I’ll start by stating the obvious, which is that tips for catching Pike are not necessary. Northern pike are famous for their willingness to chase just about anything. This is especially true of the smaller pike as they have a very diverse diet that includes everything from small minnows and insects to frogs and each other. It’s almost like Pike is challenging himself to eat as big as he can eat. Larger pike are a bit more perceptive, but will generally attack almost any type of lure and bait. Many Ontario fishing stores will stock a wide variety of lures.
Almost any decent fishing lake in Ontario will have plentiful populations of pike. The best fishing lakes in Ontario will have many bays and extensive weed beds where the smaller ones are usually found. Northern pike are very patient predators, but smaller ones should always be careful not to be eaten. Larger pike will hang further to the edge of weed beds, where they feed primarily on walleye drifting along the edge of the weeds. Ontario fishing lodges often cater to anglers looking to catch walleye, but those same places are often good places to catch large walleye.
The larger pike almost never feed on smaller minnows and frogs. They have to expend too much energy on such a small meal. Their main food source is walleye and other medium-sized fish. Their favorite ambush spot is along a point leading into a bay, but they’ll hang out pretty much anywhere there are walleye. Ontario’s fishing lakes that feature rocky points, shoals and islands are also great places to catch big pike as they stalk their prey.
Ontario Fish Resources will often list a variety of lures that can be effective at catching Northern Pike, but there are a few in particular that really stand out from the rest. Although Pike will bite into just about anything, the red, silver, and yellow “Five of Diamonds” daredevils are his favorite. Throwing a daredevil into pockets along the edge of a bed of weeds is usually the most effective technique for catching Pike. Pike will also reliably hit Rapalas, Jigs, and Thundersticks. Lure color selection will vary based on water clarity and conditions. Red and silver work best in clear water and in muddy or cloudy water, the yellow “five of diamonds” is effective. Rattle baits also work well in cloudy or muddy water, as pike can locate them by sound.
Patience is often recommended when chasing those big Pikes. They will often go after your offer and hit and release several times before taking the bait. Pike are known to be aggressive and ultimately unable to resist. There are numerous stories of fishing trips in Ontario where anglers have repeatedly caught the same pike.