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Answers (7)
You can fish pike literally all year round. I've had some good luck late summer, mid day in the full sun. Which is pretty much the opposite of what one would expect but that is my experience.
Correction: year round or as local regulations permit.
Spring when the perch are spawning and the pike have finished and they are gobbling perch is the best if you ask me. Now is good too.
I have made two excursions trying to catch a world record Northern Pike (caught lots in the 25-30lb range and lost two possibles but no records). I chose two weeks after ice out (around mid-June) in northern Manitoba for both of these excursions. At that time, pike occupy a condensed portion of the lake. They come to the shore line and small bays for pre-spawn and they feed aggressively. As an example, I caught a 28 pounder with a fresh 4 pound walleye in his throat; he hit the biggest daredevil they make. The black flies and mosquitos are also tolerable then. I like fishing at any time I can get out but if I am serious about lots of big fish, this is my favorite time of all.
My best Pike fishing as been Sept thru First week of Oct. "BIG" jerk baits and Daredevils that take 2 hands to cast. like Dakota , I fished a complete year just looking for that monster, Every weekend just for Pike. I did hook 1 too big to land in a boat.Somewhere in the 60" range possibly 55 to 60 # with a 8" spoon Sept 28th in upper Michigan, could not get it in a salmon net and the netter hit the line breaking it off. Big around as a 5gal bucket.Looked like a telephone pole with spots
Deerhunterrick,
That is a monster Pike. I bet you will remember that one for a lifetime.
Your story reminds me of the worst gaffing job of my life to date. I was fighting a big Pike on my line when my buddy asked me to gaff the Pike he was landing. He was certain it was a world record and he didn't want to risk tangling it in a net (however this was about the hundredth time he had made that claim on during the week).
Because he had cried "wolf" so many times I didn't really take him seriously. I was trying to keep my big fish out of the brush and quickly gaffed his fish as it cruised out from under the boat. When I went to flip it into the boat, I suddenly realized I was in way over my head. The fish was at least five feet long and weighed way more than I could lift at that angle. I lifted as far as I could but his tail was still deep in the water and he started to spin and flop. I lost my balance and fell in the boat, hitting my head hard on the seat. I was dazed for only a second but he twisted the gaff out of my hand just as I hit.
That monster skipped across the surface finally throwing the gaff at about 100 yards out and breaking my buddy's line about 300 yards out as he took everything on the spool. I've never been proud of that experience but will surely never forget it. Unfortunately, neither has my buddy... poor guy!
Spring after ice out, just after pike have spawned and perch are spawning. Water temp I've had success with is typically 50-55F.
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You can fish pike literally all year round. I've had some good luck late summer, mid day in the full sun. Which is pretty much the opposite of what one would expect but that is my experience.
Correction: year round or as local regulations permit.
My best Pike fishing as been Sept thru First week of Oct. "BIG" jerk baits and Daredevils that take 2 hands to cast. like Dakota , I fished a complete year just looking for that monster, Every weekend just for Pike. I did hook 1 too big to land in a boat.Somewhere in the 60" range possibly 55 to 60 # with a 8" spoon Sept 28th in upper Michigan, could not get it in a salmon net and the netter hit the line breaking it off. Big around as a 5gal bucket.Looked like a telephone pole with spots
Spring after ice out, just after pike have spawned and perch are spawning. Water temp I've had success with is typically 50-55F.
Spring when the perch are spawning and the pike have finished and they are gobbling perch is the best if you ask me. Now is good too.
I have made two excursions trying to catch a world record Northern Pike (caught lots in the 25-30lb range and lost two possibles but no records). I chose two weeks after ice out (around mid-June) in northern Manitoba for both of these excursions. At that time, pike occupy a condensed portion of the lake. They come to the shore line and small bays for pre-spawn and they feed aggressively. As an example, I caught a 28 pounder with a fresh 4 pound walleye in his throat; he hit the biggest daredevil they make. The black flies and mosquitos are also tolerable then. I like fishing at any time I can get out but if I am serious about lots of big fish, this is my favorite time of all.
Deerhunterrick,
That is a monster Pike. I bet you will remember that one for a lifetime.
Your story reminds me of the worst gaffing job of my life to date. I was fighting a big Pike on my line when my buddy asked me to gaff the Pike he was landing. He was certain it was a world record and he didn't want to risk tangling it in a net (however this was about the hundredth time he had made that claim on during the week).
Because he had cried "wolf" so many times I didn't really take him seriously. I was trying to keep my big fish out of the brush and quickly gaffed his fish as it cruised out from under the boat. When I went to flip it into the boat, I suddenly realized I was in way over my head. The fish was at least five feet long and weighed way more than I could lift at that angle. I lifted as far as I could but his tail was still deep in the water and he started to spin and flop. I lost my balance and fell in the boat, hitting my head hard on the seat. I was dazed for only a second but he twisted the gaff out of my hand just as I hit.
That monster skipped across the surface finally throwing the gaff at about 100 yards out and breaking my buddy's line about 300 yards out as he took everything on the spool. I've never been proud of that experience but will surely never forget it. Unfortunately, neither has my buddy... poor guy!
Post an Answer