Northern Pike (Esox lucius), also known as the "Water Wolf" or called a "Gator," are just one super fun fish to catch. These fish are eating machines, and using the right equipment at the right time in the right location will often yield spectacular results with relative ease.

Before we go into details on how to catch these fish, here's a little information about the current NY State and North American record Northern Pike. In 1940, Peter Dubuc fished at Great Sacandaga Lake in Fulton County, NY, and caught a pike weighing 46 lb. 2 oz. Today, this fish still holds the record. I can't say you'll catch one that big, but there are still many real big pike swimming around, and each year anglers have a good shot at taking a 15- to 20-pound class fish or better on rod and reel.

Early Spring Lure Selection Considerations

The first thing to remember is a pike will eat just about any moving creature that's up to 1/3 and sometimes 1/2 their total body length. They prefer other fish, but are known to eat frogs, ducklings, and the occasional small rodent.

In Lake Ontario and the surrounding waterways, I've discovered that one doesn't need buckets of live bait or a large vessel loaded with downriggers or planer boards to catch these fish.

To enjoy open water early season pike action, it's usually best when fishing from a boat. Right after ice-out, when water is 35- to 38-degrees, the pike move into the shallows to spawn. As the water warms to temperatures between 45 and 60 degrees, you can catch quality pike by applying a few easy steps. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Where to Fish for Northern Pike in Early Spring

Look for any vertical weed growth in depths of 5- to 20-foot of water. I recommend starting in the backs of bays or large flats with scattered vegetation in 5- to 7-foot and fishing your way back out toward deeper water (20 ft).

I've enjoyed most of my success casting some form of minnow-imitation lures to submerged weed edges or isolated clumps of cabbage leaf in or around hard-bottom areas. I believe early in the season the larger pike frequent these areas for two reasons:

1. The weed beds provide good cover.
2. These areas serve as excellent ambush positions to successfully intercept other fish moving in the shallows preparing for their spawning cycle.

Another overlooked area is a flat with scattered deadfall. Pike are notorious for setting up next to a downed tree that comes off the bank. Early in the season, you'd be surprised to see just how shallow a big fish will hold, and the key ingredient seems to be large horizontal cover they can sit beside while they wait to capture their next meal.

Most good pike lures range from 1/2- up to 2-ounces and anywhere from 5- to 7-inches in length. Remember, a pike will not hesitate to choke down almost any lure.

Best Lures for Early Spring

I've enjoyed good success casting suspending deep-diving jerkbaits, Bill Lewis squarebill crankbaits, rubber swimbaits, and Zoom Flukes dressed on a Stormin Hornet lead head jig.When using the jerkbait, squarebill, or the swimbait, most often a key element to the presentation is a steady retrieve. Pike will usually follow for a distance and then strike the lure. Sometimes you'll feel a light tap, and other times they'll hit the lure so hard they knock slack in the line.The light tap but no hook-up is a key indicator you've got the fish's attention, but either the size of the lure or color isn't quite right—hence the tap and not a quality strike. When this happens, I go to the next larger size lure, and that usually translates into good quality hook-ups.

If you're experiencing the slack-line strike, that's a good thing because it means the fish is hitting your lure with the intent to kill. Now all you have to do is pay attention, and on the next strike reel down to take up the slack line and set the hook with authority.

How to Retrieve Pike Lures in Early Spring

When using the Zoom Fluke on the Stormin Hornet lead head jig, I prefer a yo-yo style retrieve.Cast out and count it down to the desired depth. In 5- to 7-foot water, I count it down to three or four, then on a semi-tight line raise the rod from nine to twelve, pause, let the lure pendulum down, and repeat.

It's a very simple retrieve, just like casting hair jigs for walleye or smallmouth bass.

Best Line and Leader Setup for Northern Pike

With these presentations, I usually run a short 18- to 24-inch shock leader of 20- to 25-lb. fluorocarbon tied to the main line, and I've experienced very few bite-offs. Yes, the pike can still bite it off, but usually the bite-offs are few and far between.

When the bite gets tough, I believe the fluorocarbon leader will generate a few more strikes as compared to fishing with a steel leader.

You'll need a medium- to medium-heavy action rod spooled up with 12- to 17-lb. test line, some 25-lb. test fluorocarbon or 15- to 20-lb. coated steel leader material, and a handful of minnow-imitation lures.

In recent years, I've caught several large pike using a Kestrel BFS reel spooled with 8-lb. braid paired with a 7'3" medium power fast-action rod. I use the same 25-lb. test fluorocarbon leader to avoid bite-offs.

Best Rod and Reel for Northern Pike Fishing

Recommended Rod:

Royale Legend Pro Rod （Swimbait）

• Length: 7'6"

• Power: Medium Heavy

• Action: Fast

• Ideal Applications: swimbaits and jigged flukes

Recommended Reel:

Megatron 200 Baitcasting Reel

• Gear Ratio: 6.4:1

• Max Drag : 28.6-lb

• reviews

Best Paired With:

• Line： 15 lb braid 

• Leader： 8- to 24-inch shock fluorocarbon leader of 25-lb

Which lure types statistically produce the most strikes from Northern Pike in early spring?

Multiple angler reports and lure performance guides identify suspending jerkbaits, large inline spinners, and spoons as some of the most effective lure types for early‑season pike fishing, especially in cold water where reaction strikes matter most.

What lure characteristics trigger aggressive pike bites in cold water?

Northern Pike are drawn to flash and vibration in early spring when water temperatures are low. Large blades on spinners (e.g., Colorado or willow leaf designs) and erratic motion from suspending jerkbaits significantly increase the chance of strikes in early spring conditions.

Are artificial lures more effective than natural bait for triggering attacks in predatory Northern Pike?

Recreational fisheries research suggests pike often attack artificial baits faster than natural baits during skill‑based lure fishing, indicating that choosing well‑designed artificial lures can boost catch probability.

Over the years, I've used these presentations to capture 1st place and 2nd place honors in the Northern Pike division of the annual Henderson Harbor Spring Derby held in May.

So, the next time you want to cast for early season Northern Pike, give these simple suggestions a try, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

About the Author

Captain Burnie Haney is owner/operator of New York Fishing Adventures, Army veteran and retired Sergeant Major with a 38-year military career. A tournament bass angler since 1992, he has won five Angler of the Year titles, set the NYTBF five-fish weight record, and qualified for two National Championships. Burnie holds two International Game Fish Association (IGFA) New York State line class records (walleye and smallmouth bass) and the IGFA All Tackle Length World Record for Chain Pickerel. He is a lifetime member of B.A.S.S. and member of the New York State Outdoor Writers' Association. Haney was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2017. Today, Burnie focuses on multi-species seasonal fishing adventures.