Pike haunt the shallow bays and weed beds of northern lakes throughout the year. Big pike, however, will move to deeper water during long, hot summer days. Many pike fishermen believe pike quit hitting once the water temperature has reached 65 degrees. Some will even tell you that in the summer they lose their teeth.
What time of day are pike most active?
The pike’s metabolism rises and falls with the water temperature, which is why it’ll be at its most active between morning and noon, when the now stronger sun, or a mild, overcast spring day, causes the water temperature to increase.
What conditions are best for pike fishing?
Favorable weather conditions for pike include a low-pressure system with moderate temperatures, overcast skies, and southern or southwestern winds. Rain does however have a somewhat more negative effect on the pike’s appetite and should hence be avoided.
Are pike hard to reel in?
Pike have extremely sharp teeth that gives them the ability to break through some line with ease. It is important to structure your line with the reel and rod set up you plan to use. For a reel that has at least a maximum of 15 pounds worth of drag, we like to use 15 to 20-pound braided line.
What’s the best time to fish for pike?
The best time of year for pike is fall, as the water temperature is slowly dropping and the pike feed and hunt very actively and aggressively. More specifically, September and October are, by far, the best months to target pike.
What depth do you fish for pike?
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.
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.
Where do big pike hang out?
They will stick to the back of bays where water warms up quickly with the morning sun and they have lots of weeds to hide in. The really large Northern Pike are more likely to hang around points leading into bays, narrows between islands or in river current especially later in the spring.
How do you know if there is pike in a lake?
Look for drop-offs which are noted holding points for the predators such as pike as they can hold in the deeper water, waiting for prey fish to move in or out of the shallows before they strike. Also, check any kind of structure as these tend to hold pike.
Do pike like calm water?
Believe it or not, calm water is actually my number 1 favorite conditions to catch Pike, anywhere, anytime. There is a reason for this, and it is really simple. On a day with wind, the force of the wind determines the spots you are able to fish. But it’s not about the spots.
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.
What kind of lures do pike like?
The very best lures to use for pike in clear water are swimbaits, softbaits, and crankbaits with an authentic pattern and swimming action. Natural lure colors that resemble the pike’s prey, such as white, silver, green, or black, have proven most effective.
What colors do pike like?
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).
Do pike stay in the same area?
During the winter they will go to the deeper parts of the lake, where the water is a bit warmer and stay there until spring time, when the spawning starts. They will most often stay in the shallow areas until the water temperature drops again.
How do you fish for pike from shore?
Pike will be in deeper water away from shore during the summer so it is paramount to use waders and cast far for these fish. During the fall, focus on weeds and logs in 6-20 feet of water. If you find these features near shore, they can be awesome for fall anglers.
What temperature do pike start biting?
Pike stay shallow, following forage. Optimal metabolism temperature is around 66 degrees, and they’ll feed aggressively as the waters reach this temperature.
Does pike come to the surface?
Generally warmer weather will mean that pike are more willing to commit to topwater strikes. Although you can never say never in fishing, cold water usually means that fish want to hug the bottom and you might struggle for action on the surface in the depths of winter!
How do you target a pike?
Use high-visibility colors like white, chartreuse, and bright orange. They also respond well to baits that put off lots of vibration or sound. Top choices for pike include spinnerbaits, inline spinners, lipless cranks, and loud topwaters like buzzbaits and walking baits.
What depth do pike like in winter?
Agreed, however, that in most prime lakes, most bigger pike come from 15 to 35 feet of water during midwinter.
Are pike in every river?
Many modern anglers begin fishing on still waters, so have little or no experience of rivers. If you are new to Pike fishing and rivers too, then don’t over reach yourself. Pike are very common and live in rivers of all sizes.
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.