INCREASING YOUR ODDS CATCHING SPRING PIKE
Pike are the first fish to spawn in the spring, moving to shallow bays to lake their eggs as soon as there is open water. The big females don’t stay long, heading out of the bays to suspend or scatter along shoreline points or some other kind of structure. This all happens when the water temperatures are from 40 to 50 Fahrenheit or 2 to 10 Celsius. Basically, these big females are in full recovery mode from the stress of the spawn. They don’t move much and they like the deeper water for temperature stability.
As the water warms the big fish will start to slide back to shallower water looking for some food. Once it hits 56 F, they are really starting to get aggressive on the recovery, feeding for long periods of time. As a result this pre summer period is usually when the biggest pike get caught.
FEEDER CREEKS
If I am out on the water and the temperatures are sill below that magic 56 F mark, I look for the great equalizer. These are incoming feeder creeks that are pumping in warmer water. I can recall several times when I went out searching for these streams and tributaries with great success. All species will congregate in these areas including walleye.
There are several ways to fish this moving water. One is to anchor out on the edge of the downstream pool and throw out slip bobbers rigged with big dead baits on a quick strike rig. This can be deadly but not as much fun sometimes as throwing a big piece of rubber like a six-inch boot tail. I can remember one spring catching back-to-back eight pound walleyes on them.
These fish are in these pools and back eddies to feed so finesse is not needed. When they move out to a bit deeper and slower water their mood changes to neutral. You then need to switch over to bit more subtle presentation. I have used a variety of soft plastics including a Strike King coffee flavour shad. The more subtle tail action and slow fall and motion can get those neutral fish moving!
A neutral buoyancy jerkbait can also get the job done. Rapala X Rap is always a good choice. Just a slow twitch and stop can trigger the big bite.
PRESUMMER PERIOD
When that water temperature hits the magic number of 56 F, I will head to the bays hoping to find a bit of developing weed growth or other forms of cover. I can remember one cool spring day on Tobin Lake with friend Russ Heatherington. We headed to one of his favourite bays on the northeast end of this reservoir in search of some active fish. We started out moving around casting spoons and rubber to see if we could find some pods of fish. At this time of year, that is critical because of the nomadic nature of the pike at this time of year. They will move a lot so you have to as well.
We ended up finding them in one small section of the bay which had a bit of weed growth along with some flooded timber. Anchoring down, we got the slip floats out and proceeded to lay a licking on some big fish, several over the 40-inch mark.
An hour later we had burnt out that area, so we dropped the troll motor and moved out to a bit deeper water. The sun had come out and the activity level had increased.
I then got out the fly rod and streamer. Soon, I was hooked into one fish after another. As we came to late afternoon I finally hooked into a beast. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my net and while Russ tried to hand land it, the pike rolled and the barbless hooked came out. Still, we had it all captured on film and it was a memory of a lifetime.
TROPHY DRIVE-TO PIKE FISHERIES
Over my forty some years of chasing across the prairies and Northwest Ontario I have rated my favourite pike fisheries.
SASKATCHEWAN
TOBIN LAKE
It is crazy how many big pike exist in Tobin Lake. I can remember days when we didn’t catch a pike under ten pounds. A huge population of ciscoes makes these fish grow at an incredible rate. There is a protected slot size for northern pike. No fish in the 75cm (29.5 in.) and 115cm (45.3 in.) may be taken.
LAKE DIEFENBAKER
This huge reservoir produces huge fish in a variety of species but this pike fishery often gets overlooked for walleye and rainbow trout.
LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE
The same story goes for the Mountain, the big pike are overshadowed by the outstanding walleye fishery. Friend Rob Schulz guides on Last Mountain and he is always producing monster pike for his guests.
MANITOBA
CEDAR LAKE
I have two favourites in my home province. My first choice is Cross Bay on the Cedar Lake chain. Two lodges here provide great accommodation and access. My favourite pike bay is right across from Moak Lodge, a short two-mile boat ride.
LAKE OF THE PRAIRES
Three years ago while fishing with friends in September I caught one of my largest pike ever, measuring with 45.5 inches and weighing close to 30 pounds. The best time to fish this reservoir is from the third week in May to the middle of June. These pike are shallow and hungry.
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
LAKE OF THE WOODS/SHOAL LAKE
There is plenty of water to fish and while Shoal Lake doesn’t really produce monster pike, they sure kick a lot of fish out in the 10-to-12-pound range. And they are everywhere!
EAGLE LAKE AND VERMILLION BAY REGION
While the musky season remains closed until the third week of June, there is plenty of big pike that will chow down on good sized baits. Check out this beast.
Adam Mueller, of Top Line Baits, out of southern Ontario visited the area and fished with Dave Bennett. Their main target was early season pike. Using lures from Adam’s bait company, they got into a fantastic pike bite. Even early season walleye were attacking the large twitch baits.
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RAINY LAKE
On the other hand, its neighbor to the southeast does have mega sized pike. Rainy has lots of smelt to grow those big pike and there are plenty to be had.
EQUIPMENT
When I fish for shallow pike in heavy cover, I use my 10 weight fly rod and a 30 pound flurocarbon leader. Make sure you have a large capacity fly reel with smooth drag.
I have only had one pike over 50 inches on the end of my line. It was up at Neultin Lake a few years ago and I had this beast on that fly rod setup. Things were going well until it saw the boat and headed in a beeline for shore. Unfortunately, I had a ton of fly line on the floor of the aluminum boat and it caught on a rivet. The sound of my line snapping was like a gunshot. Moral of the story, bring a basket for your fly line when fishing for big, toothy creatures, especially on fly in trips. Catching pike on a fly rod for me is the ultimate angling thrill.