Esox lucis, otherwise known as the Northern Pike

We got the big main dock in the lake early this year. It went in easier then past years but with the low water it still made it no easy task - even if it is a 'roll-in' dock. The weather has been amazing to get out and work on the never ending spring 'To Do' list to open the cabins and resort. Each day we wish that we could be chasing northern pike with our fly rods in the shallow bays. We were at Moose Antler Cabin putting on a steel roof and we could see a large pike in the shallow water at the swim beach. It seems as though the pike taunt us bragging about how we can’t go fishing for them until May 15^th. Even with the warm temps and early ice out the water is still cold and that’s where this toothy critter shines.

Esox lucis, otherwise known as the Northern pike is the lone wolf of the water world in our neck of the woods. The pike is very easy to distinguish from other game fish. It has a long snake like body that has a silver back, with white spots and a white underbelly. The tail on the pike is speckled yellow and red during its spawning season and will stay a red color throughout the year. The Northern Pike can grow to 45-50 inches in length. Even the famed musky will fear the northern pike at certain times in its life. The pike can be found this time of year feeding on spawning bait fish such as perch, shiners, sunfish etc. This time of year provides excellent shallow water fishing for them until it gets too warm. The larger fish move deeper in the summer time and in some lakes the larger northerns will hang out with the lake trout. Using large spinner baits, inline spinners, or even a large sucker under a bobber on the edge of some early emerging weeds is a great way to target these fish early in the year for these ambush predators.

We will continue to carry on with our spring chores and cleaning, while Esox lucis is ambushing its prey in the shallows. We will wait till the season opens here in Minnesota in 2 weeks dreaming about catching that monster on our fly rods. If you are looking for a chance to get out and do some early spring pike fishing look towards the Minnesota-Canadian border lakes that are open for fishing Northern Pike.

Happy Trails.