Thursday, April 9, 2009

Northern Pike Fishing Tackle

Before you even think about going Pike fishing make sure you have the proper equipment. I have made this mistake too many times by just grabbing a rod and using whatever lure was on there. Again, you must be sure to be prepared when going after Northern Pike.

To start with, a longer and stiffer fishing rod should be used, since these fish are strong and powerful fighters. Always use at least 10lb test, as a big Pike will take it to its limits. You can go upwards of 30 lb test, but you will lose castability the larger line you go.

Now that you have your rod and line ready, it is time to pick some lures. Here, it is not as important as the other details, as any larger lure should do. Unless you are fly fishing for Northern Pike, then a different set of rules apply, but that will be discussed in a future post.

The biggest thing with Northern fishing that I would like to go over is the use of a steel leader. A fish of any size will cut normal line with their sharp teeth. Do not be lazy and forget this step. I have lost quite a few fish due to not putting on a leader when Pike Fishing .

By now, I hope it is clear that tackle is very important when going after Northern Pike. Future posts will discuss the where and when portion of catching these beasts. They can be one of the greatest species of fish to target for any fisherman of any age.