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The pike lives in freshwater bodies of water. Its characteristic features are an elongated body, a narrow mouth, and many sharp teeth. Because of the massive jaws, the pike is called the “freshwater shark”. The size of an adult predator varies: from 1-2 kg and 40-50 cm to giants of 30-35 kg, 120-140 cm long.
Range and habitats of pike
Pike lives only in freshwater reservoirs or in desalinated parts of the seas. Found in the Northern Hemisphere (Eurasia, North America). Spotted prefers low-flowing or stagnant waters. A suitable parking lot must meet a number of requirements:
- the bottom is sandy;
- the presence of aquatic vegetation;
- eyebrows, pits;
- flooded snags and trees;
- desirable depth differences.
Pike do not live in mountain rivers with a fast current and a rocky bottom because of the impossibility of setting up an ambush here. Also, the spotted one does not like small ponds that “bloom” in summer and are completely covered with ice in winter.
Typical habitats are small and large rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and other artificially created reservoirs. You can meet the grass pike as an exception even in some swamps. The preferred places for spotted parking are floodplain lakes, channels and bays of rivers.
Where to search for pike
Perspective pike parking lots differ for each specific reservoir. The fisherman needs to know and take into account the hydrological features of the selected water area.
In a river
Pike ambush in the most hidden and protected places. These are aquatic plants, fallen trees, snags or single boulders near the coastline.
Typical habitats for pike on the river:
- steep coastline with depth differences;
- deep pit – the junction of two or more rivers;
- area right next to the dam.
You can also find pike on the river in other, most unpredictable places. Migration spotted across the water area is forced by a change in weather conditions and jumps in atmospheric pressure.
On small rivers
If the bed of a small river has a minimum depth of 1-1,5 m and small fish (bleak, roach) are found here, the pike lives in this reservoir. But the smaller the river, the more cautious the pike. A fisherman in such an area should exercise maximum disguise and caution.
In the lake, pond
Here, the toothy predator usually keeps shallow areas near snags and abundant aquatic vegetation. There are high chances to find a pike near the reeds, sedges, near water lilies.
Pond pike
In the reservoir
Promising places for fishing are the mouths of flowing rivers, vast shallow water, areas with thickets of aquatic plants. Pike can go to depth, stay close to hydraulic structures. For fishing in the reservoir, it is recommended to use a watercraft.
How deep is pike
The predator arranges parking both in shallow water and in depth. In the first case, these are coastal edges with an average depth of up to 1 m, in the second – from 3-4 m. Fishing tactics and suitable baits are fundamentally different for shallow and deep areas.
What is the best time of day to fish for pike?
Each individual population living in a particular water area develops its own biological rhythm of existence. For example, in one lake the predator pecks actively before dawn, in another – before sunset. Therefore, all these recommendations are general, they may vary for each specific reservoir.
| Times of Day | Biting features |
| Dawn (early morning) | Pike “wakes up” and ambush already at 4-5 o’clock in the morning. An additional plus for the fisherman is poor lighting (it is difficult for fish to distinguish live fish from bait). The chances of catching a large specimen are highest in the morning. |
| daytime hours | In good sunny and clear weather, the bite is completely exhausted by noon. The predator accurately sees its real prey, it does not attack artificial baits. On a gloomy, cloudy day and drizzling rain, you can fish during the day, as the view in the water is significantly deteriorating. |
| Evening time | If the bite was stopped, it will resume only by 18-19 hours. From 19 to 22-23 the increased activity of the predator remains. |
| Night | After midnight, the pike does not bite. This is due to the fact that small fish (the main food base of the predator) have stopped all their movements in the reservoir. |
The influence of weather on pike biting
When planning a fishing trip, be sure to take into account the weather forecast. Under adverse conditions, biting may be completely absent, as the fish will leave their usual places and hide.
What weather is best for pike
Suitable weather conditions depending on periods and months.
- From January to April – fishing will be successful on sunny and clear days.
- Mid-May-June – the pike has a seasonal zhor, it is quite active in any weather.
- July August. The most not pike weather is a sunny afternoon. The biting intensifies only after the subsidence of the daytime heat (evening, morning).
- Late September-October, November – fishing will be successful in cloudy weather and light drizzle with moderate wind.
- December-January – the weather “does not play a role.”
At what pressure does a pike bite better
The optimal indicators are stability and constancy, the absence of jumps and drops. It doesn’t matter if the pressure is high or low. If for 3-4 days the pressure is relatively stable, the success of fishing is guaranteed.
At what water temperature do pike bite?
Pike is a rather “cold-resistant” fish. It is perfectly adapted to low temperatures, the spotted one tolerates summer heat much worse. Optimal temperature indicators vary from -7 – -5 to +15 – +20.
Seasonal features
| Winter | At the beginning of the season, the pike still retains moderate activity and mobility. The fish does not want to expend energy and bites almost immediately. At the height of winter, the pike lives in the depths and hides there, fishing comes to naught. By the end of winter, spotted activity begins to gradually revive, pike goes hunting. |
| Spring | After the ice melts, the pike goes to spawn. During spawning, individuals are inactive and lethargic, it is difficult to catch them. After spawning, there are 14 “golden” days, when the pike begins to eat, she pecks at everything indiscriminately. |
| Summer | Fishing is extremely difficult. The pike is capricious and finicky. The predator goes to the depth, her appetite almost completely disappears. In summer it is extremely difficult to guess with the bait. |
| Autumn | The best time for pike hunting. After the heat subsides, zhor begins to build up fat (preparation for the coming winter). The pike hunts intensively, the chances of catching large individuals are high. |
The largest specimens
The Book of Records contains facts about the largest pike that have been caught by people. On the St. Lawrence River (New York), a maskinong pike was caught, weighing 32 kg. To pull out the catch, even the help of equipment was needed. In the Netherlands, a long individual was caught – 120 cm, but it took only 10 minutes to fight it. Later, the record was broken: in 2011, a pike 130 cm long was caught in Canada (St. Lawrence River).
Record-breaking pikes from Russia
The first large individual was caught in 1930. The weight of the trophy was 35 kg. The place of the record is Lake Ilmen. Later, an even bigger fish was caught – a pike of 49 kg and 200 g (Lake Ladoga, Sortavala). The record holder was caught on live bait, the live bait was another pike, weighing 5 kg.
Today in Russia, pikes-record holders are individuals whose age is from 20 years old, weight – from 16 kg. Fishermen often hush up their successes, fearing the selection of the caught trophy.
Pike is a ruthless and cunning predator. Pike lives only in freshwater bodies of water. It prefers clean water with a weak current, but these individuals can be found, as an exception, in swamps. The pike is a fairly smart fish: it sees well in the water, it can distinguish artificial bait from live bait. Suitable weather conditions and biting times vary and depend on the time of year.