Freshwater Barracuda NORTHERN PIKE.
Written: Mar 07 '01 (Updated Apr 24 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: They are huge, aggressive and fight like the dickens.
Cons: Razor blade teeth and a nasty disposition.
The Bottom Line: This article will tell you a story about the author catching one, how to catch them, where to catch them, how to unhook them, and about eating them.
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| smallmouth's Full Review: Northern Pike |
The most important thing to remember when fishing for pike is to use a wire leader. This Fish is a Freshwater Barracuda. BEWARE of their teeth. Nothing is more exciting for this bass fisherman then when I get out on Lake Champlain to do some Northern Pike Fishing. All of my oversized Bass lures are just about the right size to hook into the most ferocious freshwater predator. But I warn you, make sure you use a wire leader! If you don't use them then don't get too attached to the lure you are using, because you will most likely lose it.
Champion Pike On Champlain
The first time I fished that lake I was using small tackle for the huge Smallmouth Bass that Lake Champlain is home to. Shortly into the day I hooked into what I thought was a world record smally. I was using my light spinning tackle, 6 pound test line, a micro diver made by Bomber, the lure was about the size of my thumbnail. Anyway, I was reeling it over a rock pile in about 20 feet of water when the fish grabbed it and almost pulled the rod out of my hand.
The Fight
Line was spooling off my reel as it kept stripping drag. It kept going deeper and deeper, side to side. These were the first hints that it might not be a smallmouth. Smallies usually leap and leap higher each time, trying to throw the hook and spit it back at you. This fish wasn't leaping. The thought of a Pike passed through my mind but I said, "No, it couldn't be, I don't even have a wire leader and there is no way it wouldn't have cut the line by now."
I was wrong, when I finally got the fish close to the boat I saw it was not a smallmouth, it was over three feet long and had a mouth full of teeth. I finally landed it and found out that my lure was just in the very corner of its mouth and my hook was all but straightened. It weighed over 10 pounds! What a fighter. It sounds hypocritical that I tell you to use wire leaders then I tell you a story about a big one I caught without the leader. Trust me I lost a lot more than I caught from them snipping the line with their razor blade teeth.
I was stupid, There is a responsibility that goes with Pike Fishing:
After that I tried catching pike without a leader. What a mistake, don't ever do that. I lost a handful of lures before I finally gave up.
It's just not worth it for you or the fish. You might land a couple without the leader but you will lose a lot more. Think about it, that fish probably has your hook and lure in its mouth after it cuts the line. It would be very tough for a fish to survive and still eat with a lure stuck in it's mouth. All fish have strong stomach acids that eat through and dissolve even the hardest of hooks and the water helps rust them out, but it might take too long and the fish could die from it. After it is dead birds will feed on it. I just hope an Eagle does not end up eating one of my hooks that I didn't use a leader on.
How to catch them:
I recommend using the biggest, most colorful, loudest, ugliest lure you have in your box, seriously. I am not kidding. Pike are the most aggressive fresh water fish I have ever seen and I have seen my fair share of fish. If it splashes or rattles or makes a lot of noise they will find it and try to murder it. My favorite lures to use on them are Top-Water lures because I like to see them come to the surface and hammer the lure. When they don't want to bite or they aren't very aggressive, which isn't often, use Spinnerbaits or Buzzbaits, Rapala's, Finesse Jigs and grubs. They will hit the little stuff just as much as the big lures, sometimes even more often.
Where to catch them:
Fish for them like you would for a Largemouth Bass. I primarily fish for largemouth so I run into a lot of pike when I am fishing lakes with pike in them. The first place to try should be a shallow cove with lili-pads and weeds. Fish love vegetation for the oxygen and shade it produces. But most importantly, the vegetation produces a hiding spot to ambush bait and your lure. So first try a shallow cove with spinnerbaits and if they aren't biting there, move to deeper water. Trolling for pike about 50 feet off shore is a great way to boat a bunch of them. I like to troll for them with Storm Wiggle Wart and lures that vibrate. Move out to even deeper water with structure such as rock piles if you can find some and fish loud out there as well. They will come from a mile away if they think they have an easy and big meal.
Getting the hook out:
Like any fish you plan to release, you want to do it in a fast and ethical manner. Don't lay the fish down in the boat or on shore if you can help it because it will lose its natural slime that protects it from disease much like our immune system. Don't lip these critters like you would a bass or you will be missing a couple fingers. I grab them right behind the head sometimes with a rag and sometimes barehanded. I advise using a rag for the big ones because they are slimy and slippery and if you get a heavy one you might drop it.
Use Needle Nose Pliers. These are by far the best tool that ever happened to fishing. You can easily reach into the fishes teethy mouth and pop a hook out, no problem. Remember, if you liked catching that fish, I am sure a thousand other people would as well, throw him back so others can enjoy it too.
Taste:
They taste excellent, I like to eat the bigger pike, 10 pounds or more because they are so boney that a smaller one would take all day picking the bones out. The bigger pike are easy to pick. My favorite way to prepare them is to fillet a side, pick the bones, and roll it in a raw egg, then roll it in bread crumbs and fry it in a pan with butter. The meat is very white and very sweet, enjoy.
Click on my other Fishing Reviews:
Lures:
Terminator Ball Buster Buzzbait
Strike King Premier Spinnerbaits
Strike King Redeye Spinnerbait
Rebel Pop-R, Pop, Pop, SPLASH
Jitterbug, That Old Classic
Storm Wiggle Warts Lures
Terminator Finesse Jigs
Gary Yamamoto's The Kreature
Zoom Lizards
Zoom Salty Chunk Trailer
Uncle Josh Original Pork Trailers
Reels
Quantum Energy PT Baitcaster
Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 4600C3
Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 C3
Abu Garcia C4 series Reels
Abu Garcia C3 series Reels
Abu Garcia Cardinal 500 Series Spinning Reel
Quantum Kinetic PTi Spinning Reel
Shimano Curado CU-200B5
Shimano Curado CU-200B
Other:
Frabill Vinyl-Coated Minnow Trap
Frabill Sit-N-Fish Bait Container
Berkley Trilene XT
Berkley Trilene XL
Lindy Marker Buoys
Evinrude 15 HP Four Stroke Outboard
Motor Guide 82lb Thrust
Reviews on Bass Boats:
Nitro 929 CDX The Cadillac
Nitro NX 750, A Great Starter Bass Boat
Nitro Z-9 The Next level of Bass Boats
Recommended:
Yes
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