Fishing for Northern Pike

How to go fishing for and catch Northern Pike in the UK, Ireland, Canada and USA

Author: Ultimate Fishing Lures Online Store Date: 1st of March 2018

While there are many predator fish in a lake, other than a musky, none plays the part better than the northern pike. Simply called northern by most, these fish come with a full set of sharp teeth the gill plates to match. If an angler is not careful, these fish will draw blood with lightning speed. Learning to handle these toothy critters is a must for those looking to hook into a few.

Needle-nose pliers are a must and a jaw spreader is a very good idea. Never reach your hand inside a northerns mouth. It is a good idea to use needle-nose pliers to remove a hook, even if it is visible in the corner of the fishs mouth. One small shake of the head and these strong predators can do a lot of damage.

For the most part, regular bass gear is sufficient , but a wire leader is a good idea for those not wanting to lose baits with virtually every strike. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and larger swim jigs are good places to start when thinking about baits. These baits are known as 'search baits&apos' and can help an angler cove a great deal of water. By covering water, an angler can find where the fish are holding. From there, it is easier to find different spots around the lake that set up the same, and target those areas for more fish. For instance, if it is early spring and an angler finds northern pushed back up into a shallow bay, which is often the case this time of year, the angler can then find other shallow bays around the lake and target the same type of situations. Once a pattern is established this way, it should work throughout the lake.

Jerk baits are great for northern as well, often eliciting a reaction strike when other baits fail. The important part about a jerk bait is to match the size and color to the available forage. Knowing what is in the lake and what it looks like at a particular time of year can be very helpful. Soft plastic jerk baits are great for throwing over top of weeds where hard jerk bait treble hooks may become fouled. Try these baits near feeder creeks or in places where there is current, as many fish preyed upon by northern spawn in these areas. When fishing weeds, look for the greenest weeds in the lake. This will indicate warmer and more oxygenated water.

Northern start to spawn when the water temperature is in the mid 40s. This could mean they are spawning while there is still ice on the lake, or just as the ice is coming off. Spring is arguably the best time to fish for northern just for that reason. They are up shallow and may be lurking around in bays where the ice has come off even if there is still ice on the rest of the lake. Getting out as early as regulations allow is a great way to capitalize on some great northern pike action. This is even a great time for bank fishermen to get in on the northern action.

View more articles in our World Fishing Guide.