Early Season Pike Fishing Dreams
You’re paddling into a shallow-water bay first thing in the morning. The air is crisp and the dew is dissipating as the sun slowly climbs higher into the sky. Your fishing rod is prepped, the line is brand new – spooled in preparation last night. You’ve gone with a 60lb Fluorocarbon leader instead of the traditional titanium on your guide’s advice – “The low vis line will give you the edge you need to land the fish of your dreams” he said. The slow wake of the boat as you roll into the glassy bay send small shockwaves through the vibrant green weeds in the back of the bay. You look at your guide, standing high at the bow with his head on a swivel searching for the signature “log” that isn’t quite a log
This is what the hunt is all about, moments like this. This is why you flew 1,000 miles North of Winnipeg, to one of the most remote lakes on the planet. This is why you haven’t been able to stop smiling for the past 4 days straight.
Fishing shallow-water Pike early season is about as much fun as one can have. Pike spawn in shallow bays with mossy, silt bottoms, and do so almost immediately following ice-off. Once they have spawned they spend their days in the warm sun of the shallow bays trying their best to heat their core temperatures. The post spawn, ie. The approximately 2 weeks following their annual spawn, can produce some of the most frantic and exciting Pike fishing ever.
Jerk baits are quite effective early season. Run at a slow erratic retrieve, lethargic Pike take slow approaches, but when they are on is when the fun truly begins. As the waters warm up a bit more then moving to larger topwater baits can provide some of the most visual fishing found anywhere in the world. Spot the fish in the shallows, see the wake of the giant Pike moving fast toward your lure, smashing the topwater bait and sending spray to the air, then making tight frantic run after run as you giggle with delight.
Truly heaven on earth.
