Is Pike Fishing Easy?

The type of rod and reel that you’ll need is determined by the style of pike fishing you want to do – lure fishing or bait fishing. But regardless of the style they will need to be quite powerful because pike are hard-fighters and can reach weights of over 30lb.

Is it easy to catch a pike?

Pike are aggressive apex predators and are usually easy to catch, because they will chase and bite at almost anything smaller than them.

How long does it take to catch a pike?

If a hungry Pike is in the swim it will usually bite within 20 to 30 minutes, if not then simply move to the next likely looking spot. Fishing a dead bait is often the best method. Dead baits work in clear or cloudy water, day or night, on still waters and rivers.

What’s best for catching pike?

A medium-heavy action spinning rod of around 7ft is a perfect fit for most pike lures. For lighter trolling, float, and or fishing, a somewhat longer heavy action spinning rod of 8-9ft will definitely suffice to start off with. Just make sure you are buying rods with a decent backbone.

What month is best for pike fishing?

Regardless of where you fish, late May and early June is a prime time to target big pike. The majority of pike will spawn around the full moon cycle in April whether under ice or open water. By mid-May the spawn is over and the big fish look to regain all the weight they lost during the spawn process.

What time of day is best for pike fishing?

Early morning right before the sun rises is an excellent time to target hungry pike. You can either find them in open or shallow water hunting down their first meal of the day.

Do pike like deep water?

Most of these fish are caught in shallow water. Big pike, however, go deep. Many times they are in water 15 feet deep or deeper. At these times, a big deep running lure is needed.

Why can’t I catch pike on lures?

Sometimes you have to virtually run the lure past the pike’s nose before it’s tempted to strike. If fishing a narrow drain or canal, always cast your lure ahead of where you’re walking so you don’t spook the fish. Remember, pike are often laying in wait in shallow water and margins.

Can I eat pike?

Pike meat is white, flavorful, and flaky, but is quite boney. Pike are boney fish. Small pike are more difficult to clean and eat because there is simply less meat on the bones. Older fish, those in the 24″ and over range, are better for eating than the small ones, although both have a good flavor.

Can you pike fish all year round?

Lots of anglers fish for pike from October through to the end of the traditional river season on 15 March. Some wait until the first frosts in autumn. Many other anglers fish for pike all year round.

Does pike jump out of water?

Why do northern pike jump out of the water? Northern pike will jump out of the water to avoid being eaten by larger pike, to aggressively attack prey at the surface, and most commonly, in effort to throw an angler’s bait after being hooked.

Does pike fight hard?

They shake their head, they pull hard, they get even feistier at the side of the boat, and I’ve even had them jump high in the air. Pike are definitely good fighters.

What do pike bite on?

Use high-visibility colors like white, chartreuse, and bright orange. They also respond well to baits that put off lots of vibration or sound. Top choices for pike include spinnerbaits, inline spinners, lipless cranks, and loud topwaters like buzzbaits and walking baits.

Do pike bite on worms?

What Fish Will Bite Worms? Just about all freshwater gamefish and baitfish alike, at least in North America, will eat a worm. Some species are much more likely to eat a worm than others. For example, pike, muskies, chain pickerel, adult largemouth bass, and carp are not terribly interested in biting worms.

Where do pike like to hide?

In rivers, pikes usually stay out of the stream, hiding in water weeds and lily pads. A great place to start would be the turning points of a river or river mouths. When it’s warm, pikes move to deeper waters.

Do pike bite in the rain?

You can find plenty of pike in the shallows feeding on bait fish during the rain, but don’t rule out the deep water bite as well, especially during the summer and fall. Bright colors and flashy lures tend to work better in the rain because of the low light conditions.

Is a full moon good for pike fishing?

What’s the best time to fish for pike? Most pike were caught during the new and full moon phases and at dusk (morning and evening). Scientists suspect that at dusk prey fish enter the open water, giving pike a higher chance of hunting success.

Do pike like big lures?

Muskie-sized bucktails, tandem spinnerbaits and crankbaits in the 9- to 12-inch range—even 12- to 14-inch soft plastics—are more in line with triggering strikes from the biggest gators in the lake. The upshot is…at this time of the year, upsize your lures—and you’ll upsize your pike, plain and simple.

Where do pike hide in lakes?

Structures can be anything from weed beds, underwater trees or boulders, even deep ridges or underwater edges that are close to shallow weeds. On big lakes formed on rivers, pike can also be found in areas where smaller streams flow into the lake or where currents form in these lakes.

How do you know if there is pike in a lake?

There are certain features in water that are a great bet to find pike. Look for drop-offs which are noted holding points for the predators such as pike as they can hold in the deeper water, waiting for prey fish to move in or out of the shallows before they strike.

Can pike bite you?

Pike can indeed be dangerous as they pack a remarkably strong bite force. It is forceful enough to trap live prey and tear flesh. Pike jaws can slam shut with enormous pressure, but they are seldom strong enough to sever the finger of an adult human.