The walleye or pike as it is sometimes referred to, is a species that thrives in the northern parts of the globe. Anglers enjoy the fact that this is a challenging species and they also taste great, which makes them a popular game fish. Their eyes reflect light just like cat eyes so they can see very well in the dark, which is why they feed more aggressively during the nighttime hours. You can find this species in most any lake or river but they do seem to prefer clear, cold water with gravel or sandy bottoms.
Fishing for this species can be a lot of fun but you need to be alert to be successful. They can steal your bait away without you noticing if you’re not careful and they will fight hard when hooked. You’ll want to use light tackle when fishing for pike because it will help you feel when you have a bite. Using a bobber can also help because you’ll know it’s time to set the hook when it goes under.
Pike have a lot of sharp teeth but their mouths are small so keep the tackle and bait small enough for them to get it in their mouths. You should also get an idea of what type of baitfish is naturally in the area and choose something that is similar for the best results. Keep reading to learn more about pike and how to catch them.
How to Catch Pike
If you’re new to the sport or seeking out the pike for the first time, you may have heard that they are a very elusive fish making them a real challenge. You may even be asking yourself, how do I catch a pike? If so, you’ve come to the right place because you’ll find five walleye fishing tactics to help you catch more fish listed below:
1. Drift fishing is an excellent tactic to use when fishing for pike that will yield the results you’re looking for. Drop your bait above the strike zone and allow the current to pull your bait downstream right through the middle of the pike. They can’t resist striking at this tasty meal.
2. Use electronics to help you locate the fish faster. They can help you find underwater structures where the walleye will be gathering around and they can help you navigate through waters that you don’t know very well much easier.
3. Trolling is a method that’s great to use when the pike have moved out to the deeper parts of the water. It makes it fast and easy to cover a lot of ground and you can use different baits and fish different depths at the same time with multiple lines. This will help you find the pike faster and learn what baits they’re attracted to the most at the same time.
4. Choose your fishing time wisely. The best time to fish is from dusk to dawn but if you prefer not to night fish, don’t worry. You can have excellent results when fishing late evening, early morning and on overcast or windy days. It is however, recommended that you don’t fish in the middle of the day when it’s hot and sunny. The pike will retreat to deeper water during this time and be harder to find.
5. Fish during the spring spawning season every chance you get. Normally, this will be between the months of May and June depending on how far north you are located. This is the time of year when the walleyes or pike are the most plentiful, easiest to find and the most aggressive so you should be able to enjoy reeling in a nice catch every time you go fishing.
Spend some time getting to know the water where you’ll be doing most of your fishing. Once you learn the area you’ll know where all the hotspots are located, when the best time to fish will be and which baits are the most effective based on the situation.
More Tips and Suggestions
When fishing for pike or walleyes you’ll want to pay close attention to the colors that you use when fishing with artificial lures. They can see very well and if something looks odd or out of place they won’t strike. As a general rule you should use bright colors in the spring and when fishing in dark waters and dark colors when fishing in clear water and during the summer.
The pike or walleye is a challenging species but that is one of the main things that attract so many anglers. This is what makes fishing fun and rewarding. It’s quite an accomplishment to bring home a mess of fish especially when it’s a species that is considered hard to catch.
Fishing is something that the whole family can get together and do or you can go fishing with friends. It’s a sport that allows you to put as little time and money into it as you want and still have a great time when you head to the water. Isn’t it time you tired your hand at fishing for pike?
