Adult northern pike have a fondness for perch and suckers in the 4- to 15-inch range. Baits that mimic these species are good choices. Northern pike often stalk their prey from below, which means jerk bait lures that mimic an injured or dying fish can be a good choice too.
What is the best bait for northern pike?
Soft rayed fish that have lots of natural oil in the skin and flesh make the best dead baits for pike fishing. These natural oils leech into the water and help to attract pike that may be cruising in the area. Some of the best dead baits are smelt, alewives, small whitefish, chubs, and the always popular sucker.
What time of day is best for northern pike fishing?
During spring and fall, fishing between late morning and early afternoon will be the best time to catch pike. Very early mornings and late evenings are your best picks during the summer. In winter, the hours between the later mornings and middays are usually best.
What month is best for pike fishing?
Regardless of where you fish, late May and early June is a prime time to target big pike. The majority of pike will spawn around the full moon cycle in April whether under ice or open water. By mid-May the spawn is over and the big fish look to regain all the weight they lost during the spawn process.
What attracts pike most?
Pike are visual feeders, and tend to be attracted to bright colors. Use high-visibility colors like white, chartreuse, and bright orange. They also respond well to baits that put off lots of vibration or sound.
What is northern pike favorite food?
Northern Pike are at the top of the food chain in most lakes and they just about eat anything. Walleyes, Chubs, Perch, Bass, Shiners, Frogs, Snakes, Birds, Bugs and other Pike are all on there menu.
Do pike prefer deep or shallow water?
It also needs shallow water to be successful. The shallows warm up much quicker than deeper parts. If these 2 conditions are not met, the pike will not be able to spawn.
Do pike like shallow or deep water?
Most of these fish are caught in shallow water. Big pike, however, go deep. Many times they are in water 15 feet deep or deeper. At these times, a big deep running lure is needed.
What colors do pike see best?
The absolute best lure colors for murky water pike are white, green/chartreuse, and orange. This article is based on my personal experiences over the last 20+ years and on a big survey that involved asking 100 pike anglers for their lure and color preferences.
Where do pike hide in rivers?
Pike is a predator fish, who takes advantage of the surroundings. In rivers, pikes usually stay out of the stream, hiding in water weeds and lily pads. A great place to start would be the turning points of a river or river mouths. When it’s warm, pikes move to deeper waters.
What color attracts northern pike?
The ability of slower retrieve along with a softer underwater tone gives you the injured fish action northern pike prey upon. Best pike lure colors: Red/Black or White (sunny days), Chartreuse/Blue (cloudy days).
Can you fish for pike on rivers all year round?
Pike can be caught throughout the year, but are most active during cold water seasons – from fall to spring. This is why they’re very popular during winter times when lakes and rivers are frozen.
When can you fish for pike on rivers?
The Best Time to Fish for Pike
Although there is no set season for pike, traditionally most predator anglers start in November when the water temperature starts to fall. Be mindful that predators such as pike and zander also like a settled temperature.
What time do northern pike eat?
Fish Hour After Sunset and Hour Before Sunrise
According to a study by Kobler et al. (2008), during the summer pike exhibited peak feeding and movement activity during the twilight hours. Likewise, the hour before sunrise can also be quite active for pike.
Does wd40 attract pike?
What is this? According to some experiments done to see if this method actually works, apparently, WD-40 does not catch fish or attract them.
Why can’t I catch pike on lures?
Sometimes you have to virtually run the lure past the pike’s nose before it’s tempted to strike. If fishing a narrow drain or canal, always cast your lure ahead of where you’re walking so you don’t spook the fish. Remember, pike are often laying in wait in shallow water and margins.
How old is a 10 pound northern pike?
14
Fish Age-Size and Male/Female Ratio Chart
| Fish Age | Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 32.5″-82cm | 6.3lb |
| 13 | 33″-84cm | 7.6lb |
| 14 | 34″-87cm | 10lb |
| 15 | 35″-88cm | 10.5lb |
How old is a 50 inch northern pike?
The average adult Minnesota pike lives about six years, reaches 26 inches in length, and weighs 4 pounds. Rarely, some pike are more than 20 years old and over 50 inches long. The largest pike caught in Minnesota weighed nearly 46 pounds. It was caught in Basswood Lake in Lake County in 1929.”
Do northern pike like warm or cold water?
Numerous biological studies have shown that northern pike prefer water temperatures in the 67- to 72-degree range. That range might be about right for pike up to five pounds, but as the fish grow larger, their temperature preference changes.
How do you find a pike in a river?
Pike utilise cover wherever possible, be that undercut banks, tree roots, fallen trees or branches in the water. They also gravitate towards manmade structures, such as locks, weirs, bridges, moored boats or anything that can provide shade or cover… Small, slow-running rivers make for great locations to find pike.
Are pike top or bottom feeders?
Both Musky and Northern Pike will feed in shallow water or in deep water. Many people think pike only hang around in shallow water but nothing is farther from the truth. Northern Pike in lakes with Whitefish and Lake Trout will go deep to feed.