| One reason why anglers like Northern pike fishing | | | | It is important that anglers avoid trying to fish for |
| in the spring is because it is a great time of year | | | | Northerns while they are spawning because their |
| to catch a trophy fish. However, because of | | | | efforts will be futile. The fish just are not biting |
| spawning, there is a period of time in which the | | | | during this time. At most, you might get a strike |
| opportunity for good fishing is interrupted. It is | | | | from a male who is waiting on a female, but this |
| important to understand fish behavior during all | | | | would be an unlikely occurrence. It is best to wait |
| the phases of spring so that you are not wasting | | | | until spawning has ended in your geographic |
| your time trying to land a lunker during a poor | | | | location. In the continental United States, this is |
| time for fishing. | | | | typically sometime in April, but you will need to |
| Pre-spawn is the time of year that takes place | | | | research your specific area and gain a good |
| before spawning, as the name suggests. Spring | | | | understanding of the weather and spawning |
| pike fishing during this time is at its peak. For the | | | | patterns in your region. |
| best chance of catching a trophy fish, you will | | | | Post-spawn is a great time to use live bait on |
| want to try your hand very early in the season, | | | | your Northern pike fishing rig. Females will take |
| while there is still a good amount of ice covering | | | | awhile to recover from spawning, but males |
| the lakes. This may cause you to have to cast | | | | should be out swimming soon after the spawn. |
| from the shore instead of fishing from a boat, but | | | | They will not be as active in the spring as they |
| this small inconvenience can be worth it. The best | | | | will be in the summer, so it is still a good idea to |
| types of Northern pike fishing lures to use during | | | | fish slowly and present them with an easy meal |
| pre-spawn are plugs and spoons. They need to be | | | | that they will not have to work hard at to get. |
| used extremely slowly, though. Anything that | | | | Because of this, dead bait also works well for |
| moves too quickly will scare off a lethargic pike. | | | | attracting sluggish Northerns during the springtime. |