| Tips&
Techniques |
Biology
Age/Growth
Spawning
Diseases
Fact: Northern pike are homebodies. Most pike rarely move more than 300 yards from their spawning grounds, especially after the fattening up period, which lasts for a couple of weeks after spawning and serves to put back pounds lost during the spawn.
Tip: Because of the pikes territorial tendencies, they are often over fished, especially in smaller lakes. Because of this, most of the best fishing occurs in large lakes and river systems.
Fact: Pike are sometimes forced to move, because of the absence of food. Studies have shown that on some lakes pike occupy the shallowest areas, but on very windy days will move onto main lake areas that are similar depths. On sunny, calm days, pike congregated along the gently sloping shorelines.
Tip: On calm, sunny days its a good idea to walk the shorelines and cast to pike sunning themselves in the shallows, while on windy days you should be fishing shallow open water areas where pike will be actively feeding.
Fact: Studies have shown that pike feed on prey fish predominantly under low light conditions. Pike have better low light vision than most of their prey, giving them an advantage in these situations.
Tip: While inactive fish may be resting in open areas during
broad daylight, fish that are actively feeding are more likely to be in
areas that are shaded by weeds, trees, high shorelines or underwater structure.
It is also important to note, while pike may feed more aggressively in
the mornings and evenings, they slow down dramatically after sundown.
Tip: Sometimes it may be more effective to use a noisy fly such as a popper or diver. And while conventional wisdom tells us to always place the fly quietly well beyond the fish, pike sometimes will turn instantly on a fly that splashes into the water near them.
Fact: While pike in different watersheds have been shown to prefer different vegetation for cover, the common thread is that all pike will utilize the weeds.
Tip: Don't be afraid of hittin' them where they live. Even if it requires using a weedless presentation, sometimes its necessary to get right into those weedbeds. This is especially true if they are somewhat inactive and don't want to follow a lure out of cover.
Fact: Pike seek different prey during different seasons. While they will take large lures during the spring, they are easier to temp with a small "defenseless" presentation during the spring and early summer. Come mid summer this changes dramatically as they are seeking out larger meals in order to gain the necessary extra fat to tide them through a potentially lean winter.
Tip: In general, it is a good to idea to increase the size of
your presentation as the season progresses.