Northern Pike fishing
Esox lucius. Long, slender, torpedo-shaped body with a large duck-bill mouth full of big teeth.
Northern Pike fishing uses a large spoon or a large dead sucker or shiner on 10 to 16 lb line, at dawn, during the day, and at dusk. Northern pike are not intentionally stocked everywhere; in Washington they were illegally introduced and are now suppressed as an invasive predator because they prey heavily on native and ESA-listed salmon and steelhead.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn, Day, and Dusk
- Line
- 10–16 lb
- Hook sizes
- Size 4 and 6 hooks for bait
- Stocked in
- 7 states
- Peak in MI
- May
Identification
- Long, slender, torpedo-shaped body with a large duck-bill mouth full of big teeth.
- Horizontal rows of light-colored, round to oval spots on a dark background; cheeks are fully scaled.
- Dorsal and anal fins set far back near the tail, and the tail fin is rounded at the ends.
- Can exceed 45 pounds and live over 20 years, with a voracious appetite for other fish.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Top baits
Sources: ohiodnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 10–16 lb
- Rod power
- Rod about 7 feet long with moderate or medium-heavy action (Minnesota DNR), paired with a steel or fluorocarbon leader
- Hook sizes
- Size 4 and 6 hooks for bait
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , ohiodnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 19, 2026 , dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
Northern pike are not intentionally stocked everywhere; in Washington they were illegally introduced and are now suppressed as an invasive predator because they prey heavily on native and ESA-listed salmon and steelhead. In states where pike are native or an established gamefish, populations are largely self-sustaining and not dependent on regular hatchery stocking the way trout are.
Common mistakes
- Tying a lure straight to your line; tie a foot-long steel or fluorocarbon leader to the end of the line and attach the lure to the leader.
- Fishing small, subtle lures; adult northern pike have a fondness for perch and suckers in the 4- to 15-inch range.
- Ignoring aquatic vegetation; in lakes northern pike are often in two to fifteen feet of water, in and around weedbeds, rocky points and other structure.
Best time to fish Northern Pike
Most commonly stocked in May in Michigan, based on 263 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Montana, based on 70 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May and June in Wyoming, based on 19 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
103 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Ohio
Texas
Wisconsin
Wyoming
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 30.69 lbs | Tim Bone | Stagecoach Reservoir (Routt County) | 2006 |
| Idaho | 40.76 lbs | Thomas Francis | Hayden Lake | 2023 |
| Kentucky | 10.53 lbs | Derek Cowden Corbin, KY | Laurel River Lake | 2006 |
| Michigan | 39 lbs | – | Dodge Lake, Schoolcraft County | 1961 |
| Montana | 37.5 lbs. | Lance Moyer | Tongue River Reservoir | 1971 |
| Utah | 26 lbs. 1 oz. | Vlad Zoranovic | Yuba Reservoir | 2013 |
| Virginia | 31 lbs. 4 oz. | George Wood | Motts Run Reservoir | 1994 |
| Wisconsin | 38 lbs. 0 oz. | – | Lake Puckaway, Green Lake County | 1952 |
| Wyoming | 27.25 lbs. | Robert Hockett - Newcastle, WY | Keyhole Reservoir, Crook County | 2004 |
Common questions
What lures work for Northern Pike?
Large spoon, a spoon in silver, copper, and red/white. Bucktail spinner, a spinner in white, chartreuse, and firetiger. Large soft-plastic swimbait on a jighead, a soft plastic in white and chartreuse.
What bait works for Northern Pike?
Large dead sucker or shiner. Large live sucker (where legal).
How big do Northern Pike get?
The Colorado record is 30.69 lbs from Stagecoach Reservoir (Routt County) in 2006. The Idaho record is 40.76 lbs from Hayden Lake in 2023. The Utah record is 26 lbs. 1 oz. from Yuba Reservoir in 2013. 6 more state records are on this page.