Northern Pike Fishing

Welcome to our Northern Pike Fishing Home Page

Northern pike are one of the most exciting freshwater fish to catch. Whether they are attacking a lure next to the boat or trying to steal your walleye that you’re trying to catch, northern pike can always make your day on the water a little more exciting. At times, pike can be fairly easy to catch because they will hit such a wide variety of live baits and artificial lures and at other times, they may seem tough to catch just like any other fish out there. To learn more about northern pike, we have tons of content in this section for you.

Some of the Best Pike Fishing is up North

The best pike fishing destinations are going to be found up north. Whether you are looking to catch large numbers of northern pike or big fish, you’re going to be looking at our featured fishing destinations located in the northern part of the United States and in Canada.

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Best Northern Pike Fishing Destinations

Northern Pike Fishing Tips

Quick Links

Baits, Rigs & Techniques	Tackle Recommendations

Best Fishing Rigs	Fishing Line Recommendations
Best Fishing Techniques	Fishing Rod & Reel Recommendations
Best Live Baits
Best Lures	Time of Day & Throughout the Seasons

Catch More & Bigger Fish	Seasons (Spring thru Winter)
	Time of Day
Catch Big Northern Pike
Catch Lots of Northern Pike	Water & Weather

Kitchen Table	Cover & Structure
	Types of Water
Eating Northern Pike	Water Depths
	Weather

Habitat

Northern pike prefer cold water, but they can be found in a variety of different habitats as long as they have enough cool water and good oxygen levels. Up north, pike are found in smaller lakes, large lakes, clear water, murky water, in streams and rivers. Pike prefer vegetation, but you will find plenty of pike around rocks, wood, sand, mud and they often are found roaming deeper waters offshore as well.

Learn more about the different types of cover and structure where you will find and catch more northern pike.

Sharp Teeth, Super Slimy & Crazy Aggressive

For many anglers, catching northern pike is so much fun, but then dealing with them in the boat can be a total pain due to their sharp teeth, slimy coating on their skin and their crazy aggressive behavior. Northern Pike can easily bite through fishing line and will tear through your flesh as well if you give them a chance. Catching them may be fun, but you need to be prepared to handle them once they are in the boat. For the smaller ones, we do have some tips for helping you deal with them so you do not need to touch them.

Shake Them Off Next to the Boat

Take Them Off Without Touching Them

Dealing With Bigger Pike Can Be Challenging

You are better off having someone in the boat who knows how to handle bigger pike for your first one. However, if you do not have that luxury, make sure you have a good-sized fishing net in the boat to go along with a good pair of pliers and an understanding of where you can grab the pike safely.

Using Leaders is Super Important

Make sure you bring some pre-tied leaders on the boat or learn to tie your own leaders, so you can avoid the bite-offs from their sharp teeth.

Bring a Good Pair of Pliers

Bring a good pair of needle nose pliers to help get the hooks out of their mouths without getting yourself bloody. Whether you are catching big pike, small pike and every size in between, you will need a pair of pliers to help get the hooks off consistently.

Northern Pike Can Be Crazy, So Be Careful

Northern Pike are Slimy – Bring a Rag on the Boat

Northern Pike Love the Weeds

Pike love weeds and there are a variety of weeds to fish. Cabbage and reeds tend to be best when it comes to pike fishing. The bays usually will have more vegetation on most lakes, so seek out the bays first if you’re searching for the weeds. Find some deeper weed edges in these areas and you’ll most likely do much better.

Learn more about fishing the weeds for northern pike.

Pike Love Flashy Lures

Any lure with a spinner on it will usually do a good job of attracting plenty of pike. Obviously, you have to get the size right and present the bait in the right place, but the flashier the better when fishing for northern pike. Some of the most popular flashy lures are casting spoons, trolling spoons, inline spinners, bucktail spinners, spinnerbaits, underspins and bladed swim jigs.

Pike Prefer Colder Water

Northern pike are found up north where there is plenty of cold water available to them. Pike are found in colder climates and these fish feed really well in colder water temperatures. Anglers catch northern pike through the ice and in open water with temperates in the 40s and below.

Pike Have Y-Bones Which Makes Filleting Them More Difficult

Northern pike taste excellent, however, many people do not eat them due to their Y-Bones. These bones are a pain in the butt compared to filleting a walleye, so many anglers just release northern pike. For anglers that learn how to fillet these fish, you will be rewarded with a very tasty fish to eat.

Best Baits for Northern Pike

Soft Baits

Hard Baits

Live Baits