Biologists lump the major sport fish species into two broad based categories. Trout and salmon are classified as cold water fish, while pike, bass and walleye are grouped together as warm water species. Adding a third category, which we'll call cool water species, helps to better describe the special habitat requirements of the northern pike.
Known as northerns, jackfish, gators or just pike for short, these cucumber green, torpedo shaped fish are neither a cold water nor warm water species. Pike, especially adult sized specimens, are most active when the water temperatures are cooler than 50 degrees.
Anglers often mistakenly associate pike as being a warm water fish because they are so often caught in shallow weedy spots during the spring. Pike spawn early in the spring in marshy environments and immediately afterwards they feed actively in the adjacent shallows. It's not long however until the adult pike abandon the shallows and seek out cooler and deeper waters.
The idea that pike are warm water fish is in part true. Immature fish spend most of their time using the shallows that are often bath water warm. Larger adult fish can be found in this environment only during the spring spawning season and again in the fall when the water temperatures dip below 60 degrees.
Late fall is prime time to target big northern pike that are not only easier to find in shallow water, but seemingly always hungry. Even after the lakes turn to ice in December, pike continue to feed actively and aggressively making them the ideal target for late season angling adventures.
THE MAKING OF A PIKE LAKE
Most lakes are poor northern pike habitat. Pike favor large bodies of water that feature marshy spawning streams, an abundance of deep water and a good supply of soft rayed forage species. A pike will eat almost anything it can get its jaws around, but soft rayed forage fish that are rich in protein and fat are critical to producing large numbers of adult fish. Pike grow fast when they are treated to a steady diet of suckers, ciscoes, lake trout, whitefish, alewives or gizzard shad.
Some the best pike destinations in North America include the regions of northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Dakota reservoirs and the many bays throughout the Great Lakes.
SPECIAL PIKE GEAR
The teeth of northern pike are razor sharp and these fish have a well deserved reputation for biting through monofilament lines. A leader made of coated steel wire is customary when fishing pike, but heavy leaders tend to kill the natural action of most lures. Fishing without the benefit of leaders may lead to a few "bite offs", but the additional fish caught will more than make up for this annoying fact of pike fishing.
Anglers who insist on some sort of leader are wise to use the ultra thin and flexible Titanium wire models or simply use a short length of fluorocarbon leader material in 20 pound test. Fluorocarbon line is about twice as tough as ordinary monofilament, yet flexible enough to keep lures wiggling enticingly.
Medium heavy baitcasting gear suitable for fishing bass in heavy cover also doubles as a good pike fishing outfit. A quality baitcasting reel capable of handling about 200 yards of 17 pound test will whip any pike on the planet. Monofilament lines are tough to beat because they offer great knot strength, superior abrasion resistance and enough stretch to prevent monster pike from tearing up your tackle.
OPEN WATER LURES
Pike will strike a wide variety of artificial lures, but a jumbo sized jerkbait is especially deadly. Most jerkbaits are 3-4 inches long and designed for bass fishing. Larger 5-8 inch jerkbaits (salt water models are a good choice) do a better job of triggering pike strikes.
Twitching the rod tip causes these baits to dart in different directions, sending out enticing flash and presenting a tempting target. Choose suspending models or add enough weight to floating baits so they sink slowly. A stalled or slowly sinking bait is way more attractive to pike than a lure that's buoyant and popping quickly to the surface.
Wrapping a little lead wire onto the shank of the treble hooks works well at making custom suspending lures. Another option is to try clipping the small sinkers used in tube bait fishing onto the middle treble hook.
Jerkbaits are without question the "go to" lure for fall open water pike fishing because they can be twitched and fished every so enticingly. Soft plastics are a different option that also fills an important niche in the pike fishing scene. Pike sized shad bodies, soft jerkbaits and plastic creatures rigged with a leadhead jig or Texas rigged are ideal for fishing in deeper water or among heavy cover. Select a jighead or worm weight that's just heavy enough to cause these plastic lures to sink slowly.
The best way to fish the various soft plastics is to allow the lure to sink to bottom, then using the rod tip, twitch the bait back to the surface. When the lure appears on the surface, let it free fall back to bottom. Savage strikes occur when the bait is being twitched to the surface and also when it glides back to bottom. This unique swimming technique closely resembles the darting action of an injured baitfish.
ICE FISHING METHODS
When the ice forms pike fishing doesn't come to an end. Instead a type of set line known as tip-ups take over as the most popular fishing method. The old fashioned stick style tip-up are gradually being replaced by modern disk models that cover the hole, preventing light from entering and the hole from freezing shut quickly. Frabill was one of the pioneers of this unique and functional tip-up design.
At the business end a live or dead minnow is suspended midway in the water column. A single No. 4 treble hook pinned through the dorsal fin of the minnow is ideal for tip-up rigging. Minnows six to 10 inches long are the ideal size for tempting trophy class pike. Smaller minnows simply tempt too many bites from immature and non-target fish.
Many states allow up to three tip-ups to be used per angler, but check your local fishing regulations first. The best places to put out tip-ups are along the edges formed between deep water and shallow cover. Like pike highways, adult fish cruise these natural transitions hoping to find a meal that has strayed too far from cover.
Pike are a misunderstood fish. Young pike are often so abundant that catching them is little challenge. Adult pike are neither abundant or easy to catch. It takes some special gear and a refined thought process to zero in on good water and discover the real power of pike.
Known as northerns, jackfish, gators or just pike for short, these cucumber green, torpedo shaped fish are neither a cold water nor warm water species. Pike, especially adult sized specimens, are most active when the water temperatures are cooler than 50 degrees.
Most lakes are poor northern pike habitat. Pike favor large bodies of water that feature marshy spawning streams, an abundance of deep water and a good supply of soft rayed forage species. A pike will eat almost anything it can get its jaws around, but soft rayed forage fish that are rich in protein and fat are critical to producing large numbers of adult fish. Pike grow fast when they are treated to a steady diet of suckers, ciscoes, lake trout, whitefish, alewives or gizzard shad.
