Mike Quinn (Pipestone 2005)
Photo by Tim Mead
Photo by Tim Mead
Mike Quinn (Pipestone 2005) Photo by Tim Mead |
I would first like to explain that this article is really a summary of a chatboard thread we had going awhile ago. While I have put my name down as the author of this article, the knowledge that went into it is a collaboration of many visitors to the Esoxhunter website including: Jack Penny, Tim Mead, Greg Bolinski, Hides, Yancey, plus myself to a lesser extent. It was one of the best, most informative, and well participated threads we have ever had on the chatboard. To all that participated in that thread, thank you.
It all started with the simple question, "What is the best time to catch big pike?". The answer to the question is "Ice out, or close to it". Pike like colder water, they spawn in shallow water and are attracted to bait fish as they move shallower this time of year. All of these things come together right after ice out. It is also a fact that fishermen typically are able to catch fish easier in shallower water than in deeper water, so all of the elements favor this time to catch big pike. Shallow water fishing offers the possibility of actually seeing the pike, as well as offering the fishermen many more presentation choices, which we will discuss further.
The best place to look for early season pike are in shallow, dark bottom bays, especially in areas where there is incoming water such as a creek, stream or river. The dark bottom will cause the water to warm more quickly than other areas of the lake, which in turn will lure bait fish into the area. Any water flowing into this area will also help attract all species, as the incoming water is typically warmer, more oxygenated, as well as it carries food in the current. These water input areas often form a bar at their mouth as the sediment they carry is dropped as the incoming water enters the lake. These bars can attract spawning suckers, which in turn will attract the pike. The pike will usually be holding on the deeper side of these bars waiting for suckers to move up on the bar.
As a general statement look in these shallow areas when the water temperature is 55 degrees and below. When the water temperature is 55 to 60 degrees look at moderate depths, and once the temperature exceeds 65, the big pike will be in deep water. The picture below helps depict where to look during the early season.
As with real-estate, location is the most important factor, but presentation also plays a major role in being a successful pike fisherman. There are a number of ways to catch pike in the spring. Dead bait, such as using smelt, ciscoes, or suckers hooked up in a quick strike rig is one of the preferred methods. The quick-strike rig can be fished on the bottom with a weight or under bobber, both methods have proved effective. Pike are basically programmed to look for winter killed fish during the spring of the year. It offers them an easily attainable meal while expending virtually no energy. It should be noted that using multiple hooks in a dead-bait quick strike rig can be illegal. Ontario bans its use directly, but you can modify the the rig to make it perfectly legal. If you attach a spinner or a jig head to the rig, the entire quick strike rig is considered a lure and therefore it will be legal.
In addition to dead bait and quick strike rigs, other presentations can be very effective. Casting soft plastics past a pike and working them back toward the fish is very effective. This presentation is best done while sight fishing the pike. Sight fishing means that you actually see the fish and then cast to it. Another effective presentation in sight fishing can be the use a fly rod with a sinking fly. A black bunny makes an excellent choice for a fly, being fished from an eight weight rod and a bite resistant leader. In addition to being effective, catching a pike on a fly rod is not only challenging but fun.
If the pike are holding off of the bar as described above and/or there are spawning suckers in the area, a minnow bait such as a jake or small grandma can be very effective. Baits that match the hatch or in this case bait fish, will work well. The one thing that should be remembered is that there are no absolutes. A fisherman needs to stay flexible in his thinking and his presentation regardless of the time of the year or what the book says should work. Example, if the fish are not hitting or you don't see them in the morning, try later in the day after the warm warms a little more or try a different presentation all together.
As the water warms, pike will start to pull out of the shallows and will begin to move deeper looking for cooler water. This is usually a gradual process so as the water temperature moves up the pike will while compensate by going a little deeper. Many times pike can be found holding on the first break when the water begins to reach the middle fifties. As the water continues to warm pike will start holding on under water points and bars and deep weed edges when the weed growth develops. This second drawing is a pictorial presentation of how the pike move when the water warms.
When the water temperature goes beyond 65 degrees, the larger pike will generally be in the deep water following ciscoes, walleye, and perch schools. We'll discuss this in another article.
Click the mailbox to e-mail. Last updated on ...June 4, 2006