Northern Pike Fishing

Northern Pike are often thought of as mysterious creatures and, as a species of
fish like trout and carp, they have become less abundant, however they are
gaining popularity among anglers and fishermen. In May, when fish begin to spawn
the Northern Pike move into shallow waters and because this is the time they
weigh the most they are easier to find and catch. Experts advise that if a large
female pike, which can weigh 22 pounds or more, is caught during this time it
should be released because between 2.2 and 4.4 pounds of that female pike is the
weight of her eggs and those eggs are needed to preserve a sustainable level of
pike stock.

After spawning the pike go to deeper water and this can be a fun time to fish
because they have lots of energy and having lost a large amount of body mass
during spawning the pike are exceptionally hungry. During this time Northern
Pike can be caught by throwing wobblers, angling, fly fishing or trolling. Jerk
bait, which makes it possible to fish for pike at any water depth, has been
known to be very effective for catching these fish and it can also lead to
stunning fights and hard assaults as the fish physically attack with deadly
force and gigantic waves.

During the months of June and July Northern Pike favor the deeper water, between
10 and 30 ft. and at that depth they become more difficult to find. Pike bait
fishing and trolling are probably the most successful ways to catch the fish
during this time because these methods more easily enter the water depth
necessary to catch the fish. Cannon downriggers are among the most successful
tools to use when trolling.

As the water gets colder in September and October the Northern Pike come again
into the shallow water, 8 - 16 ft, which allows those fishing for the pike to
use all the most accepted and recognized fishing methods. Spring and autumn are
thought to be the best fishing seasons for catching large pike because the water
is generally colder which cause the pike to be a little slower.

Although fishing conditions continually change it is still helpful to know the
migratory patterns of the fish, the best fishing gear and the laws related to
fishing. Tools that are very useful to have after successfully catching pike are
fishing pliers and a digital fishing scale. It is also beneficial for beginners
in Northern Pike fishing to have read books about Northern Pike, which can be
the primary guide to pike fishing. There are also other informational resources
available including fishing videos, forums, DVDs, and online articles at ezine
articles, articlesbase, and onlinearticlesource.

It is also said that the messy, smelling, slimy nature of Northern Pike requires
a higher standard for self respecting fishermen and anglers.