Pike activity changes during the day. Here’s when to catch the biggest spring northerns

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Spring is prime time for tackling big pike, but you can increase your catch rate even more by carefully selecting when you go fishing.

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Research has shown that pike activity peaks under low-light conditions, as well as when wind and waves break up the surface tension, producing the shadows pike prefer. Conversely, pike activity plummets when the fish are exposed to heavy fishing pressure and recreational boat traffic—and they’ll remember the bad vibes for up to two days afterward.

What all this reveals is the importance of getting out early in the morning, catching the late afternoon and evening twilight bite, and focusing on overcast days. Fishing on weekdays when there are fewer anglers and boats will also pay big dividends.