The pay-lakes in southern Ohio stock northern
pike early in spring. The first stocking is
normally in March. The pike do not live long
in the warm shallow lakes, so spring is when
you want to fish for them.
I have the best luck using live bait on steel
leaders. I like to use large suckers hooked
just behind the dorsal fin, suspended beneath
a large slip floater. I cast this pretty
close to the bank, and wait for the action. I
like to fish the "mid" depths. If the water
is 10' deep I set my bobber at 5'- 6'.
When a pike hits your bait give it time to
get the hook in its mouth. Pike will generaly
hit a baitfish from the side, and then they
will turn the bait in their mouth to swallow
it. When the pike strikes let it run the
slack out of yor line before you set the
hook.
Artificial lures can be productive on
pay-lake pike. Large bucktail spinners jerked
slowly through mid depth water have worked
well for me. I have also caught many on the
classic "little cleo" spoon. I like to throw
it a good distance and jig it slowly back
in.( the blue and silver little cleo has
worked best for me) I have also caught them
on "sonic rooster tails" while fishing for
trout.
Northern Pike are fun to catch. I don't like to eat them so I always release them. Remember to watch out for the teeth Northerns have
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