I've done some of the research for you and tried a few spots. I know I may get stoned for telling you this, but Maine Northern Pike fishing can be a great sport for those who give it a try.
Like most fisherman, I stumbled on Maine Northern Pike. I wasn’t really targeting Maine Northern Pike, but I was catching them. After a while, I wanted to up the ante and began targeting large Maine Northern Pike. If you want to be successful at Northern Pike fishing in Maine, think about what it is like to be a hunter. If you think like a hunter, you will be thinking like a Maine Pike.
Big Maine Pike are the best ambush hunters around; by laying in wait and move slowly, Pike stalk their prey; Maine Pike are able to conserve energy and stay safe this way. Large Maine Pike are territorial and have been known to attack each other. The hunter becomes the hunted.
When Maine Northern Pike become mature enough to spawn, they will hang in the shallows just before or after ice out; they are waiting for the spawn. They are not interested in food. But, like most spawning fish, they can be antagonised into biting. After the spawn, which varies widely, they are tired, hungry and cold. Fishing opportunities may be best with bait. As the temperature reaches 55*, the action improves.
If fishing in early spring, try dead bait on a floating rig. Many Mainers have luck with dead sea run smelt, suckers and duck legs. If they are not available from your bait dealer, try your bait of choice instead. Hang the bait two feet or less below the float in shallow waters and watch out. This type of early fishing can be boring, but it beats getting skunked.
Maine Northern Pike move to deeper areas as the water begins to warm. They can also stach up in shallow water around spring holes as the temperature warms. Vaguely resembling an alligator, you would think this cold blooded creature would like warm water. Their preferred water temperature is between 55* and 60* with high oxygen levels. Even though Maine Pike like it cool, they will move into warmer water to feed. I find the shallows productive on cool summer mornings.
Maine Northern Pike are ambush hunters that also like a chase once the water temperatures rise. While sitting in wait for prey, they are at times more likely to chase a steady lure presentation then a stop and go. Keep this in mind when bass fishing. Bass are more likely to hit a crippled bait, stop and go, presentation than Northern Pike. But I have caught my fair share of Pike on a stop and go presentation too!
Maine Pike also love bling…..they are attracted to the flash. And, if you fall in the water with a lot of heavy metal on, God help you. But seriously, they love flashy spoons or spinners dressed with flo-orange. I like to cut the tail off a brightly colored tube and slip it over the treble hook to increase the size of the presentation. Maine Pike seem to love it.
Remember; keep thinking like a hunter if you want to think like a Pike. Pike are attracted to cover such as banks, rock piles, grass and mooring anchors. Anywhere they can hang out with a good view and not be noticed, that’s prime Maine Pike territory. With this in mind, cast your lure around the inside curves of grass lines or banks. Maine Pike like to nestle into a comfortable spot and hunt. But they also do enjoy a good chase.
While one dear fisherman tried fishing for them with a fly rod, he asked his friend, who was gearing up on the bank, “Why do you like to fish for Pike with a fly rod?” The fisherman in the water was at the end of his retrieve and just beginning to lift his fly out of the water to recast. At that very moment a bruiser Pike jumped out of the water scaring the fisherman to death. As he ran up the bank, he looked at his friend and said “What the hell was that?!!!” “A Pike!” the friend answered. “That’s why I like fishing for them on a fly rod!”
So if you’re on your boat and a pike lunges out of the water at your lure, don’t be afraid. It usually happens once or twice on every outing after temperatures reach 60*. I haven’t heard of a Pike ending up in the boat, but I’m sure it has happened.
Remember, steady flashy retrieves around cover will provide the best results. Don’t forget that water depth will be used by Pike as cover also, so let your presentation acquire some depth if fishing deep areas like channels. Some of the biggest Pike I’ve caught in Maine were sitting on the bottom, around some sort of cover, before they hit my lure. Channel edges are great for holding large Pike. Depending on the time of year, they will hug the channel edges or abutting grasses to stalk prey.
Another important thing to know is that Pike love to smash large lures from the side in an attempt to stun their prey. I have hooked several Maine Pike right between the eyes because of this. The force of their hit was so hard it drove my treble hook right into its snout. And if you know anything about Maine Pike, that’s a hard snout. They are truly an amazingly strong fish.
What about gear? Well, if you do not use a steel leader, you will loose half or more of your fish. Pike have teeth. Do not put any part of your hand in its mouth. They will draw blood if you do! I use a Boga Grip to handle mine.
As far as line weight, that is up to you. I once landed a twelve and a half pound fish on ten pound test. It’s all in how you play the fish and how lucky you are. If they manage to get into the weeds, light line will be a problem. When targeting pike, a heavy line doesn’t hurt. And remember, the more bling the better.
Now that you are armed with some relevant techniques and gear information, let me give you a few places to try some fishing. If this is your first time Pike fishing, try Sabattus Pond. I have caught Bass and Pike from one end to the other. I like the far channel in early spring and the eastern shore as the year progresses. Hey, don’t fish it out……OK!
Another nice Pond is Great Pond in the Belgrade area. It has receives a lot of pressure, but the Pike fishing is still Great. No pun intended. John Blaise picked up a nine pounder there this spring, so I know the place is still happening. You can’t always believe me, but you should believe this post; I’m turning you on to some real fun fishing!
OK let’s see. I heard the pike fishing in Long Pond is good too, but I haven’t fished it myself. Messalonskee is a good lake but slow for pike. You might do better Bass fishing in this lake. All of the Belgrade chain has Pike.
If you would like to read a little more on Pike, check out these two links. The State of Maine Strategic Management Plan can be a little dry as far as the reading goes, but it is filled with great information. And In-Fisherman is always a great resource.
Happy Piking
Be careful of all the Stones out there!
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