In spring, expect to find pike near spawning areas, including creeks, back bays, marshes and protected shorelines. Cast or troll the above lures in these areas, as well as in nearby vegetation beds and around points, and we guarantee you’ll catch plenty of springtime pike.
Is spring good for pike fishing?
Spring is prime time for pike. The Prespawn and Postspawn periods offer excellent odds at catching giants, along with oodles of feisty fish from the teens down to snot-rocket proportions. From before ice-out until pike begin to disperse to their summer locations, a variety of timely patterns are effective.
How do you target a spring pike?
Look for shallow, soft-bottomed back bays that lose ice and warm up the quickest. Back bays that have a large flat, around three feet of water, maybe with a creek feeding into it, with cane or weeds will be a prime area to start. It’s also where a lot of the bait migrate to, and pike will follow and eventually spawn.
What is the best month to catch 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.
Where do pike hide in the spring?
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.
Do pike bite in March?
I have found that February and March are generally excellent months for targeting big pre-spawn northern pike, both through the ice and in open water. You can pretty much use anything to target them now, be it spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spoons, dead or live baits.
Can u fish for pike in April?
Although we live in times of global warming, we of course experience cold winters. Sometimes winter reaches its peak in February and lasts until April. Under these conditions, pike normally begin their spawning in March and continue well into April.
Where do pike sit in lakes?
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 is the best bait for 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 do pike eat in the spring?
Pike are addicted to submerged weeds and the deeper and thicker they are in the spring, the better.
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.
How deep should I fish for pike?
PREDATOR LOCATION
In November, when there’s still plenty weed growth, pike congregate in weedy areas, that are three to six feet deep, as the water is warmer. These places also provide camouflage, enabling pike to ambush prey fish. Once December hits, and the first frosts bite, target water of at least six to 15 feet.
What time of day are pike most active?
between morning and noon
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.
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.
Why can’t I catch pike?
Switch up your bait, lure, or fishing spot if you’re coming up empty. If the pike aren’t biting, it could be your fishing location or the bait that you’re using. It’s best to bring multiple forms of bait in case the pike don’t like what you cast. Try out different baits and choose the one that works best for you.
What is pike favorite food?
Their preferred forage fish are yellow perch, sunfishes, minnows and suckers. As predators, northern pike can have significant impact on their prey species.
Where do pike go in warm weather?
During summer, the natural cover options increase, but so do the water temperatures. This means, that during the daytime, pike chooses places where the temperature doesn’t get as hot as the sun. If you’re fishing on a boat, locate the deeper parts of the lake or river you’re fishing on.
Do pike like frog lures?
Loved by pike and perch alike, frog lures can also be particularly effective when looking to target chub. This one has a hollow body, with the two hooks wrapping around the sides. This makes it weedless, so it is ideal to fish into any areas of heavy vegetation.
What weather is 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.
What temperature is best for pike fishing?
The optimal temperature lies between 8-15 degrees Celsius, but they can survive between 4-23 degrees Celsius.
Is a full moon good for pike fishing?
One surprising finding of the study was that pike bite extremely well during full moon phases, much better than during the ones of half moon.