The Northern Pike, or Esox Lucius, is one of the most popular freshwater game fish, and for good reason. Their shier fighting power and savage attitude has earned this fish the ranks it deserves. Let’s look into some tips that you can use to put more pike into your net this season!

When I think of pike, I think of BIG BAITS! I never go pike fishing without an arsenal of large profile lures. If you’re a fisherman, you know that these fish have extremely sharp teeth that can easily shred the heaviest line, so using a steel-leader is a must. Pike also have extremely tough, bony mouths. What this means to you is that your hooks should be very sharp at all times. A good rule of thumb: If your hook doesn’t dig into your fingernail when gently pulled across it, the point isn’t sharp enough.

Look at the shape of the pike’s body and you will notice that it is built for speed. You should retrieve your lures accordingly. Often, anglers make the mistake of slowing their lure down when they see a pike following, but the opposite should happen. A slowed bait can cause the fish to lose interest. Instead, speed the bait up, or pump the rod, and that will often convert the follow to a strike. When all is said and done, time on the water will lead to perfection.

Until next time, have a productive time on the water – and remember – if your line ain’t wet, you ain’t gonna catch no fish!

By: Nicholas Cudzilo
I am an avid angler from Somerset, New York. If you enjoyed reading the above fishing article and are a serious fisherman who loves the outdoors, I would like to invite you to my website where you will find tons of information dedicated to the sport we most love at http://www.TheArtofAngling.com. Also, you’ll have free access to my fishing forum and newsletter – all FREE!

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This voracious and carnivorous fish live in freshwaters on the Northern Hemisphere. Northern Pike (Esox lucius) is also known by its folk name of "Water Wolf". Pikes grow as large as 150 cm in size and 25 kg in weight (1' to over 4', and weigh 50 pounds), although larger sizes have been reported, particularly in the Great Lakes area, making people believe in a misidentification or folk tale.

The color of Northern Pikes is olive shading into whitish or yellowish on belly, with spots on their body and some dark ones on the fins. Pikes have large pores on their head and lower jaw. This characteristic make Northern Pike a close relative to Muskellunge, similar-looking, but Northern Pike have light markings on their dark body backgrounds and less than 6 sensory pores on the underside of their jaw.

Usually found in cold, clear, rocky waters, lakes and streams, Northern Pike are usually hidden waiting for their prey, which are caught sideways with their sharp teeth. Pikes eat mainly fish and ducklings, although they are also cannibals, part of their nature, which serves in maintaining the Northern Pike population.

Some anglers have photographed Northern Pikes eating other pikes of a similar size, but also leeches and insects, because they are well known for their tremendously voracious appetite. Northern Pikes are some of the biggest freshwater fish that anglers like to catch due to the challenge involved while facing their aerial acrobatics and explosive hits.

Fishing for pike is an exciting sport in North America, where anglers usually do not eat the catch, but northern pike is usually filleted for the purpose of European cuisine, particularly popular in many German dishes. There are references traced back as far as the Romans, depicting pikes served at festivities.

In America, Northern Pike lives in northern New England, Eastern New York, Minnesota and the Ohio Valley, the Great Lakes basin and also the surrounding states of Nebraska and Missouri. Toward the north, pikes are also found in Alaska and Canada, except, British Columbia, were they appear rarely.

Northern Pike breed with Muskie to produce the Muskellunge subspecies known as Tiger Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy immaculatus), and there is also a mutation of Northern pike known as the Silver Pike, silvery-blue or silver in color, often referred to as Silver Muskellunge, occurring in scattered populations, lacking the rows of spots.

The name of Northern Pike was given to this specie after its North American habitat resembling the pole-weapon known as pike. This fish is also known as Common Pike, Snake, Great Northern Pike, American Pike, Jackfish, Great Lakes Pike, Grass Pike, and Pickerel.

There is a website that has great information on most species of freshwater fish. It has details that pertain to each species of fish such as habitat, spawning, eating habits, the best lures and baits and more, the website is called: Fishing Stringer, and can be found at this url: fishingstringer.com

By Robert W. Benjamin Copyright © 2007

By: Robert Benjamin
Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.
Seasonal Vacation Spots http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com.

