When is the best time to fish for pike in rivers and reservoirs?

Would I catch any pike when it is cold and has been snowing? Or when it has been frosty?


Your views on this would be great.

I can only comment with regard to brackish water - when the temp goes above 14C (June'ish) the pike move out into deeper water conversely they come in as the temp drops below 14C (September'ish). We can catch them on the Baltic until the sea freezes over, but they become scarce in the shallows when the water temp drops below 4C, except when the sun shines and warms up the shallow water. When the ice starts to melt they move into the shallows to breed - and they are catchable.

Water temp is far more important than air-temp - its important to try and fins out how the water temp effects the bait/food fish - the pike will follow.

In another thread I posted the following:

Have a look at the paper by "Dominguez and Pena" - go to page 10 where they describe the seasonal feeding habits of northern pike (esox lucius) I think that might help to answer your question.

stuart

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Get Out There ..... www.balticflyfisher.com

At this time of year , you will find most pike heading to the spawning grounds on most rivers , suggest you fish anywhere with water less than 1 metre depth.
As for temperature , i can recall in my pike fishing days setting off to the river during darkness , and tackling up putting my baits in whilst still dark. Upon daybreak the temperature plummeted , my first fish was like on a cartoon with the line cutting the ice whilst playing the fish, had 3 fish in 30 mins for just under 60lbs, then could not fish all day due to a sheet of ice travelling down the river. Back to the point the temp was minus7 deg that day when i got back into my car.

Its down to finding the fish more than temperature this time of year.

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its not how you tie your flies , its how you tease your flies

You can catch pike at ANY time of year but if you want to know the best time I would say just after spawning (usually the beginning of April depending on the temerature of the water) - they consume alot at this time of year so they can be quite easy to catch. Frost and snow will reduce water temperature and metabolic rate so the need to feed will be reduced.

I would ask that you leave them be if you find evidence of them spawning.

very good advice

Arcticfox,

I would echo Dougie's sentiments. I have also found that when they are spawning they have their minds on other things than food.

If it is cold weather that worries you - fear not. They will seek out comfort and food. So in the winter they will be in shallower water that the sun can penetrate and warm them and the water up a bit. In summer/autumn when the water IS warm, they go out deeper seeking to keep a bit cool. Much like we seek shade on a hot day. They will try and stay at a similar temperature, so lay in the thermoclime.

Wind can also affect the water temperature - the warmer water is in the upper layers and the wind can blow this warmer water across a lake, making the leeward shore warmer than the windward one - back to the old thing about casting into the teeth of a gale (from shore) - you go to the downwind side of the lake, for trout, insects and food get blown there, for pike the warmer water and the smaller fish eating the insects.......so both

In rivers, pike are not trout, they will not readily lie in fast water by my experience, so seek out the slacker spots. Even a bridge piling might provide enough respite for the current to create a slack "hole" that a pike can lay in without burning loads of energy just trying to stay put.

Think: warm water, easy food, easy swimming and a bit of cover. You won't go far wrong.

Don't go trying for them without good strong takle though - I am one of those who thinks anything less than a #9 is not good for the pike. I use nothing less than my #10 Zero Gravity - with the backbone to tame a 100lb+ tarpon it deals with pike very easily, yet a 3lber will still put a good bend in her. I am more concerned with the welfare of the fish than getting a bit more arc in my rod for MY pleasure. I get enjoyment enough out of playing the fish in and then even more from seeing it go away quickly, strongly and without having had to spend many minutes trying to get it able to stay on an even keel - too many people play fish to exhaustion. I think many of these very tired fish that are seen to go back and look OK, actually die later of a heart attack or similar kind of problem later on, maybe the same day, maybe the next day when they try to chase again. The lactic acid build up in their muscles can be toxic to them, hence why they don't waste energy.

There is loads of good information, friendly advice and more on the PFFA website (Pike Fly Fishing Association). Worth taking a look.

Please folks - think of the fish, not just your catching of them. Pike are actually fairly easy to catch on fly once you get into "pike fishing mode" and can read the water like a pike - just like you do for trout or whatever. Same system, different signs.

Very sound Pike welfare advice Tailing.

I`d advise to let the Pike have 2 or 3 weeks after spawning to feed in peace so that they can regain their fitness and condition.

Catching a streesed out hungry pike which is feeding heavily having just spawned will probably be more than it can take.
They don`t look very pretty either, tatty and sore looking after they`ve been thrashing about in the reeds spawning.