How to Fish for Northern Pike: Gear, Lures, and Tools

Northern Pike are among my favorite fish to target, both in open water and under the ice. They are typically very aggressive, not picky, and can reach large sizes. Targeting pike does require specialized equipment that can differ from typical trout, grayling, or bass setups. I will go over some equipment I’ve had experience with that has worked well for the areas I fish. In open water, I typically cast small to medium lures around cover. The gear I mention will be for this technique in mind. Down the road, I’ll share my thoughts on their habitat and where to find pike. For now, I will focus on the equipment needed.

Fishing Pole set-ups for Northern Pike

Open water conventional

The best fishing pole for northerns boils down to how big the fish are you’ll be targeting. Mostly, I’ve used light setups for targeting northerns in the open water as I usually focus heavily on a casting, fast-paced fishing style. A 6′ 6″ to 7′ 6″ medium-heavy spinning rod has always been adequate for me. I have used a 6′ medium for a time while I first started targeting these feisty fish, but this size rod lacks leverage for fish reaching 10 lbs and more. The longer-length, medium-heavy rods allow for more leverage with heavier fish. They also allow for further, more accurate casting. This rod from Kastking would be an ideal rod when casting for pike. https://amzn.to/3TbkkQO

When choosing the action of the pole, line and lure weight are an important factor. Generally, faster action rods are “stiffer” than slower actions, often aiding in casting and retrieving heavy lure and line setups. I prefer a medium-fast action in 7′ lengths for the typical, quick casts and light lure presentations I use the most.

Most 2000-4000 size spinning reels will suffice for most casting applications. Again, match the size of the reel to the size fish that will be targeted. If most fish are sub 10 lbs, I love to stay light using a 2000-3000 model. These have the ability to fight larger fish and only start to become undergunned when 20 lb+ fish are encountered. I’ve used and enjoyed this model from Kastking. https://amzn.to/42NVPMV

For large lures and LARGE fish, these rod lengths and actions are on the light side. Also, casting reels may be better suited than spinning reels. Techniques such as trolling and casting large, dead baits out under floats are best suited for different setups. While effective and widely utilized around the world for catching big pike, I don’t have much to say about these particular setups as I don’t have enough experience with these strategies. 

I use a minimum of 20lb line on my spinning rod set-ups. I have used fluoro, mono https://amzn.to/3wAWWmQ, and braid https://amzn.to/4bHGCAS successfully. Mono and flouro do tend to have memory issues when using inline spinners. I prefer not to use a swivel, opting to tie directly to the lure, but sometimes this is not an option when using these line types. 30 lb braid to a 20 lb fluoro leader https://amzn.to/3uVBCYN would be my go-to line choice for most of the pike fishing I do. The ideal line will change depending on water conditions and techniques used. Downsize for smaller, finickier fish, or when fishing clearer water. Upsize when large fish are expected, using larger lures, or fishing in thick cover.   

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing for northerns can be a heart-pounding experience. Pike strike hard and fast, often only feet away from the rod tip. A 9′ 8-10wt rod is the standard for pike, but a 9′ 6″-10′ rod is also effective. Fast action rods are the norm, often more difficult for beginners to load, but they allow the experienced caster to launch large, heavy flies in stiff winds. Casting these rods can wear a fisherman out over a long day. Finding the right rod that fits your casting style can make a big difference.

Fly reels should be the same line weight ratings as the rod, and also possess a strong drag. The Redington Behemoth https://amzn.to/3SU30OQ is a popular “budget” reel that is suitable for pike and other larger fish. The drag strength is impressive. I have found it to be suitably smooth. Tying into big fish will require the fisherman to apply pressure against the fish’s weight to tire them out efficiently, and eventually guide the head into the landing net. Pike typically take 1-3 sudden, strong runs when they near the boat or bank. The sudden burst of acceleration requires a smooth drag to protect the tippet. If the drag is uneven, gritty, or otherwise hesitant, the added force from the sudden run can cost you the fish of a lifetime. 

Fly line is always an important choice. There are A LOT of good options out there. Major line companies often have specialized, species or technique-specific line options https://amzn.to/3SPNbZB. These are good choices, but a general-purpose line matching the same weight as the rod will work. Floating vs sinking/sink tip will depend on the techniques used. Obviously, sinking options take away from top-water presentations. While these are fun to fish, a sub-surface streamer has worked the best for me when searching for larger fish. A floating line will be more versatile, but a sinking line will be ideal when controlling large streamers in 3-4ft or more water.

