5 Tips For Spring Pike Fishing

Northern pike are a top predator and can offer some of the most exciting fishing available in northern waters. While pike are targeted throughout the year, spring offers some of the best pike fishing excitement of the year. Below you'll find 5 tips to help you lure in a few more pike this spring.

1. Choosing a location:

Pike are predators who seem to really appreciate the cooler water more than other species. During the spring you'll find pike staging for their spawning season in shallow flats, back canals, and in slow-moving creeks and rivers. Slower moving sections of a river where the water gets a little deeper are excellent holding areas. Slack water along the edges of quicker current make great ambush spots as well. Spot number 1 in the photo below isn't likely to produce fish as it's shallow and the water is moving quick. When the water turns the bend, spot number 2 is a good spot to find a pike or two hiding in the slack water near the faster current. A little further downstream the river slows a bit and gets deeper, working the edges spot number 3 can produce several pike, including some larger fish. Spot number 4 is the best bet though. The water here is still deeper but features broader flats on either edge and slightly slower current. Here the pike can easily ambush fish as they exit the faster water directly upstream.

Pike fishing spots on a river

On my last trip, spot number 2 produced two pike, spot three produced 3 pike, and spot 4 produced 6 pike and a few others that got off or broke my line. Which brings us to the next tip. Lure selection. 

2. Choosing a lure

There are a wide variety of pike lures available at local tackle shops or online. My favorite spring and fall pike fishing lure is a large spoon. This spoon from Blue Fox is an excellent option, especially considering the price. Firetiger has always been my best producer. Mimicking the natural forage is important though, in stained water, the gold and silver lures really attracted the pike. Big, flashy, and wobbly usually does the trick.

28" Northern Pike caught on a large gold spoon

3. Presentation

Be aggressive! It's that simple, work the bait erratically or quickly near the surface. Create commotion, that's what the pike find alluring.

An aggressive retrieval provoked an aggressive strike from this small pike.

4. Pick the right line

A swiveling steel leader is a wise investment, unless you don't mind losing a few spoons. Pike teeth are sharp and they cut regular lines easy. I tend to use heavy braid but mono filament in the 17-20 lb. range works well in rivers where submerged rocks and vegetation make extra strength a necessity.

5. Enjoy the trip!

A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work, so enjoy it!

Sharing some time pike fishing with my daughter....priceless.