Northern pike

As the pike is one of my absolute favorite target species, I wanted to find out what it’s called in other countries around the world. 

While northern pike have an average length of about 17 to 25 inches and an average weight of 2 to 5 pounds, they can reach lengths of more than 50 inches and weights of 55 to 60lb. European pike are generally somewhat bigger than pike found in North America. 

Depending on its range, northern pike typically spawn sometime between March and May, when water temperatures are between 40 and 45F. They can spawn both in open water and under the ice and prefer shallow areas rich in vegetation.  

Pike fishing is a lot of fun, and catching one of those huge predators is as thrilling as it can get. To land your trophy pike successfully, you will need both a robust and a big enough landing net. 

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.

Both braid and monofilament are great choices when it comes to picking your mainline for pike fishing. Braid is the perfect pick when spin fishing or fishing with dead baits, while mono is your number one choice for live bait fishing and trolling for pike.