Ice Fishing

An ice rod should have decent length and power to apply the needed leverage to control large pike under the ice. I really like my 13 fishing infrared 40″ MH rod. This paired with a 1000 series Kastking Sharky III reel https://amzn.to/42ORb13 has plenty of power and leverage to handle these fish. I also like the Jaw Jacker 36″ MH I’ve been using this winter. Medium action and lighter rods lack the backbone to control large fish. They can work in a pinch or when hooking up with a big pike accidentally, but a dedicated pike rod should be at least a medium heavy-heavy action. 1000 series spinning reels pair nicely with a 36-42″ rod and provide added spool capacity for heavier lines.

I prefer suffix ice braid https://amzn.to/49q818N rated at 20-30lb. Sometimes I will add a leader with a barrel swivel, otherwise, I will attach the two lines via a double-uni knot.

Tip-ups are also effective through the ice. I never found fancy, high-end tip-ups to be needed. Polar tipups https://amzn.to/3wuCxjw always worked well for me: cheap, reliable, and compact. They also will rarely have a wind flag. Other options such as heritage brand or other standing style tip-ups are popular. These stand higher which makes them more visible from a distance. Some of these models are quite large and expensive. Regardless of the style, the spool should be filled with 30lb or heavier backing. https://amzn.to/3USVhmJ

Effective fishing lures, flies, and terminal tackle

Open water lures

I use the in-line spinners most often. These are great when fishing shallow, weedy structure. My favorite lure for pike has always been the Blue fox vibrax https://amzn.to/3Ibsv9r. The sizes #4-6 work best. Size 4 spinners throw off a tighter, quicker vibration than the #6, which has more of a thumping vibration. The #5 is a great happy medium and is very versatile. Gold has worked best for me, especially on bright-partly cloudy days https://amzn.to/3Ibsv9r. Firetiger https://amzn.to/3UT8o7B is my go-to color on overcast days. Mepps make great spinners for pike, namely, the Mepps muskie killers, dressed and undressed Aglia, and black fury models https://amzn.to/4bMO0uV. I particularly like the blaze orange spinner color in an undressed #5 aglia. I will tip these with a 3″ white mister twister https://amzn.to/3SV2Oiv for added movement and color contrast.

Spoons work well for both trolling and casting. These are best for slightly deeper water where a foot or two of sinking won’t result in getting into the weeds. Also, they cast a long way and are a great way to cover a lot of water. Dardevle spoons https://amzn.to/3SQg5J8 are a classic Northern pike lure. These spoons are versatile and come in a large selection of sizes and colors. The classic red and white color is one of the *most versatile lures ever made. The 5 of diamonds spoon is also highly effective and might very well outfish the red and white coloration. Luhr Jensen makes some great spoons as well. The Krocodile https://amzn.to/42UBeXm is a favorite for both casting and jigging. These offer a longer, skinnier presentation while also having great movement. I like to have a few available in silver. 

I will use swimbaits quite frequently when targeting pike. Storm wildeye live pike are one of my favorites. Pike are often cannibalistic, and these small, baby pike imitations are like candy to them. While quite heavy, they are best when fished to deeper structures such as wood and drop-offs. Savage Gear makes some great swimbaits that are highly realistic. The savage gear hybrid pike is another lure that plays to the cannibalistic side of a pike https://amzn.to/3IeimsO. It looks great in the water, having more of a straight action in the body with the wavering rubber tail. This presents itself in a lifelike manner, as many pike fishermen have witnessed a pike gliding in, body still but tail and fins wafting in the water. The Savage Gear 3D trout https://amzn.to/49KhOXh has also worked well here in Alaska. While offering ultra-realistic paint schemes and movements, these rubber swimbaits’ durability cannot compare to hard baits. The storm swimbaits don’t withstand the teeth of pike as well as the Savage gear offerings. Even so, I always have some swimbaits in my tackle box.

My friend Jacob loves to throw a Rapala subwalk https://amzn.to/3IiNg2V while covering water searching for pike. The first time fishing pike in the open water together, he hammered pike after pike on these. The side-to-side action just below the surface was deadly that morning. We were fishing a shallow flat that was intermixed with large flooded stumps and submerged weed beds from my old town canoe. Sitting low in the canoe made seeing the structure difficult. This style of lure made covering water easy with its long casts and active retrieve rate. Large, original rapalas https://amzn.to/3I8kxhv and jointed rapalas https://amzn.to/3OVikJS are also favorites to throw. A floating, 7′ blue chrome jointed has been one of my most used lures in the interior on bright, sunny days. I use these both while casting to the edge of structure and while trolling.

