Sage advice from four avid anglers who know how to catch trophy pike.
Thanks to successful stocking programs across New England, northern pike can be found in many lakes and river systems. They thrive across a variety of conditions and can be found anywhere from muddy shallows to deep rock structure. But one fact will almost always remain true, northern pike will be the largest fish in that body of water. Some will reach gigantic proportions; Connecticut’s state record sits at 29 pounds, both Massachusetts and Rhode Island’s records are a whopping 35 pounds.
Diehards will tell you catching any esox is a thrill. They often strike aggressively and they fight hard, making blistering runs. They are beautiful, yet fearsome to look at, with that gator-like maw lined with multiple sets of razor-sharp teeth. Truly large pike are an animal all their own; most hardcores won’t raise an eyebrow for fish under 15 pounds, while 20 pounds and above tends to be the accepted benchmark for a truly special fish. To catch large ones with any level of consistency takes thought, planning and the willingness to put in time on the water.
Pike can be caught all year long, but because they are better equipped to handle the cold than many other species, their instincts tell them to take advantage of any baitfish that has been weakened or killed by the cold. Pike spawn in the early spring, so large female pike use the wintertime easy pickings as a means to bulk up and grow their eggs before the spawn. This combination of factors makes ice fishing for pike one of the best ways to catch big ones consistently, giving you the chance to connect with a personal best fish.
I took some time last month to ask some of the best pike anglers I know for a few tips for anyone looking to catch their next personal best pike through the ice. This group has spent decades hunting giant pike through the ice, and they have done it all over New England, but their focus has definitely been on Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. They offered a variety of tips and tactics to share about what they thought were the most important keys to not just catching fish, but the biggest fish in any body of water.
Will Sirotnak: Go Early
William Sirotnak spends his summers swimming out to rocks in the surf, targeting large stripers, but when those fish head south, his mind turns to freezing water and big pike. Sirotnak, who has fished all over New England for pike, said that one thing has really stood out to him in terms of when he’s seen his biggest fish. Sirotnak puts in every effort to get out as soon as the ice is safely fishable as some of the hottest pike action of the year happens right at first ice. Pike tend to be more aggressive as their instincts tell them to go on the hunt right when their home water freezes over. This can result in some of the fastest action he sees all winter. Sirotnak said, “During the winter doldrums I might only see a few flags over the course of a couple of trips. But at first ice I’ll often see 10 or more flags pop on any given trip.” He also noted the big fish are on the move too. “Not only are the fish active but many times, the bigger fish are more susceptible to making a mistake and eating a bait they might not take later in the season”.
Sirotnak admitted this might sound like a simplistic tip but safely fishing early ice takes a lot of effort, understanding the line between risk and reward is of the utmost importance and must be carefully calculated. “Taking the time to scout is everything in terms of getting on thin, yet safe ice”, he told me, “you can’t rely on reports at this time of year, you have to spend the money on gas and go check your spots yourself, or with a trusted fishing buddy to see how the ice is setting up”. Sirotnak said that watching bodies of water freeze up over the course of a few days takes patience but the payoff can be incredible.
He also cautioned that safety is paramount and using tools like a spud bar, rope and a PFD are critical in remaining safe when fishing early in the season. “I always use my spud bar to check out the entire area I intend to fish before cutting any holes and my partner and I always bring a long rope with a throwing implement and discuss where it is before even stepping on” Sirotnak said. He noted that ice quality is often at its best early in the year but that each angler has to make their own decision as to how much ice they are comfortable fishing on and safety has to come first. “No fish is worth risking your life. I’ve been turned around from fishing and had to go home rather than taking an unwarranted risk. But some of the days I’ve gotten on early have produced some of the best fish I’ve seen come through the ice”.
Dan Southwick: Go Late
Daniel Southwick fishes for many species of fish but one central theme rings true across all of them – he targets the big ones. Southwick is a big fish specialist whether he’s after largemouth bass, steelhead or, of course, northern pike. He’s been fishing for pike for over 45 years and says it’s no coincidence that all his largest pike have come through the ice. His personal best fish, though, have come at one time in particular, late ice. As the ice begins to fade toward the end of the winter, the fish move into areas close to where they will spawn. The larger females are full of eggs during this time and looking to eat as much as possible as they do not eat during the spawn. Southwick noted it’s likely the best time of year to target “a true giant”.
