The
pike was a medieval weapon designed for stabbing people and
chopping off their limbs. And the pike we know—Esox lucius—has
a reputation as lethal as the implement it was named after.
This fish is basically an ambush predator, and its typical mode
of attack consists of a snakelike lunge at its prey. Pike attack
quickly for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that
they are always in danger of being attacked by bigger pike and
getting eaten themselves. So they hide among the weeds or sunken
boulders, ready to seize baitfish, frogs, ducklings and anything
else they can swallow. When they attack a surface lure, that
flash of green, that sudden explosion of water, produces a shot
of adrenaline for even the most experienced angler. Pike are
widely distributed throughout Canada, and many youngsters get
their first taste of adventure when they toss a red-and-white
spoon off the end of a dock and catch a hammer handle. Three-pounders
are the norm, and even in northern lakes, you’ll catch
a hundred pike in that size class for every big one. Pike in
the 40-inch, 20-pound class are considered trophies—one
of the summits of freshwater fishing.
 |
| LOCAL
BUZZ |
| Anglers
have often reported catches larger than the Canadian
live-release record of 54 inches, and 48-inch fish
are common. |
| GETTING
THERE |
| From
North Bay, take Highway 11 north to Cochrane, where
flights are available to Kesagami through Cochrane
Air Service. |
| LEARN
MORE |
| Kesagami
Lodge, 1-800-253-3474; www.kesagami.com |
|
KESAGAMI LAKE, ONTARIO
The
promise
Kesagami Lake is becoming known as one of the hottest pike lakes
in northern Ontario. Large and shallow, with plenty of weedbeds,
it’s crawling with 40-inch-plus pike.
Top tackle & tactics
In the spring, use spinning gear and work the shallow bays with
surface lures and floating crankbaits. Terminal gear such as
swivels and leaders should be black, to reduce visibility. In
the summer, use baitcasting outfits and troll the offshore humps
with large spoons or crankbaits.
ENGLISH RIVER SYSTEM, ONTARIO
The
promise
| LOCAL
BUZZ |
| The
farther downstream you go on the English, the deeper
and wilder the river becomes. Big pike hot spots
are Separation Lake, Kettle Falls and Umfreville
Lake. |
| GETTING
THERE |
| The
lower English River is about 80 kilometres north
of Kenora and is best accessed by Highway 658 or
596. Anglers can rent cabins and boats from lodges
at Caribou Falls, Kettle Falls and Separation Lake.
|
| LEARN
MORE |
Northwest
Ontario’s Sunset Country Travel Association,
1-800-665-7567; www.ontariossunsetcountry.ca
Halley’s Camps, 1-800-465-3325; www.halleyscamps.com |
|
The lower
end of this long waterway in northwestern Ontario comprises
a series of large, deep hydro impoundments teeming with baitfish
and large pike.
Top
tackle & tactics
After ice-out, fishing shallow bays with a large, live sucker
minnow (at two pounds, that’s some minnow) suspended 18
inches under a bobber is a sure method for catching trophy pike.
Later in the season, walleye anglers often get robbed of their
catch at boat side by big northerns. Match the hatch by trolling
offshore points with gold-patterned crankbaits.
|
