Catching The Largest Pike In Any Waterbody

Northern pike are one of the most aggressive freshwater fish species throughout Canada and the northern US. They are very adaptable and can make themselves right at home in a wide variety of lakes, reservoirs, and river systems. They can grow well into the 40-inch range and some can even stretch the tape past the 50-inch mark.

- Wes David

From the first time water passes through their gills, northern pike are aggressive and eager to feed. Because they can grow to monstrous sizes, it’s rare to find an angler who hasn’t dreamed of catching and releasing a trophy northern pike.

Over the years I’ve had the good fortune of fishing for northern pike at a variety of fly-in fishing lodges and remote lakes. At some of these spots, I’ve been lucky enough to catch and release some monstrous pike, including my personal best that measured in at 51-inches. On these trips, I have learned a lot about pike locations and effective lure presentations for catching these freshwater monsters throughout the spring and summer seasons.

I know what you’re going to say, “It’s much easier to catch big pike at fly-in fishing lodges where the pike is literally untouched”.

Yes, that’s true, however, northern pike in the far north have similar characteristics to pike in central and southern waterbodies. Many of the techniques I’ve learned on remote lakes and river systems have allowed me to consistently catch larger northern pike on public lakes, reservoirs, and rivers.

Big northern pike can be found in a wide variety of water bodies, but not every waterbody is created equal. I’ve fished places where 45-inch pike was consistently caught and released, and I’ve fished small lakes and reservoirs where the largest pike in the system topped out around 14- pounds. So researching and understanding what the lake or river system you’re fishing can produce is important to meet your expectations, and the best way to research and gain information about a water body is from local anglers. Regardless of what maximum size of pike the waterbody can produce, the biggest pike within any waterbody can be consistently caught if you use the right approach.

May/June