Tip # 22 – Summer Time Northern Pike Fishing
Esox, Water wolf, Pike, Great Northern, Jack, whatever you want to call these beasts of the deep, they are an exciting fish to target regardless of the method you choose to employ. In the early season, targeting large northern Pike, especially trophy specimens is almost too easy. Look for a nice, shallow bay and start casting big crank bait or bunny fur fly and simply HANG ON TIGHT! Of course, there is a little more to choosing the right pike bait, but early in the season when they are just off the spawn and have tremendous appetites, lure, fly or bait selection is simple.
Once the hotter days of July and August roll around, the bigger pike that you are fishing for will head to much deeper, cooler waters. They’ll hold close to the bottom in water that is 30 to 40 feet deep, and they’ll suspend themselves in water twice that depth or more. One of the key things to look for when searching for summertime, deep water pike are schools of minnows and other baitfish. Pike will follow these schools around religiously and ambush them from behind, above and below. Finding baitfish is an entirely different topic as well. Devoted pike fishermen know what to look for when they are out trolling the depths for big northern pike. The easiest way of course is to use a fish finder. A fish finder will not only help you locate schools of baitfish, it will also assist in telling you the depth of water you are on as well as the temperature of the water. Keep your eyes peeled for flock of birds, and in particular look for groups of birds of different species all hanging out together on the surface. Thats a good indication right there that they are feeding on baitfish just below the surface.
Tight Lines!
Northern Pike - Water Wolf
I live in New Brunswick Canada where there are Chain Pickerel instead of Northern Pike. The pickerel doesn’t get much over 30 inches but they are just as aggressive as Northern’s so I have a great time fishing them here.
I would like to take a fly in trip to northern Ontario for week of Northern Pike fishing. It’s been a few years since I was on my last fly-in so I am due a trip.
So what do chain pickeral look like James? Are they the same species as the pickeral/walleye we have here in Ontario, or are they different altogether?