Differences Between Pike Fishing Tackle And Walleye Fishing Tackle

There are many significant differences between the fishing tackle one would use for Walleye as opposed to what you would use when angling for Northern Pike. To understand the need for different tackle let us first examine the differences between these two species of fish.

Northern Pike are a much larger species than Walleye. The world record Northern Pike is more than twice as large as the world record Walleye. The average catch on the water follows this same pattern. The Northern Pike therefore is almost always the top of the food chain in a given lake. Walleye on the other hand are both predator and prey. This is important when considering which tackle to use.

The Walleye is a much more wary fish because of its fear of predation. This will cause you to need lighter tackle when fishing for this species. Walleye are a fish that moves carefully.

In selecting a fishing rod you need to consider the behavior of these two species. A Northern Pike will generally slam into a lure while a Walleye often will pick it up and carry it in its mouth before it commits to eating.

You will need a lighter action rod when fishing for Walleye because you need to know when the Walleye picks up your offering so you can set the hook before the fish recognizes it as unnatural and spits it out. When fishing for Northern Pike you do not have this worry and can choose a rod that is heavier.

The mouths of these two fish also call for two distinct differences in the pattern you use to catch them. A Northern Pike has a much bonier and tougher mouth than a Walleye. The lighter action rod we described above is not good for a Northern Pike for this reason.

You simply do not have the backbone to set a hook sometimes with a light action rod. Since you don't need the sensitivity of light action you should go heavier in your rod selection.

Northern Pike also have much larger mouths than Walleye. One of the prime reason Northern Pike are not a common fish in hatcheries is the need to constantly sort them by size.

A four inch fish will constantly eat a fish that is only two inches. Northern Pike are renowned for their ability to eat food that is a large percentage of their overall size. This calls for different lure selections when fishing for this species. You will often catch trophy sized Walleye on small to medium sized jigs, or on live bait as small as a leech or nitecrawler.

The table turns when fishing for Northern Pike however. To catch truly trophy sized fish it is best to use very large lures like spoons or jerk baits. When live bait fishing, it is not uncommon to use an eight to ten inch long fish for bait. In fact when Walleye fishing in water that also hold Northern Pike it is very common to see a pike grab a Walleye that is on your hook while you are retrieving it to the boat.