Tips for hot-weather pike fishing!

[Lee Borgersen]

         .....  Tips for hot-weather pike fishing!

(Fishing Tip of the week): Fishing for Northern Pike in the Summer Heat.

Northern pike are another species that can be especially difficult to catch during the hot summer months. A common (and totally false) oldtimers' tale says that pike stop biting in the summer because their teeth fall out during periods of hot weather. Pike seek respite in deep, cool water when summer weather turns torpid. Don't mistake this lack of shallow water action for pike being inactive. These aggressive fish are opportunistic feeders that will take full advantage of any chance to inhale a smaller fish. You can use this to your advantage, just consider your presentation and the areas you want to fish.

A few easy things you can do to increase your success at catching northern pike this August:

1. Understand northern pike habitat. Pike prefer cool water, spring beds, inlets and deep water so be on the lookout for these when you hit the water. A bathymetric (bottom contour) map of your chosen water body can help you determine which areas have sharp drop-offs. Concentrate your fishing efforts on these areas.

2. Remember that northern pike are visual feeders. Choose your fly or lure wisely. Large, flashy streamers that push water when stripped work well in shallow water, or pulled through deep areas and drop-offs. Dropshot rigs with amnesia and a quarter or third-ounce weight can allow you to fish a streamer or minnow pattern to suspended pike. Northern pike can also be caught on live bait (such as suckers or large shiners).

3. Watch for flashes or follows when fishing in areas where you've caught pike before. Like other large predatory fish species, pike strikes can be triggered by a lure or bait's speed over distance. If you hook a bass or large panfish, that first run can get a pike off the bottom and chasing your catch. I've hooked bass and watched as they ran and got intercepted by a pike that were laying in wait. Pay attention to where this happens - the pike may be laying over a bottom spring or other source of cold, oxygenated water. There's a good chance that if the hot weather continues, Mr. Esox will be hanging around that spot next time you're out to wet a line.

4. ALWAYS fish above the pike. Pike are built for short, explosive ambushes from below and behind their prey. The long, undershot jaw and eyes positioned on top of the head make it easy for the pike to lay low among weeds and bottom structure, looking up and waiting for their next meal to swim by overhead. For this reason, it is possible to fish below pike, especially those that are cruising. Be sure to fish so that you're not picking up weeds on every cast - it's better to have your fly or lure above the pike rather than dragging bottom near or below it.

If you choose to harvest a few pike, remember that the hens (females) tend to be larger on average and less numerous than the jacks (males). Keeping a few smaller males (while obeying any size/possession limits) frees up space and food for other predators in the lake. Take special care to avoid overhandling any pike that you are going to release. Not only does this protect the pike from injury, it protects your hands and fingers from the pike's large teeth. Tight lines!

[wildlifeminnesota]

So true, 

[houdini123]

huh i wish i would of joined this forum a little earlier maybe then i wouldn't of gotten my butt kicked so much in the northern league i was in haha