Multispecies Systems That Catch Fall Pike
Even when I drive to a pike heaven like Rainy Lake, a Canadian Shield lake on the Minnesota-Northwest Ontario border, I usually begin with tactics that allow me to test the waters for the happening fish of the moment. Could be pike, but could also be walleyes, and at times smallmouth bass. Then I tinker from there, switching tactics to more accurately target whichever species is hot and happening.
Catching Late Summer Pike on Live Bait
When it comes to a natural presentation for pike, nothing rivals livebait rigging. Even under adverse water or weather conditions, lockjawed pike can be coaxed into eating a well-placed sucker or chub. These baits react instinctively to the presence of nearby predators. They swim harder and dart about in search of an escape route. This behavior gets the attention of pike and triggers strikes in a manner that lures can’t duplicate.
Seven Lessons for Bigger Winter Pike
I was so smitten with pike that I pursued the big toothy critters with abandon throughout the winter months. That drive laid a foundation in my understanding of pike and taught me lessons that I’ve been able to refine to this day.
It helped, too, that I was able to bounce my on-the-ice observations off some of the greatest minds in the science community. Four decades later, we’re landing more and bigger pike than ever before.
Fishing the Edges for Fall Pike
Fishing northern pike are cunning predators adept at feeding in packs, while also solitary assassins. In addition to their keen senses of sight, smell, feel (vibration), and hearing, they possess stealth, speed, and agility.
Softbaits For Fishing Big Muskie And Pike
When scissorheads go one-on-one against most anything else, they win. Pike meets perch? Win. Put pike and muskies up against other everyday stuff—mono line, fingers, boat seats, landing nets, and pretty much any traditional softbait in your box—and the result is as predictable as scissors on paper.
Crayfish - The Key to Locating Bass, Walleye or Pike
A great way to locate fish in midsummer is to find crayfish. Just about every kind of fish likes to chew on crayfish, especially young crayfish before they get too big and their outside skeleton gets too hard. Bass, walleye, pike and even big panfish like to munch down crayfish.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse and its Effect on Fishing
What effect will the Great American Eclipse have on fish when the skies grow dark across the middle of the United States? We asked some of the sport’s top pros to get their thoughts.
Best Pike Lakes
Northern Pike are ferocious predators. From an early age they’re fearless. With a mouth full of teeth designed for grasping, puncturing, and slicing prey, their aggressiveness works in their favor to grow quickly but against them in being caught by anglers prior to reaching top-end size.