Pike are active predators: Iowa says they readily hit live baits and gaudy spoons or spinners, and bright red, white or silver lures work best. The same article says pike are a cool-water species, active in cool months and in the cooler parts of summer days.
Pike lures, in order
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Spoons. Wisconsin, Iowa and New York all name spoons. Iowa suggests gaudy spoons and spinners in red, white or silver; New York says to troll or cast large spoons. A spoon also took the all-tackle world record northern pike: 55 lb 1 oz (25 kg), landed by Lothar Louis at Lake of Grefeern, Germany, on October 16, 1986, according to the International Game Fish Association.
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Spinners. Iowa names spinners alongside spoons. Wisconsin pulls live suckers or chubs slowly behind a spinner.
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Large crankbaits and plugs. Wisconsin lists large crankbaits among the bait impostors, and New York trolls or casts large plugs.
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Jigs. New York jigs with black or yellow jigs for pike on the St. Lawrence River.
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Streamer flies. Wisconsin lists streamer flies with the spoon-type lures.
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Live bait and tip-ups. Wisconsin uses small suckers and chubs up to 8 in under a sturdy bobber or behind a spinner. New York names minnows and shiners, and says a tip-up with a large minnow is an effective combination for northern pike in winter.
Leader and tackle
Pike have rows of sharp teeth that can easily cut through most fishing line, so Iowa DNR says to use leaders of wire, steel or titanium, especially with flash lures. Wisconsin fishes medium-weight line with a wire leader. Iowa says anglers generally use stout medium or medium/heavy spinning or baitcast reels.
When and where
| Situation | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weed beds, cool water | Late spring and early summer, late summer and early fall, and early winter soon after ice forms | Wisconsin DNR |
| Vegetation lines | Usually 3 to 6 ft of water | Iowa DNR |
| August | A lull; pike seek cooler, deeper water in hot weather | Wisconsin DNR |
| Daylight | Pike bite during daylight | Wisconsin DNR |
| Winter | Pike are most active in cold water and easier to catch in winter than summer; tip-up with a large minnow | Wisconsin DNR, New York DEC |
Pike seasons, size limits and live-bait rules vary by state and water. Read your state agency’s current regulations first, for example the fishing pages of Wisconsin DNR, Iowa DNR or New York DEC.
Caught a toothy fish and not sure which it is? See muskie vs pike.
Sources
- Greatest records in sportfishing history, International Game Fish Association
- Northern pike, Iowa DNR
- Hook your catch, Wisconsin DNR
- Northern pike, Wisconsin DNR
- Fishing the St. Lawrence River, New York State DEC