Pike Fishing Tips for Weed Edges and Points

Pike do not chase for long. They wait beside cover, strike hard and short, and return to the same ambush point. Fishing for them is mostly about working edges at the right angle.

Fish parallel to the weed line

Casting straight into the weeds catches the fish that are already there. Casting along the edge, parallel to it, keeps your lure in the strike zone for the whole retrieve and intercepts fish that are facing along the line. Vary the distance: some pike sit tight to the weeds, others patrol a few feet out.

Points and pinch points

Any place where weed growth narrows into a point, or where two weed beds nearly meet, concentrates bait and therefore pike. These pinch points are worth a dozen casts each.

Speed and flash

Spinnerbaits, spoons and paddletail swimbaits all work because they show flash and vibration. A steady medium retrieve is a good starting point. When fish follow without eating, try one of these before changing lures:

• Speed up and add a sharp pause to trigger a reaction.
• Let the lure flutter down a couple of feet on a slack line.
• Cast back to the same spot immediately. Followers often turn and take on the second pass.

Use a leader and handle fish properly

Pike teeth cut line, so use a wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader. Carry long forceps and a proper unhooking mat or cradle. Support the fish horizontally, keep fingers out of the gill plate, and keep the fish out of the water only for the time it takes to unhook it.

Good handling means the fish you release today is the fish you catch again next season.