Ice Fishing Pike

Oxygen equals fish...

Too often while ice fishing pike, anglers head to the same location they had success in the spring and summer. While the pike may be at these locations for part of the winter, they most likely won’t be there for long. Pike are often on the move during the winter months as they seek pockets of water with high oxygen content.

Much like a blood-hound on the trail of a rabbit, northern pike have an amazing capacity for finding water with the richest quantity of oxygen. It doesn’t matter if they are in a lake or river, pike will consistently seek out water with the most plentiful oxygen. These are the locations you need to find in order to catch fish..

Think about the terrific weed beds that form during the spring and summer months. These locations are often havens for large and plentiful northern pike. But when the ice forms, these great summer-time locations can actually drive pike to seek out different waters.

The reason? As the underwater foliage decomposes over the winter it sucks oxygen out of the water. As the oxygen level decreases the pike are driven to seek out different locations. While ice fishing for pike you need to be attuned to this fact.

So where does one find these oxygen rich locations? Well, it is actually fairly straight forward. Those that have the most success pike fishing know that the oxygen levels are higher where a creek or river empties into a lake. As the fresh water enters the lake or reservoir it drives the oxygen content up in these locations. Find the oxygen and you will find the fish.

Ice fishing for pike is a terrific way to spend a winter day. Keep your location in mind and have a successful outing.

Thanks for reading.

Good fishing.

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