Ice fishing for northern pike can land you a huge trophy fish. While they may be a nuisance to panfish anglers who can only watch as pike chase all other fish out of the area, their size makes northern pike a worthy challenge. Knowing which bodies of water contain large pike and in which areas of the water they lurk is key to a successful pike ice fishing trip. Don't forget to check the thickness and strength of the ice before you head out.
Fishing Holes
While you can land most northern pike through a 6-inch hole, cutting an 8-ince to 10-inch hole will make landing your catch easier. A larger hole will also take longer to fill back in with ice, minimizing your need to keep cleaning it out.
Tackle
When fishing for northern pike, you will need to use at least 15-lb. test line. You may want to use 35-lb. to 45-lb. test line for ease of handling in cold weather. Attach a barrel swivel to the end of your line to keep the line from twisting, and a 3-foot heavy monofilament or steel leader for strength. A small split-shot weight on the leader will help keep the bait in place.
Bait
Using larger bait, 3 inches to 7 inches long, will keep smaller species of fish from striking and triggering your tip ups. Good bait choices for pike include white suckers, chubs, rainbow smelt and golden shiners.
Location
Early in the winter, just after the ice thickens enough to walk on, the best area to fish is along the line where summer weed beds were located. Pike linger in these areas to hunt small fish that have not yet migrated to their winter homes. As midwinter arrives, shift your focus to drop-offs or shoreline points with nearby weed beds. In late winter, look for shallow areas where the bottom is flat because the pike will start migrating to these areas to prepare for spawning.
Depth
In deeper water that is free of thick weed cover, set your bait so it hangs about a foot above the bottom. In shallower weedy areas, shorten your line so the bait hangs just above the tops of the weeds to avoid snags. You can determine the depth of the water and the proper depth for your bait by clipping a weight on the hook and lowering it until it lands on the bottom or in the tops of the weeds. Clip a small bobber or other line marker where you want the line to rest on the spool.
Catch and Release
For some anglers, the thrill of the catch is the main motivation for fishing, rather than the desire for a fish dinner or a wall trophy. If you plan to release your pike, you need to keep the fish's time out of the water to a minimum. This is especially critical in extremely cold weather when the air temperature may freeze the fish's scales or gills. Remove the hook quickly and don't touch the pike's gills.
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