The thrill of having a pike strike at topwater lures is hard to top. Sometimes a plug or other loud topwater lure will draw pike into an area as they are attracted to the commotion. Arbogast hula poppers and jitterbugs https://amzn.to/3OVAHi6 have always held a special place in my tackle boxes. These lures were amongst the most intriguing to me as a kid, I loved catching smallmouth on them. They work great for aggressive pike in shallow water as well. When fishing thick, choked-out weed beds, a weedless frog is a fun option. Pop these between lily pads and back into open pockets within thick cover. Pike will be flying out of the water in no time.

Flies

Large, flashy streamers are the most common fly used for pike, but smaller, more subtle streamers have their place. Game changer flies are very effective with their lifelike action. Most baitfish patterns will work well. While most are flashy, large, and move a lot of water, the classic clouser minnow will catch many pike and should be carried. Many flies are lightly or unweighted, allowing the fly to be suspended and then twitched to entice strikes. These work well when paired with a sinking line, allowing the line weight to bring the fly into the strike zone. I’ve recently tied some patterns with heavy lead wraps in the body and heavy dumbbell eyes. These will work when fishing shallow weed beds with a floating line. Topwater flies are super fun to fish. Frogs, poppers, and mice patterns come to mind. Fishing these on a calm day in thick weeds will produce hard hits.

Ice Fishing

Most spoons and swimbaits will work well while jigging for northerns. Northland buckshot spoons https://amzn.to/3TabLph are an extremely versatile jigging spoon that work well for many species, pike being one of them. These spoons have a “rattle” built in that produces a clacking sound when jigged. Recently I have been using Storm shad swimbaits https://amzn.to/3ORcI3y and various tubes to catch many pike. My best day came while using white tubes. Molly and I caught about 85 between us. These tubes do not hold up long to their sharp teeth, I got about ten fish to a tube, but it was worth it to me.

I mostly have targeted pike under the ice with tip-ups. A large single hook such as the Gamgakatsu octopus in sizes 1/0 -3/0 work well https://amzn.to/3TbFKgQ. Larger treble hooks https://amzn.to/49iyXaF work as well and are preferred in areas where the pike are feeding aggressively. The large hooks will hold a large bait securely and will be strong enough to pull the pike in by hand. Northland makes a tandem treble hook rig made out of steel wire. These are great for suspending dead bait horizontally or securing an extra large sucker, whitefish, or shiner.

Steel Leaders

A steel leader should be used most of the time when targeting pike. Their rows of sharp teeth can slice through the line very easily, costing the fisherman a lure and the fish. I have found some of the store available leaders to be on the flimsy side. Eagle claw and Berkely leaders I have used this winter have failed both at the swivel and the wire in both 20 and 30-lb ratings. I have the best luck with constructing my own leaders with upgraded components. They are simple to make. All that’s needed is a barrel swivel, snap swivel, wire, and crimping tubes.

Essential Tools and other equipment

I like to carry a few specialized tools when fishing for pike. A good set of long needle nose pliers https://amzn.to/49t7LG7 is a must if you wish to keep your fingers intact. I like at least an 8″ plier to reach down into the throats of large pike. Hook-removing tools are also nice to have https://amzn.to/49QXhjX. These keep your hands further away from the mouth and have a slim profile. Jaw spreaders https://amzn.to/4bQWnFS are nice to have as well. Large pike can engulf lures and flies, often clamping their mouths shut when trying to pry the hook loose. When fishing with plastics or flies, spreading the jaws can minimize damage to the bait as you work it out of their throat. A large landing net with good reach can be the difference between landing and losing a trophy pike. The net should be deep enough to fully hold a large pike. The extended reach of a longer net aids in landing the fish a little further from the boat. Pike will often almost glide towards the net before making a strong run just feet away. It is very important to be ready for this, and keeping the fish further from the boat can keep them from running straight underneath it. I also like to have a scale and bumpboard to get measurements of the fish. Lastly, A basic first aid kit should always be carried. In the kit should be at a minimum gauze and duct tape. I’ve been sliced more than once handling these toothy fish.

I hope this was helpful and informative. My style of quick casts to structure lends itself to these recommendations. I have had great luck catching nice pike with smaller-than-typical lures and tackle. Regardless of the technique or area fished, northern pike are an extremely fun fish to target. Good luck chasing that next giant, they are out there.