Northern Pike

Where to go

Northern Pike lake by lake

Ranked by how good the fishing actually is, not alphabetically. If a lake is not on this list, it is because the fish is not worth targeting there.

1. 01

   Lake Huron

   Lake Huron is the best all-around pike lake on the chain because it has more shallow weedy bay than anywhere else. Fish Saginaw Bay's east-shore marshes and the northern island country, and take the ice season seriously — it is the best time of year here.

   Prime time: May and June, September through November, and January through February on ice · Depths: 4–12 ft on cabbage and marsh edges; 12–20 ft on the outside weed lines in fall

   Full guide
2. 02

   Lake Michigan

   Lake Michigan's main basin holds almost no pike, and Green Bay holds an enormous number of them. Fish the Bays de Noc, the Oconto and Peshtigo marshes, and Door County's bay side — plus the drowned river lakes on the Michigan shore for small-boat access.

   Prime time: May and June, September through November, and January through February on Green Bay ice · Depths: 3–12 ft over marsh and cabbage; 12–20 ft on outside weed edges in fall

   Full guide
3. 03

   Lake Ontario

   Lake Ontario's open water is trout and salmon country, but its bays, ponds and coastal marshes hold one of the better northern pike fisheries in the East. Fish the eastern-basin bays and the south-shore embayments in spring, fall and through the ice, and leave the main lake to the trollers.

   Prime time: May through June, September until ice-up, and December through mid-March through the ice · Depths: 3–10 ft over marsh and weed in spring; 10–20 ft on outside weed edges in fall and under the ice

   Full guide
4. 04

   Lake St. Clair

   St. Clair pike are the fish nobody drives here for, which is why they get so little pressure on a lake famous for muskie and smallmouth. The St. Clair Flats delta and Anchor Bay hold good numbers in water shallow enough to fish from a kayak.

   Prime time: Late April through June, September through November, and January into February on Anchor Bay ice · Depths: 4–12 ft over cabbage, marsh edges and delta channel breaks

   Full guide
5. 05

   Lake Superior

   Superior is too cold and too deep to be a pike lake, except in the handful of shallow bays and estuaries where it is a very good one. Fish Chequamegon Bay and the St. Louis River estuary — in open water in June, and on the ice in February.

   Prime time: Late May through June, September and October, and February on ice · Depths: 4–12 ft over cabbage and estuary weed; 12–18 ft on the outside edges in fall

   Full guide
6. 06

   Lake Erie

   Lake Erie is not pike water, and outside a few sheltered, weedy corners you will rarely see one. Presque Isle Bay in Pennsylvania is the one place on the lake with a dependable pike population; the upper Niagara River is the New York option, and Ohio's pike are scarce.

   Prime time: Ice season on Presque Isle Bay; April through early June and September through November in open water · Depths: 4–14 ft over and along submerged weed; 6–15 ft through the ice

   Full guide