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Canada Northern Pike FishingLate Spring Action!If you want the thrill of a cranky, feisty, scrappy fish on the end of your line, Canada northern pike fishing is for you. This freshwater predator is among the easiest fish to catch because it will strike almost any lure out of hunger – or just plain aggression. The pike is an extremely efficient predator that has remained relatively unchanged for more than 60 million years.
Canada northern pike fishing requires strategies that vary somewhat from season to season. In the very early spring a successful tactic is deadbait fishing for pike . This method has the ability to land a lot of big pike shortly after spawn and ice off. If you can’t make it on the water shortly after ice out, no worries. There are other tactics to land your trophy in late spring and early summer. Read on and remember, your next big one could be only a cast away. Canada northern pike fishing promises the potential for great action!!
Smaller pike in the summer (which are easier to clean than the big ones), typically prefer water in the 75 degree range. The big northerns favor temperatures a bit cooler. They like water in the 50 to 55 degree range. Depending on what your goals are (catching a trophy or catching a meal) it will dictate what depth you work at while Canada northern pike fishing. Generally speaking, pike have been known to favor prey that is 10 to 20 percent of their body mass. From time to time they will strike a fish that is close to half of their size. The moral of this story – if you want a large pike – you should consider using a large lure.
While Canada northern pike fishing, you must remember that the fish can be found in a variety of locations. Northern pike like to ambush their prey. They will set themselves up in positions to give themselves the best advantage possible. Areas that have thick weeds, defined underwater structure and narrows between two bodies of water are popular pike locations. Also if you find a small stream trickling into a bay, the pike will be on the lookout for prey at the points of that bay as they seek to carry out an ambush.Make sure you have at least eight pound test on your reel with a strong wire leader attached. If you hook a big one, they can put a tremendous amount of stress on your line. Your lures will be the key to your success when Canada northern pike fishing - that leader will help protect them.
There are a number of lures specifically engineered to spark the northern pikes aggressive nature. It’s amazing how many have worked for so long. Spoons 3 to 4 inches long and red and silver in appearance have always been a killer. The five of diamonds and the ladybug have been at the heart of successful Canada northern pike fishing for years as well. These spoons showcase a slow wobble that interest pike in a variety of moods. Make sure you have your share of these – and in a couple of different sizes (3 to 4 inch size for sure). Chances are you are going to lose a few of these on your Canada northern pike fishing trip, so be ready.
With clear water, the red and silver color works well. With muddy water, a yellow Five-of-Diamonds seems to work better.
While Canada northern pike fishing, the positioning of your cast is important. Cast your spoon retrieving it at a slow to medium Speed. Give your rod an occasional tug to flutter the spoon under water. Cast along side of weedbeds or along structure enticing the pike in waiting to come out of hiding and ambush your lure. Remember to hang on tight. When a northern pike strikes, you know it. You may feel more than one hit on your retrieval. Northern pike will “hit” their prey in order to stun it on occasion. Once stunned they will turn for the kill. If you feel a hit but have nothing on the end of your line, hang on. Pike often circle back to finish its prey off!!
Another good option for pike (and big pike too) in the late spring and early summer are spinners. Mepps and Blue Fox spinners of a variety of colors have brought in their share of big northern pike. The advantage of these lures is their spinning action causes a slight lift to the hook. This allows you to slow your presentation down, and entice the “ big ones” to hit. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the speed of your retrieval. For amazing fun, top water lures can be an absolute riot. A “buzzbait” which slaps along the top of the water upon retrieval is supposed to mimic an injured duckling. Northern pike will come out of the water to strike this lure. Many times they will miss as they throw themselves in a flurry toward the hook. This can be absolutely hilarious. The success rate of hooking them is not as high as a spinner or spoon, but the action creates will be something you will remember for a long time! Try it on your next Canada northern pike fishing trip!
Plugs are also a very effective means for catching northern pike (particularly large ones). They too float allowing for a slow retrieval. Jointed plugs between 6 to 8 inches seem to work the best as they allow for the “perfect action” to entice a pike to strike. Color depends on the brightness of the day and the clarity of the water. The most effective plugs for Canada northern pike fishing must work well with a wire leader. Cast a floating minnow or plug near a weedbed or other structure. This will give you an opportunity to swim the lure past the pike area. Twitch it shortly after it hits the water, and begin bringing it in. You can let it float back to the top, and continue this way off and on back to the boat. If this does not induce a strike bring the lure in faster as if it were a fish gaining its bearings again. If no success, repeat the process and cast the lure to another spot. For the best results Canada northern pike fishing, keep the lure's movement understated with numerous long pauses between twitches. This gives the fish lots of time to examine the lure and decide when to attack.
Northern pike can be finicky. If you do not have any luck with strikes using a “slower” method, incrementally speed up your retrieval. Chances are you will get a pike to strike out from under a water lily or from the tall grass in a bay. You just need to find the right speed to attract the fish to strike the lure. Whether you are fishing spinners, plugs or spoons, weather plays a major factor in catching pike of all sizes. Windy days seem to be best for pike because the wind causes confusion to the pike's senses of vision and hearing. Typically the biggest pike are caught in the early spring – but many anglers swear a windy unsettled day can be just as effective in the summer time. Pike have to feed without fear, making them more likely to be attracted to the proper presentation of an effective lure.
Remember these strategies the next time you are on the water. For other great northern pike strategies remember to explore Freshwater Fishing Canada! Good luck out there!
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How about a slap? One potentially effective way to maximize the success of spoons is to slap them. Simply cast toward your target zone higher than normal. Pull the rod swiftly toward you when the lure is about to hit the water. This will make the lure jump back and slap the water. Many times this attracts nearby pike and triggers the aggressive nature within.
As good as buzzbaits are however, they are not the best top water lure you should have. Floating minnow baits like Rapalas or Thundersticks are great choices for Canada northern pike fishing. Not only can you slow retrieve them to mimic an injured fish on the surface, but you can speed up your retrieval. By speeding up the retrieval, they will dive to deeper waters, and past a waiting pike’s domain.
No matter what type of presentation you have decided on, all casts should be thrown beyond the pike's suspected position. Wait long enough for the ripples to settle. Simply aim your rod tip toward the landing place of the lure, and start a slow twitch of your rod. Begin reeling up all the slack while anticipating a strike.