On the first try on a Muskie lake in central Minnesota, I have to admit it didn't see much water time. Later in the season I went on a fly in fishing trip in Manitoba. We tried the traditional spinner baits, silver minnows and Daredevils with success, but no trophies. We decided that the bigger northerns were deep. Most of what we had been throwing was not getting seen by the big ones.
So I decided to switch gears and take out the Squirko. The lure is a jerk bait about ten inches long with a long twister tail on the end. It sinks about a half a foot a second. I decided to work it off some deep weedlines and let it sink. It didn't take long after a few casts to hit ?payday?. That afternoon I boated 6 Manitoba master angler northerns 41″ plus, with the largest being 44″. There were also numerous fish caught between 36 and 40″. My boat partner during this time was throwing ?everything in his tackle box? to get down into the zone. He did get one 42″ northern but it was clear that the Squiko was a major difference. The combination of being in the fish zone plus appealing to the fishes instincts when the Squirko was jerked was the key.
This was three years ago. Last spring we had a party of six to the same lake , the second week of May. Of the 15 master angler northerns, twelve came from my boat using the Squirko. And yes my boat partner had a Squirko so I didn't feel like I had to sleep with the lure to keep it ?safe?.
If you ever have a chance to fish trophy waters for Northern Pike or Musky, try one. I am now a true believer.
How To Catch Northern Pike
In all fairness to the fish anglers that go after northern pike; the northern pike are really the easiest to catch. This might not be the situation at first if an individual is new to pike fishing, however once he or she gets used to it, they will find it easier and easier. The biggest thing about catching a pike amazingly, is knowing where they are!
During the spring months pike like to stay near the shoreline as they will spawn in sand beds and such. This time of year makes it easy for the pike to catch and find food, because the plant life in the water hasn't fully grown. This of course also makes it easy for the pike to see a fish angler's lure and latch on to it too. Pike of a variety of different sizes can definitely be found in the shallow waters at this time of year for feeding purposes. Another reason for the shallow water is that the pike essentially like to be in the warmer areas of the water if it is at all possible.
As summer approaches and the water potentially warms up the plant life in the water will be grown, and although this is a good hiding place for smaller pike the bigger pike will most likely be seen sunning themselves at some areas. This all depends on the location and where the individual is. The larger pike will also tend to move into places between islands or sand barges in a river or various waters. And considering northern pike like to stay in rather shallow water, even the latter part of the summer is a great time for fishing for pike.
As for the lures, there are several an individual can choose from. It is important to remember that although some pike are smaller than others an individual wants to have a good weight as far as test line. This way that "big one" won't be able to get away, because the line snaps when an individual is reeling it in.
With a wide assortment of lures to choose from the pike anglers seem to go back to the live bait or the spoons. However, jitterbugs and other surface lures are great for pike fishing because the pike will come to the surface to get the prey if they don't feel threatened. And in fact, if the lure makes some kind of sound or noise as it hits the surface water and doesn't sink, this entices the pike even better. Some people prefer fly-fishing for pike and this is for that reason. The sound of the lure hitting the water and making a sound usually attracts the pike. However, in all fairness fly-fishing isn't the only way to catch northern pike. Some of the biggest pikes that have been caught have been from the shore and while pike have been sunning.
Some individuals also claim that pike fishing has become increasingly easy as well as popular because of the over population of the pike in various areas.
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