Pike Fishing Tips

The very best lures to use for pike in clear water are swimbaits, softbaits, and crankbaits with an authentic pattern and swimming action. Natural lure colors that resemble the pike’s prey, such as white, silver, green, or black, have proven to be most effective.

Topwater lures or crankbaits and spinnerbaits that make a lot of noise and produce vibrations are your best picks for pike fishing in murky water. The absolute best lure colors for murky water pike are white, green/chartreuse, and orange.

Favorable weather conditions for pike include a low-pressure system with moderate temperatures, overcast skies, and southern or southwestern winds. Rain does however have a somewhat more negative effect on the pike’s appetite and should hence be avoided.

During spring and fall, fishing between morning and noon will be the best time to catch pike. Very early mornings and later evenings are your best pick during the summer, as water temperatures will be somewhat lower. On the other hand, in winter, the later mornings and middays will most certainly produce the most bites.

As it turns out, it is really possible to catch pike with hot dogs as bait, as many anglers have managed to catch plenty of fish on them, both on the ice and in open water. Most commonly, they are fished using tip-ups through the ice and slip bobber rigs during the rest of the year.

The best time of year for pike is during fall, as the water temperature is slowly dropping and the pike start to become ever more active. September and October are the very best months when it comes to pike fishing.