He was adamant that two topics must be covered regarding ice fishing for large pike. One is that ice safety is incredibly important: “Just because the ice is thick,” he warned, “doesn’t mean it’s safe late in the season. Using your spud bar, keeping your safety tools close and checking the condition of the ice throughout the day is critical to staying safe”. The second note dealt with fish safety and care. “These big fish are getting ready to pass on their genes and making sure they are well cared for and safely released is the only way we will keep catching big fish for years to come” he said. Southwick went on to say just fishing late isn’t enough to truly be targeting the biggest pike in the lake. He also said putting yourself in a position where the big pike are is key to catching one. “These fish are getting ready to make their runs into spawning water and will stage around and outside those places” he said. “The fish are going shallow and so should you, don’t be afraid to fish skinny water late in the ice season”.
He also believes that stealth is absolutely critical to fooling these wily fish into making a mistake. “I try to stay as stealthy as possible, especially when I’m fishing shallow,” he said. “I use hole covers and try to keep only my leader in the water, I don’t want them to see anything but the bait”. Southwick also believes the baits you use at the end of season matter, opting for large, dead baits at this time. “That big girl is looking for an easy meal before she goes in to do her thing” he said.
Chad Wilde: Go All The Time
Chad Wilde has lived and fished in northeastern Connecticut his whole life. He’s fished for everything from native brook trout to stripers but at some point he became obsessed with toothy, predatory fish. Wilde has a passion for pickerel, pike and musky that runs in his blood and he’s spent years chasing them. Although he’s a family man now he still makes every effort to fish as much as possible in his pursuit of esox and that means fishing year-round.
As younger man he spent months at a time out on the ice, looking for the biggest pike he’d ever seen. There was only one way, in his mind, to accomplish that goal “haunt your spot”. Wilde noted that an ice season can be tough on anglers but putting in hours is really the only way to gain the experience and knowledge to consistently catch big fish. “Although pike are active throughout the winter they can be a really up and down fish” he told me. “Sometimes it seems these fish won’t eat for days and then all of a sudden there will be a two or three-hour period where every fish in the lake is on the move. You’re never going to discover what conditions lead to that type of activity without fishing through all of them.”
Wilde said all of the esox family are notorious for having bite windows, or periods of intense feeding activity. “I’ve done my reading and studied up on moons and weather patterns” he said, “but without actually fishing through those times, both good and bad at my spots I would never have put it all together”. Wilde even said from years spent on the ice he even has certain times of day where he expects activity and others when he expects quiet. He made one more observation that was particularly telling: “The guys who consistently catch big fish, they’re out there every day. Sure, once and a while someone will show up and get lucky” he told me, “but the guys that consistently catch the biggest fish are the ones who are there the most”.
Matt Janiszewski: Be Ready
Matt Janiszewski is a multi-species angler whose favorite fish to target include carp musky and pike. He has dedicated years to targeting esox through the ice and brings some unique perspective from his time spent angling for carp. Janiszewski has caught many big pike and when asked for a tip he’d give to other anglers looking to up their personal best his answer was something most might not expect: “Be ready for your personal best.”
There are two distinct lines of thought that go along with being ready to tame the biggest pike of your life. One deals with successfully landing the fish of your dreams and the second concerns caring for a special fish that will be released. Janiszewski began with the obvious in terms of making sure your terminal tackle, knots, leader etc. are up to the task. Then he touched on something he sees too many ice fishermen do when they catch a big fish: they’re not ready to land and document the catch in a timely manner. Because pike fishing is often done with tip ups over a wide area, you can’t run back to your ‘camp’ every time you need something. “Bringing your lip grippers, spreaders, pliers, scale and measuring tape with you every time you have a flag saves you time and keeps the fish from flopping around on the ice while you race back to get it,” Janiszewski said. “I keep a small tackle bag with me ready to go so that each time I have a flag, all I need to do is grab the bag and head over to it. This saves me lots of time and keeps me fishing longer.”
Catch and release now dominates pike fishing and in the spirit of trying to successfully release a healthy fish, Janiszewski has brought a concept over from the world of European carp fishing in that he also carries a matt or a weigh sling with him each time he heads to a flag. There are two reasons for this, first, it protects the fish from the cold ice which is often littered with jagged ice particles. Second, he weighs the fish in his matt or sling rather than hanging it horizontally which can injure large fish. “It just makes more sense having done it with carp,” he said, “the Europeans also care for their pike this way as they fish a lot of pay lakes where catch and release is mandatory. The concept is starting to catch on here too and I think it will help make our fisheries better in the long term.” The final note Janiszewski made in being ready for your personal best is documenting a special fish with a photograph. If you fish alone, as he often does, you need to be ready to capture images yourself. “I use a tri-pod that can hold my phone” he said, “it’s something many people don’t think about until the moment when they really need it.”
