How the Pike Spawn Works

When pike spawn they are more interested in the business at hand than with eati­ng. Pre-spawn, just before and during ice thaw in early spring, male and female pike eat feverishly in preparation. If you want to fish during the pre-spawn, ask local guides and fisherman to point you in the right direction. Be sure to check with your local fishing agency to ensure pre-spawn pike fishing is legal in your state.

Generally, pike become sexually active between their second and third years, but size matters more in determining sexual maturity than age. Bigger females will release more eggs and attract more males [source: Pikezander]. Once they are all grown up, they are ready to join their peers at the spawning grounds.

Spawning times are not set in stone and are determined by water temperature. Spawning takes place when the water's temperature reaches at least 40 degrees F. It can begin anytime starting in late February and continue until May or June, depending on the location. In the northern United States, pike will most likely be spawning in mid-April.

Males move into spawning grounds a couple of weeks before the females and hang around for a few weeks after spawning is complete, averaging approximately a one-month residence. You can hone your pike fishing techniques by practicing on the males. Post-spawn females don't stick around, heading back to their normal waters shortly after dropping their eggs. You can expect females to be actively spawning for roughly 10 days before they go back to their regular lifestyles.

Now you know when the pike spawn is happening, but where are they? Read on to learn about prime pike spawn locations.

­Because pike are found in various locations across the globe, you would think pike-spawnin­g locations would be radically different in each area. It's not. It seems that no matter where they are, pike have basically the same spawning tastes.

Pike like to spawn in:

If they are sea-dwelling pike, they will migrate up rivers to shallow weedy backwaters and pools. Lake-dwellers will migrate to shallow, weedy bays.

Rivers tend to produce large pike due to the amount of food sources, such as shad. When rivers swell during the spring thaw, they produce feeding and breeding grounds favored by the northern pike. The shallow back bays of large lakes are another favorite spawning area because of the natural vegetation and abundant supply of pan fish, bluegill and crappy, which pike find hard to resist [source: Vick]. Pike tend to be one of the easiest fish to catch, so your local fishing agency or well-known fisherman will be able to point you in the right direction.

Now that you know where to locate pike during the spawn, let's talk about what you really want to know -- how to fish for spawning pike.

Every fisherman has a favorite rod. Recommended rods for pike fishing include­ the longer European-style rods that have baitcast or spinning reels. Pike can also be caught using a fly rod, but fly fishing isn't recommended as the primary way to reel in a pike if you're unfamiliar with the method. Pike are gnarly fish, and they can bring you right into the water if you don't know what you're doing.

When fishing during the spawn, location helps just as much as equipment. Check with your local fishing agency to locate rivers or lakes that include these types of natural pike baitfish:

Pike can be fished during the spawn with live bait or artificial bait. Since most states have regulations or bans regarding live bait, check before you toss any old bait into your favorite water location. Some of the most popular baits and lures include:

The best trick to reeling in a giant pike? See red. Literally. Pike are known to love the color red. [source: Vick] Good luck and happy fishing!