The Best Time To Catch Northern Pike

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 Best Water Temperature for Catching Northern Pike

When it comes to catching northern pike, water temperature is king. As we will see water temperature is far more important than the time of year when it comes to catching northern pike.

Numerous biological studies have shown that pike up to about five pounds prefer water temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Larger, trophy-size northern pike prefer water temperatures in the 50-55-degree range.

Is Spring the Best Time to Catch Northern Pike?

The answer is it can be, but there are other factors to consider. To understand this better lets, dig a little deeper. Water temperatures can fluctuate wildly from one location to another in the spring. As an example larger lakes in the far north won’t even start to thaw until mid-May. Smaller shallower lakes in the same areas will be ice-free and warming up much earlier. Lakes further south will open even earlier still. So while a trip in May might be ideal for one body of water, it might be too early or late for another.

Another issue that can arise during the spring is cool water temperatures throughout a particular body of water. This might sound like a good thing until you realize that because the water temperature is consistently cool throughout the entire lake northern pike could be anywhere.

Since northern pike are spring spawners concentrating your efforts in and around shallow bays and deltas is an effective spring tactic. We stick to shallow running spoons like Eppingers Daredevles.

Northern Pike Fishing in Mid-Summer

Once the surface water temperatures start to climb above 70 degrees large northern pike will begin to seek out cooler pockets of water. This can be a good thing if you or your guide know the water you are fishing.

Underwater springs and cold inflows will create pockets of cold water that will hold large northern pike throughout the summer. Here at Grizzly Creek Lodge northern pike fishing is productive throughout the summer because we have so many underwater springs and cold inflows.

As a matter of fact, some of the best northern pike fishing I’ve ever experienced took place in mid-summer when the surface water temperatures were at their peak. As the water warms up large northern pike will start moving into cooler water. This helps concentrate large numbers of pike in a smaller area. Anglers that identify these pockets of cool water in the mid-summer heat will often experience fantastic northern pike fishing.

Our favorite gear for mid-summer pike includes bucktail jigs, Eppinger Husky Devels, or a Gibbs spoon. Check prices on Amazon here.

                                     Fall Fishing for Northern Pike

Fall can be one of the best times to catch northern pike. Especially in the northern latitudes. By mid-August the days are getting shorter and the nights cooler in the far north. Nighttime temperatures start dipping below freezing on a regular basis and the water begins to cool off rapidly.

 Large northern pike that have been out in the open water begin moving back into the shallows hunting for food. They feed heavily during this period as they prepare for the long winter ahead. The fall season is so reliable that it is the only time of year I don’t use a thermometer. Casting or trolling spoons in 10-20 feet of water along shorelines and drop-offs is one of our favorite tactics.

The answer to the question ‘When is the best time to catch northern pike,’ really depends on where you plan to fish, and how well you or your guide know the water. Early spring, mid-summer, and fall can all be productive times to fish for northern pike if you know where to look.

If I were backed into a corner and had to pick a single time to target pike I would probably pick a quiet evening during the mid-summer heat when big pike are stacked up like cordwood in cooler water.

One summer afternoon a few years ago a couple of our clients caught and released 60-northern pike in two hours of fishing. Only three of those fish were under 30-inches. That’s the kind of action you can get into during the summer if you target those cool pockets of water.