Movement

Some biologists contend that in small lakes with more or less uniform conditions pike wander restlessly from area to area. This may be true, but in larger lakes with appropriate summer cold-water habitat the pike live a more or less sedentary life, other than possibly changing locale for spawning purposes. Most pike return each year to the same spawning area.

In general, just like their unimpressive spawning ritual, the seasonal movements of the pike are well-defined. In early spring, they look for conveniently located spawning areas in shallow, weedy water. After spawning the fish are stressed and inactive, relating to the emerging weed growth and points adjacent to spawning areas. As water temperatures rise in summer, the fish seek summer habitats (weedbeds or rock shoals) in colder water. In the fall, as water cools down, the fish move back to the cover in shallow water.

Some deviations have been logged but these are so minor that they do not constitute a problem to anglers. However, if the fish cannot find cold water at a convenient distance from the spawning grounds, they will abandon lakes and move to springs or mouths of rivers where they can find cooler water temperatures. But whatever the water temperature, the fish will remain in any given area as long as there is sufficient forage in the underwater cover.

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