GIANT SPRING PIKE
By Bob Jensen

One of the most difficult-to-catch game fish in the Midwest is a truly big northern pike. We’re talking about those pike in excess of fifteen pounds. Pike in the four to eight pound range are fairly common and are caught frequently throughout the Midwest. But “teenagers”, those pike that are in the teens in weight, just aren’t real frequent catches, and pike over twenty pounds are pretty darn rare in the Midwest. However, late spring and early summer, in some bodies of water in the Midwest, can provide perhaps your best bet for taking a big one. If you want to catch a big pike, here are some ideas for doing so.

First you must be on a body of water that has a reputation for producing big pike. Some lakes produce “snakes”(small pike), other lakes are home to “gators”(big pike). If you want to have a better chance at catching a big one, you need to be fishing where they live.

Big lakes will usually be better, especially if there are areas that have large areas of reeds. Early in the year, the pike will be in the reeds.

Stained water also seems to be better for big pike in the Midwest. Water that looks like tea has produced big pike for many anglers.

Last of all, they need to have plenty of food to eat. Some lakes have oil-based baitfish: These lakes seem to really produce the big pike.

Pike are the first to spawn. They spawn in shallow marshy areas early, then move back toward the main body of water. They will spend a few days, maybe even a couple of weeks in the reeds that can be found between the marshy areas and the deeper main lake area. When they are in the reeds, they are eating machines. Any small or medium sized creature that might be swimming in these areas is in trouble.

Spinnerbaits are the number one bait to use in the reeds for pike. A spinnerbait with a large blade that is bright will be productive. In this stained water it will be best to work the bait slow and steady. Pro-Model Reed-Runner spinnerbaits have very high-quality ball bearings which enable the blades to turn even at the slowest speeds.

A pike’s vision is limited in this stained water, so orange, chartreuse, or brass blades will be helpful as they are easier to see. 

Sometimes you’ll feel just a change in the feel of the spinnerbait as it comes through the water. That will often be a pike missing the bait. Keep the bait moving and get ready, as the pike will usually come back.

Twenty-pound test Trilene XT is the line of choice in this heavy cover. It’s tough stuff and will handle pretty much any pike that you tangle with. A Lightning Rod Flippin’ Stick teamed with a larger C3 or C4 Abu Garcia casting reel will complete the outfit nicely.

It is critical to release these pike. The main reason there aren’t many big pike is because too many mid-size pike are kept. Once you have experienced a day of catching truly large pike, you will realize that these fish are too precious to be caught just once and you will gladly release them in hopes of tangling with them again next year at this time.