TECHNIQUE

Reading the Water

Your chances of catching a ten-pound northern in shallow weed-filled water in the summer are almost nonexistent. This is the place where small pike hang out, but the sizable ones can't live in too warm, too shallow water.

Until a pike becomes a respectable size, its summertime home is in deeper water, most likely in a weedy area in a bay 12 to 15 feet deep. There its coloration can camouflage it and allow it to thrive on mediumsized baitfish. At that time of its life, the pike can tolerate somewhat warmer water temperatures better than when it's older and bigger. It is these pike in this type of habitat for which most anglers, whether they know it or not, are fishing.

For those who fish for trophy size, however, you need to look for another habitat, one that provides cooler water and bigger prey. The fact that pike prefer cooler water is proven by their intense activity in spring and fall, the times just after ice-out and just before freeze-up. Just after spawning, pike will go on a feeding spree, patrolling the shores and structures of shallow areas. Usually, the water is uniformly cold at this time of year, so all sizes of pike will be found in shallow water. There's an autumn feeding binge as well. It begins at the time of year when the nighttime temperatures drop significantly below the water temperature. As the season moves on and the water cools, all sizes of pike will be feeding actively. But in summer larger pike require deep water not only for its cooler temperatures, but also to give them the environment to chase down a few softfinned, four- to seven-pound fish.

The general rule when you're searching for pike is to look for weeds. This applies not only to shallow but also to deeper water. As a matter of fact, pike will get bigger in good weeded areas in deeper waters since these areas attract an abundant supply of baitfish. Pike will relate to any given cover for as long as the forage in that cover meets their needs.

Don't look for groups of pike roaming near the surface. It's a myth that pike roam and hunt in packs like wolves. For most of the year, pike of the size that interests anglers don't move around that much. They are vaguely territorial, more or less loafing around in the same habitat that suits them for the season. If you want to catch pike, you have to go to them, choosing areas that are obviously good habitat and working them carefully with your bait.

Since pike, then, exhibit movements related directly to seasonal changes (spring -- shallow water, summer -- deep water, fall -- shallow water), an angler will work the water according to seasonal conditions. As a rule of thumb, don't go fishing for pike before lunch. Remember, the feeding mood of the fish is important in your decisions. In water six feet deep or more pike are most active at nighttime and midafternoon.

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