Spring Pike Fishing
Spring pike fishing can yield some of the largest Northerns anglers will catch each year, but the key is knowing precisely when the best times are to fish, because some periods are definitely better than others. The pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn times of year comprise springtime fishing.
The time frame for pre-spawn depends on geography, but in the continental United States, this generally takes place in early April. During this time, chilly surface temperatures signal sluggish fish. Despite this pokiness, many trophy Northerns are caught during pre-spawn. The earlier in the spring, the better chance you will have at catching a lunker. If you want a shot at a trophy pike, make sure to try when there is still ice cover on the lakes. In terms of Northern pike fishing lures, whatever you use will need to move slowly in the water. Pike are swimming slowly during pre-spawn, and anything that moves too erratically or sinks too quickly will scare away a potential strike. During this time of year, your targets will be swimming in fairly shallow water where they can be warmed by the sun. Plugs are a highly effective lure to use for Northern pike fishing during this time; cast into shallow water and make sure your retrieval is very slow. Plugs that mimic minnows will work the best. Spoons can also be used, but they should be very lightweight so they do not sink too quickly in the water. Whatever you do, do not try trolling for pike during this time; it will only scare away the fish.
Spawn is not a good time to try your hand at Northern fishing. The females will not bite, and the males will only bite if they are swimming around, waiting for a female, but even then, these types of strikes are few and far between. You are better off to wait until spawning has been completed. Completion will vary greatly based on location; for example, in Minnesota, spawning generally takes place in early April, but in areas farther North such as Alaska, this may not occur until sometime in July.
Post-spawn is a period of recovery for both female and male pike, but females require a lot more time to recuperate and will only go for a very easy meal. Your best bet will be to try attracting a more active male after the spawn. However, even the males will be swimming very slowly and will only try for slow-moving prey. Live bait that is fished slowly tends to be more effective than artificial lures during this time. If you hook on a chub or shiner and dangle it right in front of a pike’s nose, a strike is typically imminent. If you are familiar with using dead bait, this will also attract a Northern during the post-spawn.
As long as you make yourself aware of the spawning times for your specific geographic region, you will be able to pinpoint the best (as well as worst) times for Northern pike fishing and can fish according to these patterns.