Fishing For Northern Pike


In fresh water angling it is hard to find anything more fun or rewarding than fishing for northern pike, especially for the beginner. The fish are big and plentiful, they put up quite a fight when you hook them, and they will jump on just about any lure. What else could you ask for? (Advanced anglers looking for a real challenge might want to pick up a fly reel and try their luck at catching some rainbow trout)

Pike are ambush predators, lying in wait for extended periods of time, waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim by. They are aggressive hunters, and will try to eat just about anything of just about any size. Similar to frogs, motion is the key, so “jerking” your lure has proven to be very successful when fishing for northern pike.

Trolling (towing the lure behind the boat) is a popular way to fish in the summer, when larger pike move into deeper waters. Float tubes and fly fishing also work well. Basically, it is up to you!

One thing to be wary of when fishing for northern pike is the fact that they have lots of sharp teeth, so be careful when removing hooks. A suggestion would be to use hooks with smaller barbs, or even no barbs at all.

Another positive aspect to fishing for northern pike is the fact that they are quite tasty! Pike have a mild-tasting, white flesh that is used often in European cuisine. Pike are bony, though, so bigger is better. The bones are very hard to separate from the meat in the smaller fish.

So if you’re new to fishing, or are planning a fishing trip with a group of inexperienced, but eager anglers, then pack up some lures and go fishing for northern pike! If you time it right (keep in mind that the colder the water is, the closer to the surface the pike will hang out) then chances are you will not be disappointed!


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