In Pursuit of Pike - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

choices are improved in the mainriver, making the pike a bit fussier.(See page 6 for top bait picks.)Come summer, when the river isjust right for swimming, the pikefishing slows down. But you’ll stillhave quality shots at pike, especiallyon cloudy days. Fishing in the earlymornings or until the last bit of lightare summertime best bets. Think ofthe river as a set of steps: the top stepis the visible bank. Down one stepand you’re at the weed line. Downanother step you’ll find the submerged weed line.That’s where the pike are in midsummer — thewater is cooler, and sunlight is less of a factor.Having proper position on the weed line is amust, and it’s why most pike fishing is done froma boat rather than from shore. Pike will lie on anyside of the weeds — it depends on the temperatureand the amount and angle of sunlight. Aligningyourself so you can cast parallel to the weeds willallow you to cover most of the weed patch. I alsolike to fish the up-river section of the weeds first,then pick a few shots at openings in the weeds.Most of the pike I catch around a weed patch comefrom the down-river side.On the outside of many of the long bends of theConnecticut there’s a patch of submerged weedsclose to the main river channel that makes a greatsummer spot. The river carries sediment anddeposits it on the “slower” edge of the bend.LIMITS & LAWSThe daily limit of one pike per daywith a minimum length of 28 incheshelps ensure that large pike are notoverharvested and that there are plentyof mature fish available to spawn eachspring. Nonetheless, says fisheries biologistGabe Gries, pike are a toppredator; though they are able to coexistwith and not negatively impact otherfish species in some waterbodies, theymust NEVER be introduced to newwaterbodies without a thorough biologicalreview of the waterbody and itscurrent fish population.These sediment deposits, which often have a wavybottom texture, provide ambush points for thepike and therefore productive fishing.By mid-September, water temperatures are onthe way back down. For me, this is when the riverreally shines. The weather is good; the surroundingmountains are flush with fall colors. Best ofall, the pike are hungry and very aggressive. Theyknow that winter is on the way and it’s time to puton the feed.I’ll admit it: Thoughts of pike fishing consumemost of my free time. I am ready for my next shotat a big pike, and maybe now you are too. Grabyour rod and a few simple lures, tie on a foot ofsteel leader, and go feel the rush of pike fishing!Mark Beauchesne is coordinator of N.H. Fish andGame’s Let’s Go Fishing Program. Fisheriesbiologist Gabe Gries contributed to this article.MONSTER PIKE ON ICEAt home waiting fordinner: Rocks, weedsand woody debrisare prime pikelocations.The state record for northern pike is 45 inches — and it was taken through the ice!This monster pike, which weighed just under 25 pounds, was caught by JacquesRenaud of Vermont in late March of2002.As long as the ice is still safe inlate winter/early spring, ice angerstend to target the pike in the backwaters.(Early ice is highly productive,too.) Big bait is the key to having ashot at getting a pike under the ice —a large sucker, in the 12-inch range,makes for a tempting meal. Tip-upsare the ice fishing tool of choice. Besure to add a wire leader.ERIC ENGBRETSON PHOTOCOURTESY PHOTOWILDLIFE JOURNAL • March/April 2006 7