Guide To Choosing The Best Northern Pike Fishing Lures
Northern pike primarily eat fish, but their diet often consists of many other food sources. Frogs, birds, crustaceans and most anything that moves in, or on the water. Bright colors, flash, vibration and commotion gets their attention. If they think it is edible, they will attack it. Pike have exceptionally sharp teeth, so for all lures, use a wire leader.
Lures. Use bright colors and create lots of commotion. Check out a list of the top, proven northern pike lures. Wire leaders are a must as these pike have very sharp teeth.
Topwater Lures
BUZZBAITS
Effective depth:
surface
Recommended line test:
14-17 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use buzzbaits when pike are shallow in weedy areas or open water. Sample shown is a Booyah Buzz Bait available at Sportsman's Warehouse.
TOPWATER
Effective depth:
surface
Recommended line test:
14-17 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use topwater when pike are shallow in weedy areas or open water. Sample shown is a River2Sea Rattling Whopper Plopper available at Cabela's.
Spinners
INLINE SPINNERS
Effective depth:
2' to 10'
Recommended line test:
10-15 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use inline spinners when pike are shallow or just outside weedlines. Sample shown is a Mepps Aglia Dressed Spinner available at Bass Pro Shops.
Spoons
SPOONS
Effective depth:
2' to 60'
Recommended line test:
10-15 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use spoons in all depths and fishing conditions. Sample shown is a Eppinger Original Dardevle Spoon available at Cabela's.
Crankbaits
LIPLESS CRANKBAITS
Effective depth:
2' to 10'
Recommended line test:
10-15 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use lipless crankbaits for fishing shallow to mid depths. Sample shown is a Googan Squad Klutch available at Karl's Bait & Tackle.
SQUAREBILL CRANKBAITS
Effective depth:
1' to 5'
Recommended line test:
14-17 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use squarebill crankbaits for fishing shallow around wood and brush. Sample shown is a Strike King KVD Square Bill Silent Crankbait available at Bass Pro Shops.
MEDUIM DEPTH CRANKBAITS
Effective depth:
5' to 10' or more
Recommended line test:
14-17 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use medium-depth crankbaits for fishing open water around rocky or muddy bottoms. Sample shown is a Rapala Shad Rap® available at Sportsman's Warehouse.
DEEP DIVING CRANKBAITS
Effective depth:
5' to 20' or more
Recommended line test:
14-17 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use deep diving crankbaits for fishing deeper ledges, creek channels and structure. Sample shown is a Rapala DT Series Crankbait® available at Bass Pro Shops.
Jerkbaits
JERKBAITS
Effective depth:
2' to 8'
Recommended line test:
10-15 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use jerkbaits for fishing open water in shallow to mid depths. Sample shown is a Rapala Husky Jerk Minnow available at Cabela's.
Spinnerbaits
SPINNERBAITS
Effective depth:
2' to 8'
Recommended line test:
10-15 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use spinnerbaits for fishing shallow areas with weeds, brush or wood cover. Sample shown is a Terminator Super Stainless Colorado Okie Spinnerbaits available at Tackle Warehouse.
Swimbaits
SOFT SWIMBAITS
Effective depth:
2' to 10'
Recommended line test:
10-15 pound.
Ideal conditions:
Use swimbaits for fishing open water in shallow to mid depths. Sample shown is a Big Bite Suicide Shad Swimbait available at Sheel's.
Related Articles
Use steel leaders with all lures as northern pike have extremely sharp teeth.
Fishing for northern pike, by state.
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Fishing Information
