Northern Pike are a favorite species among freshwater anglers wherever they’re found. Known for their aggressive behavior and ability to reach large sizes, they promise a fierce fight on all kinds of tackle. The predatory response of Pike makes them a perfect candidate for fishing lures. Placing an artificial in the strike zone will often trigger a hard strike or, at the very least, an interested follow. In fact, Pike sometimes chase lures all the way to the rod tip!
They boast strong populations in lakes and rivers across Alaska, Canada, and the northern half of the US, giving plenty of opportunities for anglers.
If that’s whetted your appetite, get ready to learn more about how to go fishing for Northern Pike using lures. In this guide, we’ll cover some of the best tools you can employ, along with tips on their behavior, the best techniques, and more. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Understanding Northern Pike Behavior
Northern Pike eat fish, frogs, birds, mice, crayfish, and just about anything they can inhale. Seriously, these fish are known to even bite at small dogs in extreme cases! They’re voracious eaters but most of their meals come from quick strikes on unsuspecting prey.
This makes them ambush feeders. Pike like to camouflage in weed beds, around log jams, and along shelves on drop-offs. Anywhere they can sit and lurk while waiting for prey to come near is a potential Northern Pike habitat. You’ll often find them in still or very slow-moving water, but I’ve caught Pike in rivers with moderate currents as well.
Pike are sensitive to changes in temperatures and will respond with more or less aggression depending on the weather. They’ll also hold in different areas based on the temperature. For example, in cold water and frozen conditions, you’ll find them in areas with absolutely no current. They love sheltered sloughs and protected coves. During the heat of summer, however, the fish expand their range and move into areas with more current and greater calorie options.
You can cast, troll, jig, drop bait, fly fish, and use pretty much any legal method to catch Pike. Of course, choosing the best option for the specific day is another matter! It’s always changing based on the conditions and mood of the fish. Keep reading to see which Pike fishing lure matches which conditions…
The Best Lures for Pike Fishing
There are so many great fishing lures for Northern Pike – narrowing down the options is the biggest challenge for most anglers! Some folks carry boxes filled with different styles and colors, while others only carry a few lures that consistently produce. Personally, I like to keep some variety in terms of color and size, with bright colors and dark colors ranging from small to large. Here’s what I typically carry, and some tips on how to use them:
Jigs
Jigs are the most simple and versatile lure out there. They integrate well with soft plastics and live or cut bait. I love a good bucktail jig for Pike and a range of other species as well. They’re especially effective for Pike because the lures cover a large area in the vertical water column. Finding the best depth is challenging in many Pike fishing situations but, by casting and retrieving jigs or trolling them with action on the rod, you’ll see them bounce through the water. It’s a great way to search and find the sweet spot where Pike are suspended or hiding.
Swimbaits
The family of stickbaits, crankbaits, and other hard-body baits fall into this category. Rapala and Kwikfish options are always great for Pike fishing. Carry models designed to dive deep and shallow to cover every aspect of the water column. Wobbly stickbaits troll really well, while shorter crankbaits are great to cast and retrieve or troll.
Soft Plastic Lures
Thread a soft plastic on a jig hook or rig in the Texas or Carolina style to fish through weed beds. Soft plastics are hard to beat for realistic presentations and they even come scented to trigger the olfactory system of a Pike. A few favorite styles include worms, minnows, other fish imitations, and frogs. Plastic lures are convenient to carry and are so much fun to fish.
Spinnerbaits
These lures look odd and clunky with a bent wire and spinner situated above the bait. But they cast surprisingly well. They’re also excellent for trolling through shallow areas and snags. The spinner position adds motion while also deflecting snags and obstacles. When you view a spinnerbait in action, it quickly becomes apparent that they’re attractive lures.
Spoons
The classic spoon is a simple piece of metal attached to a hook. They come in different colors but you really can’t go wrong with a traditional silver or gold. The magic of spoons lies in the flash and the action when pulled through the water. They’re great for casting and you can catch pretty much anything that swims with them. I love how versatile spoons are and always carry a few in my lure box when fishing for Pike.
Flies
For the fly anglers out there, streamer patterns are excellent for Pike fishing. Chip’s Magic, Whistler flies and Bunny patterns all work great. There are numerous fly patterns tied specifically for Pike, so feel free to experiment. You can even work topwater poppers when the fish are lurking in shallow weed beds!
Pike Lure Fishing Techniques
The nice thing about Pike fishing is that it’s rarely a technical endeavor. Once you find the fish and have a good idea about depth and structure, it’s all about getting in front of their strike zone. Pick your favorite lure and work close to structure, against weeds, through weeds, and anywhere that looks lively. Sometimes you have to go searching to find them but once you solve the holding patterns, the action can really get hot.
Trolling is a great approach when the fish are scattered and you are having a hard time finding them. Jigging is excellent when the Pike are suspended and you want to stay right over the strike zone. Otherwise, I love casting and retrieving lures. Pike strike fast and hard, and it just feels better while retrieving a lure.
Where to Catch Trophy Pike
We know that Pike love structure and ambush zones but where in North America can you find the species? They have a surprisingly large distribution with populations ranging from California to the Great Lakes region. Canada is absolutely loaded with huge Pike and they have many remote fly-in lodges. Alaska has some excellent fisheries as well but the species is more of an afterthought with so many Salmon and Trout present.
The upper Midwest is really the hot zone in the United States. Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Great Lakes region are full of opportunity. The Rocky Mountain states are surprising with some huge Pike coming out of Colorado reservoirs! And my home state of Montana is also a great place to chase the species and we have some really big fish caught in lakes and rivers each year.
Are you ready to try these Pike fishing lures?
You’re sure to catch plenty of Northern Pike while fishing with the lures listed here! Of course, you might find something unique elsewhere but use this as a baseline to stock your boxes and prepare for any Pike fishing trip. Pike is an exciting species and it doesn’t take long to become obsessed with the adrenaline generated from a great strike. Now it’s time for you to get in on the action!
Are you obsessed with Pike fishing? We’d love to hear about your favorite lures and flies. Maybe you’re thinking of trying it for the first time? Either way, reach out in the comments below!
The post Northern Pike Fishing Lures: An Angler’s Guide for 2024 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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