The northern pike, also known as northerns, pike and jackfish are commonly found in Alaska, especially in the interior of the state. Their natural habitat is in rivers, sloughs and lakes. While they are found in several rivers within the state, their most prolific populations inhabit the Tanana River. The Yukon River and the Minto Flats are other popular pike fishing areas in the interior of the state. Each year, from the Tanana River Valley alone anglers take an average of 18,000 pike, which represents more than half of the pike caught in the state annually.
When to Go
Pike fishing is possible year-round. Spawning season for northern pike is in early May when female pike can be found in shallow and reedy areas in lakes, rivers and sloughs. In the winter, when the waters freeze over, ice fishing for pike is popular. Spear fishers will sit in special huts over the ice and dig a hole in the ice. When a pike surfaces at the hole, you attempt to spear it. During the spring and summer months, the rivers of Alaska's interior are ice-free and fishing for pike from boats or the river's shore is possible. Pike fishing in the interior of Alaska gives anglers the opportunity to get out and fish year-round; you don't have to wait for spring thaw to harvest and eat fresh fish.
Fishing Licenses
The Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife is in charge of issuing fishing licenses. Anyone fishing in Alaska must have a valid fishing license to do so. Licenses can be purchased from the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife's Web page or from an official vendor such as outdoors retailers, fishing guides and outfitter services. Each year, bag limits and restrictions are issued on pike catches to maintain a viable and healthy pike fishery. Typically, a total of five pike are allowed to be taken each day, with only one exceeding a length of 30 inches. This is due to the fact that a pike does not reach sexual maturity until it is between 4 and 5 years old, at which point it is typically 16 to 22 inches in length. This policy is an attempt to ensure that egg-bearing females are allowed to lay enough eggs to continue a healthy pike population. Be sure and check to see what the current bag limits and restrictions are for pike fishing to avoid fines or penalties.
Chartered Fishing Trips
There are many private charters available to take you to the remote spots where the pike are biting. An advantage of hiring a private charter is the years of experience that the guides offer. They know where the pike are biting and can take you right to them. Chartered pike fishing trips can arranged either with a group or privately, and you are provided with meals and equipment for your trip. Many prime pike fishing spots are in remote areas in the Alaskan interior, locales to which it can be difficult to navigate without a guide.
Public Access
It is not necessary to charter a fishing trip to fish for pike in Alaska. The outdoor enthusiast who revels in adventure can rent a boat or bring his own to explore the rivers of Alaska's interior and find where the pike are biting. This can be a great adventure but you will need to prepare sufficiently to avoid mishaps. The Alaska interior is full of wild animals including bears and when camping along the shores of rivers proper precautions should be taken. When planning a solo pike fishing trip, be sure and research thoroughly the area you wish to explore. Prepare by having good topographical maps of the area and consulting with rangers and wildlife department officials in the area to find out about any special precautions or conditions that you may need to know about during your trip.
Catch and Release
A good way to have fun fishing while lessening your impact on the local fish population is to practice catch and release. Take only the fish that you will eat immediately and let the others go. Any fish that is too small should be released so it can reach maturity and reproduce at least once before it is harvested. Specific instructions on how to catch and release pike can be found in the Alaska Outdoor Journal. It is important to be careful when releasing the hook from the pike's mouth to avoid injuring the animal and hindering the chances of its survival once it's released back into the water.
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