bass, walleye bluegill or perch. You can find these fish at the shoreline feeding. It is possible to net them or to purchase the minnows at your local bait shop if you do not want to take the time to catch them. You can always have the children fish for the smaller bait fish while you attempt to land the pike with lures. If you are not the squeamish type, you can also try leeches and some pike strike on frogs.
Fishing in the Spring – The spring months is a great time to fish for northern pike because it is spawning season and the fish move in closer to shore to lay their eggs. The large females are tired after the spawn period and voraciously attack anything that resembles food. Not only are the females hungry, but also they are protecting their nests from the other fish that feed on the eggs. This means a great opportunity for anglers to land some really large trophy sized pike. It is also a great time to fish from the shore and to use lures when fishing for them. The best place to find the female pike is in the tall grass or sunken tree limbs that offer shade and protection for the eggs from predators.
Where to Find Northern Pike – If you are already familiar with the baitfish that pike feed on, then you can find northern pike. They feed on mainly walleye and bass but do strike on crappie, bluegill and perch as well. For those who do not angle for this fish or who have never fished before, these baitfish can be found in weedy areas and drop offs where rocks have over hangs. Trees that are sunk or that have overhanging branches are also great areas to find pike. Keep in mind that pike are not school fish so you may have to do some searching to find them even if you land one in an area. They do tend to run in the same general areas, but finding them schooled is not the norm.
Best Lures for Pike – If you do not have the ability to use live baits when fishing for pike, then you have to use lures instead. Some of the largest pike have been caught lures so this is not a hindrance when angling for them. You can use any daredevil spoons or diamond spoons to attract the attention of the pike in cloudy water. Frog lures or minnow lures are also great for landing the large pike particularly in the spring when the fish are spawning.
Fishing When It Is Hot – Many fishermen prefer the warmer weather of summer to do their angling but this is not always the best time to find pike. They are not on the shoreline as they are in the spring but ranging in deep waters. Instead of looking for them with a fish finder, use a thermometer and find the water that is a cool fifty or fifty degrees instead. This is where the northern pike are waiting for your lure or live bait and all you need is a good sinker, metal leader and you are ready to land the big ones.
Even those who have fishing for northern pike for a long time can find use out of the 5 northern pike fishing tips listed. For the new fisherman or those who have always wanted to angle for these fierce fish, these tips should be engraved in your memory. They can help you know when and where to find the big ones and how to effectively catch them. All you need is a lake that holds the pike and the tools to catch them.
