Northern Pike

With lightning fast eats and a willingness to eat large streamers, these toothy predators check off all the boxes for the avid angler. We recommend this species be reserved for the intermediate to advanced fisherman. A great way to practice for pike before going out on the water for them is streamer fishing for smallmouth. A lot of the same techniques are used and you’ll typically find a bit more consistent action with smallmouth than pike. Ohio pike fishing is never a numbers game and always about the thrill of the hunt! All our northern pike trips take place on northeast Ohio’s inland streams.

 

Pending we don’t have a harsh winter, January and February can be some of the best months to target Ohio's northern pike at their heaviest. The larger females are packing on calories before they spawn in early-middle March. Big flies, heavy sinking lines, strip sets and keeping your head in the game the whole day are keys to success. 

 

May and June are the post spawn months that provide anglers with a few more opportunities than in the winter months. Smaller flies and intermediate sinking lines are the go to as fishing will set up in smaller ambush style spots and shallow water. Sight fishing can also come into play when water gets low. Large smallmouth are frequently found as a bycatch during pike adventures.

 

As the weather starts to cool down in October through the month of December, pike are putting the feed bags back on in preparation for winter. Intermediate and lighter sinking lines are used along with big streamers. Pike fishing during these months can be a great alternate option to steelhead if conditions aren't great on the Lake Erie tribs.