Pike fishing is one of the most exciting types of angling in many parts of the United States and even the world. The term pike actually refers to three different subsets of fish. These are Pickerel, Northern Pike, and Muskellunge. These fish have a range that includes Siberia, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, and North America. Alaska offers numerous different places to go pike fishing. Almost any body of water that is deep and cold enough in the Northern Hemisphere can contain pikes. They are widely sought after as game fish in all these areas because they are a big, carnivorous fish with an aggressive streak.
Pike can grow up to six feet long and weigh up to seventy-seven pounds (the current world record). All pikes have a long jaw in the shape of a duckbill that contains very long, very sharp teeth. They also come in several different colors, coming in anything from dark green to brown with gold spots. They mostly feed on smaller fish, but are very opportunistic feeders, eating anything ranging from snakes and frogs to small mice that fall in the water.
Pike Fishing Tackle
There are several things that you need special for pike fishing. First, if you are fishing for pike, your rod needs to be much stronger than your standard trout or bass fishing rod. Pike fishing rods need to be much bigger because pikes are bigger and stronger than most other freshwater fish and will put more stress on your rod. Longer rods are also more preferable to shorter ones. Longer rods can give you better casting accuracy, which is essential because pike like to live near obstructions in the water, such as weeds, logs and rocks. They also give you more hook setting power to make sure your fish doesn’t get off of your line.
For reels, most people fishing for pike use a baitcasting reel. This is partly because they are more accurate, allowing you to put your bait within inches of logs and rocks, and partly because they are also more durable. Spincasting reels should also perform very well, but the last thing that you want if you are a serious fisherman is for you reel to jam up the second you get a monster pike on the line, after a whole day of waiting for a bite. Care must also be taken in choosing your line. Most pike anglers opt for a braided line, which is heavier and stronger than normal single strand line. This makes sure that it is more than strong enough to withstand the weight and aggressiveness of the fish without breaking. Many also attach a wire lead to the end of their line, so that the line doesn’t get cut by the pike’s teeth. After all, you don’t want strong rods and reels, only to find out that the one thing that isn’t strong enough is your line, not letting you catch any fish.
Pike Fishing Lures and Bait
When you’re fishing, your first step to picking out the right lures and baits should be to the local tackle shop in the area you are fishing. The people there will usually be more aware of local conditions and what the fish generally eat than other people will. Most times they will be more than happy to help you with your bait selection and some advice. This is the best route, but if this is not available, here are some general rules.
Pike usually eat smaller fish, so using minnows and other bait fish usually works very well. Live bait in most circumstances works much better than the artificial alternatives. When you pick out your bait, try to measure it to the size of the fish you think are in the area and that you want to catch. Pikes can eat food that is one-fourth to one-half of their length and any amount up to twenty percent of their weight. This means the bigger pikes will need much bigger bait than smaller ones. In fact, being opportunistic eaters, many smaller pikes may even go after worms and jigs.
If you’re looking to buy a lure, keep in mind that the main function of pike lures is to imitate the behaviors and size of bait fish, a pike’s natural prey. Many different types of lures can do this well. These include wobblers, crankbaits, and spoons for Northern Pike and swimbaits and jerkbaits for other muskellunge and pickerel.
Pike Fishing Tips
There are several tips you should keep in mind if you are going for pike. First, you need to know what types of pike are in the lake that you are fishing. This is important because different species of pike may require slightly different fishing techniques, tackle, or bait. Next, time your fishing with the season. Spring is the best time to fish for pikes because they fill themselves up with food just before they spawn. However, once spawning starts the pike no longer eat, making late spring an awful time to fish for them. However, when you do go fishing, you should go late enough in the spring that the water you are fishing is free of flowing ice. Finally, the best time for fishing for pike is early in the morning when it is overcast and the water is slightly choppy. The best water temperature for feeding with pikes is sixty-five degrees.
Pikes are one of the most exciting freshwater fish to catch because of their large size, big teeth, and aggressive strike. They can be found in Alaska and also many other parts of North America and Eurasia. If you take the time to choose the right tackle and time to go pike fishing, you will surely have a great time, catch a few fish, and go home with more than one story to tell.
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