One of the things that any fisherman can tell you is that you have to know what you are doing before you attempt to do it. What this means is that if you want to be effective at landing the size and type of fish that you want, then you need to learn everything about the particular fish species. It also means that you need to know how to fish for them during each season. Most people fish in the warm spring and summer months never thinking about how the fishing could be in the winter months. This is actually a great time to go fishing as there are fewer anglers out and the fish, while not active, are more inclined to strike during this season. The reason for this is because there is not as much food for them and they are always hungry. The following are three pike ice fishing tips to try this year:
Locating the Pike – Research is your best friend when it comes to locating pike in the winter. Speak to the people at the bait shop near the lake you are planning on visiting to find out where the pike are running in the winter months. You can also ask your local fish and game department. The good news is that pike do not go into a slowed state in the cold months as do other fish species. They are out there seeking their next meal from the fish that are in semi hibernation. You find them in areas where there are large rocks or cliff overhangs as well as sunken trees and roots. In deep water they are located near the bottom where the water is slighter warmer so make sure you bring sinkers to get your lures and baits to these depths. Finally, you do not want to limit yourself to one likely spot, instead, choose a couple of different areas to make your fishing holes in the ice.
Presenting the Bait – Once you know where the northern pike are, you then need to entice them to take your bait or lure. Presentation is the second most important aspect when angling for these fierce fighters. If possible, you should use a simple hook with minnow. The suckers are the best species and the rule of thumb is: The larger the bait, the larger the pike”. You want to hook the minnow behind the fin so that they do not die while they are on the hook. This allows them to wiggle and move around while you are jigging the line. Make sure that you are using the proper jigging technique and that you have your line deep enough for the pike to see it. When you present the bait in this manner, the pike can easily be attracted to it and do strike.
Lures in Place of Bait – In some areas, there may be restrictions on what live baits, if any, that you can use to fish northern pike. When this is the case, or if you prefer to use lures, there are many types that are effective in the cold winter months.
The two most common lures are those lures that mimic the swimming motion of minnows and flash spoons that attract the attention of the fish. The two most popular type of swimming lures are the Jigging Rapala and Jigging Shad. Drop the line in and then reel it back in slowly so that the two lures offer the pike a motion that is similar to that of a live minnow. The spoons can be used in conjunction with a live minnow if you so choose or you can use it on its own.
Simply use the same technique that you use when you are presenting the live bait. Drop the spoon into the hole and then reel it in slowly so that it can flash at the pike and attract their attention. Just be prepared for a heavy strike because the pike are very aggressive in the winter months, more so than any other season.
Fishing for northern pike in any season can be a challenge if you do not know where to find them and how to present the bait properly. You always need to check with those who have the experience fishing in the cold winter months in order to find the really big ones. Find out what works for the pike in your area when choosing live bait or lures but you can never go wrong with sucker minnows, swimming lures or flash spoons. The most important thing to remember is that the pike are not all concentrated in one area as they are not schooling fish so you need to have more than one hole drilled in order to effectively fish for them.