Fishing information courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal and lifestyle directory for attorneys, lawyers and the internet public.

Finding and catching small northern pike is relatively easy. They spend most of their time in shallow, weedy areas from 2 to 15 feet deep. But catching those nasty monster northern pike is not as simple. They are found among the smaller pike during the spring, but as it warms up in the summer they move into deeper water, 15 to 30 feet or more. Fishing for these big fish becomes more difficult because they are more scattered. Summer angling for northern pike is also difficult if the water becomes too warm. If pike cannot find cooler water they do not eat as frequently or eat very little.

Northern pike are best fished during the daylight hours. They are rarely caught while fishing later at night but it does happen.

The mature northern pike generally stay in one area, hiding in weedy cover waiting for that bait fish or hopefully your enticing lure or bait. Typically northern pike lay motionless waiting in ambush in the weeds or near submerged cover like logs or rocks. Then they like to make short vicious lunges at passing baite fish and again your enticing offering. They can live in almost any freshwater environment.

Inlets and bays on the larger lakes or even the Great Lakes in Canada and the US harbor large numbers of large northern pike. These bays have slightly warmer water and more food than the open water.

Smaller northern lakes of the Canadian Shield can grow trophy northern pike, usually because they do not have the heavy fishing pressure of the southern lakes, they survive longer and grow to trophy size.

Weedy bays and marshes of most lakes all hold northerns, manmade reservoirs hold large northern pike with all that submerged cover created is perfect environment for these nasty boys.

Bobber fishing for northern pike is a great, fun way to fish. Northerns cannot resist a big minnow dangling from a bobber. They may sit and just stare, but eventually that nasty pike will strike out and attack. Just cast that bobber and bait close to a likely weed-line, drop off, sunken island or point, then just sit back, relax and enjoy.

A bobber rig is easily made, use a 12 inch steel leader and a #1 hook. Attach a 1 1/2 or 2 inch bobber to the line. Add sinkers or split shot to balance. Hook a large minnow in the upper lip or just behind the dorsal fin. Regardless of the type of minnows you use try to use something at least 6 inches long.

The strike of a northern pike is usually violent. The fish may yank the bobber under on one strike. Release the line after the strike. A pike often grabs the bait in the middle or crosswise and then run with it. Then it will stop to swallow the bait, reel in any slack line then make your snap and set the hook. The fight of a big northern pike will test your tackle and of course your skill. Often they will put up very little fight until they are close to the boat or shore. Then without warning that northern will make a few long runs or even clear the surface in a leap to throw that hook, so get out there and have fun and enjoy yourself.

After northerns have left the shallows in summer trolling fast is a great way to entice these nasty predators to strike. Troll just off the weed beds, in about 20 feet of water, with large lipped deep diving plugs that will track straight at higher speeds. Most anglers use a stiff rods and level wind reels with 20 to 30 pound test line.

With that snake-like body, huge head and razor-sharp teeth, the northern pike has a fearsome appearance and a nasty reputation to match. It is not uncommon for a pike to strike a large bass, perch or walleye struggling on the end of your line. In some cases they will just not let go even when up to the boat.

In most waters, the northern pike is top dog. They will also feed on muskrats, mice, turtles, salamanders, small ducks and other birds, although they eat mostly fish. Often they will take on other fish half their size.

When northern pike are prowling the shallows, casting allows you to fish weeds or snag infested areas you could not otherwise fish. Lures; with lively action work best. Metal spoons that wobble entice the strike. Try using bright colors red yellow and silver work fine. Just vary your speed and jerk the bait now and then to attract the fish, again just go fishing and enjoy!

By: Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips has been an avid Canadian angler for over 50 years. Fishing Canada provides solid advice for walleye, bass, pike, muskie, a variety of trout, arctic char bass and more. Idea's on when and where to go on your next trip to Canada. Ice fishing tips. Delicious fish recipes also!

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