Pike Fishing Tips

A seasoned fisherman might think he knows everything he needs to know about Northern pike fishing, but there are always new things to learn about the sport so that you can better your chances of getting strikes out on the water.  In the next several paragraphs you will learn about some pike fishing tips about what types of lures best attract these large fish and why.  There is also a bait idea you may never have thought to try before.

If you want to know what a Northern pike will eat, the answer is simple.  They will eat whatever is readily available to them.  That doesn’t mean they don’t have their favorite foods.  Their favorite food tends to be bluegills.  However, these fish are hard to catch, so pike will then settle on smaller baitfish that are much easier to catch.  The type of fish that take the least amount of energy to catch are a large part of their diet.

Since baitfish are a popular meal for pike, it is important to select lures that mimic their characteristics.  In terms of shape, find artificial lures that look most like chubs, shiners, or even small trout.  However, since Northern pike tend not to be too picky when eating, shape is not as critical as other physical characteristics, such as color.

Pike will often go for easy meals such as injured prey.  To help attract a hungry Northern looking for a simple catch, use a light colored lure, such as white or silver.  This light color indicates an injured fish trying to swim on its side.  If you are fishing in murky water, your best bet will be a bright neon color like green, yellow, or orange, since they will be far more visible in the water.

The size of your Northern pike lures will depend on the conditions where you are fishing.  If you are in weedbeds, a larger lure is beneficial because it will be easier for fish to see your lure’s flash through the weeds.  But in sunny, bright conditions when a pike will be less likely to exert a lot of energy for a meal, a small lure will work best because it will be easier for them to catch.  No matter what size, shape, or color of lure you use, note that your lure’s scent is not much of a factor, since pike do not rely on their sense of smell when hunting prey.

Live and artificial bait are both commonly used in Northern pike fishing.  There is a different type of bait you can use, though, that appeals to their cannibalistic tendencies.  If you cut pike belly into strips, making sure you include spotty areas as well as white areas, you will likely find success in catching Northerns.  As stated earlier, these fish will eat anything, including smaller fish within their own species.  If you try using this type of bait, use an erratic retrieval to create movement.  This bait might not be a popular choice for anglers who don’t want to sacrifice a tasty meal for making bait, but if you have caught some smaller Northerns, you may want to give this a whirl.

As you can see, by appealing to a pike’s natural feeding tendencies and preferences, you can help your chances of landing a lunker the next time you are Northern pike fishing.