Northern Pike Fly-in Fishing In Canada

We find Northern Pike fishing exhilarating. These large fish put up a heck of a fight. As ambush predators, attracting Northern Pike is a thrill. By learning to use the perfect presentation and lure action, you’ll get more than a few bites.

 

Northern Pike are hungry fish with sharp teeth—and they love cold water. The remote wilderness near Munroe Lake is filled with cold-water lakes and rivers. These waterways are teeming with life—the area is unspoiled by human activity. That means plenty of delicious food for Northern Pike—and plenty of incredible Northern Pike fishing for you.

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Northern Pike Seasonal Patterns

 

One of the best things about Northern Pike fishing is that these ambush predators are active year-round. There’s never a bad time to catch Northern Pike—you can catch trophy Northern Pike in the spring, summer, fall, and even winter. We’re not going to cover ice fishing here, but understanding Northern Pike behaviour in each season will help you bring in a trophy Northern Pike during your next fishing trip. 

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Spring

 

Spring is an excellent time for Northern Pike fishing. As the waters grow warmer, Northern Pike begin to move into shallow water to spawn. You’ll be able to fish for Northern Pike in shallow inlets and bays, as well as by the drop-offs where Northern Pike can usually be found. 

 

You’ll also find success fishing near vegetation—that’s where Northern Pike like to lay their eggs. Combine these features, and go Northern Pike fishing in shallow bays with drop-offs featuring vegetation, and you might just catch a trophy fish!

 

Summertime

 

Northern Pike love cooler waters, and as summertime approaches, they retreat into the deeper, colder waters of Lake Munroe. At sunrise and sunset, however, they’ll swim to shallow waters to feed; the water temperature is cool enough, and the low-light conditions benefit these ambush hunters. The best way to go Northern Pike fishing in the summer is to catch them in transition between shallow and deep waters, fishing for them around dawn and dusk. 

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Fall

 

Fall may be the very best time to fish for Northern Pike—they start feeding very aggressively in preparation for the winter months. You’ll find them in both deep and shallow water—as in the summertime, they tend to be in shallow water around sunrise and sunset. As usual, you can find them near drop-offs and weed edges. 

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Tips for Pike Fishing

 

Northern Pike are aggressive, predatory fish with sharp teeth—and they put up one heck of a fight. You’ll need the right fishing gear to catch them. We can use our knowledge of gear and Pike behaviour to succeed on our trophy Northern Pike fishing expeditions. 

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Lures

 

As ambush predators with huge appetites, Northern Pike are attracted to big, flashy lures. Their eyesight is good enough that flashing lures will attract them, and their sensitive inner ears mean they can be attracted to loud lures. Here are a few of our favourite lures for catching Northern Pike:

 

• Spoons: Sometimes, the simplest option is the best. We recommend spoons that are 64 - 76 mm (2 ½” - 3”) long—big enough to attract Pike but not so big that you’ll miss out on any bites. We’ve included some recommendations below, including Len Thompson No. 1 and Johnson’s Silver Minnow.

• Spinners: Spinners create vibrations and sound that emulate a distressed fish—by presenting this lure above Northern Pike, you’re likely to get a bite. We like the Blue Fox Vibrax, though there are plenty of options.

• Jerkbait: Jerkbait are another excellent weapon in your trophy fishing arsenal, as they do an excellent job of imitating the jerking motion that injured fish will sometimes display. The Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait is a great option (though there are many more).

• Swimbait: These look and move a lot like small fish, and they can help you attract trophy Pike. Lots of options here; Kalin's Mogambo is a good place to start.

 

There are a lot of other options available; trophy fishing for Northern Pike is all about experimenting with different lures and presentations. Crankbaits, buzzbaits, and more can all help you attract a trophy Northern Pike!

 

Tackles

 

Choosing your hook, line, and leader is as important as choosing the right lure. You’ve got a few options:

 

• Hooks: We like to keep it simple with a treble hook. Northern Pike can be caught with hooks quite a bit smaller than you might expect—we’ve had a lot of success with #4 - #6 treble hooks, even when trophy fishing Northern Pike. 

• Line: Both braid and monofilament have their advantages when you’re trying to catch a large trophy Pike. We tend to prefer braid when fishing with deadbaits, though monofilament can be great if we’re trolling. 13.6 kg (30 lbs) test braid and 6.8 kg (15 lbs) test monofilament are our standards, but you can move up or down a bit—a slightly stronger line is often a good choice in the weedier areas.

• Leader: Northern Pike can bite through just about anything so 46 cm (18”) of fluorocarbon leader is our go-to; anywhere from 27 - 36 kg  (60 - 80 lbs) test should be strong enough to resist the bite of a Pike. 

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Reel and Rod

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• Rods: We like rods in the 18 - 20 cm (7 - 8 ft) range with a medium-heavy strength. Both spinning rods and baitcasting rods work very well for all kinds of different Northern Pike fishing.

• Reels: Get a spinning reel for your spinning rod and a baitcasting reel for your baitcasting rod—we’re going to keep things simple. A drag of around 8 kg (18 lbs) will serve you well.

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Northern Pike Fishing at Munroe Lake Lodge

 

Come to our lodge for some of the best Northern Pike fishing Canada has to offer. Catch big Pike, see the Northern Lights, and enjoy the hospitality of Friendly Manitoba. Book a fishing trip with us today; it’s an unforgettable experience.

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