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Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Northern Pike are non-native predatory fish that have established populations in northern Idaho waters. They arrived in Idaho accidentally, migrating downstream from Montana waters where they had been planted.

Pike are apex predators and outstanding sport fish that grow rapidly and can reach nearly 40 pounds in Montana and North Idaho waters.

Scientific Name: Esox lucius

Physical Characteristics:
  • They're easily identified by their long, slender body with light spots on a darker greenish background, torpedo shape, and very large mouth full of sharp teeth.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Pike prefer slower-moving waters with abundant vegetation, including shallow weedy bays, areas with submerged weed beds, and edges of dense vegetation near drop-offs.

Key Locations

  • In Idaho, they're found primarily in the Panhandle region, with populations in over 20 fisheries including Lake Pend Oreille, Coeur d'Alene Lake and Chain Lakes, the Clark Fork River, Hayden Lake, Fernan Lake, and various sloughs and tributaries.

Specific Spots

  • Focus on shallow bays and weed edges in 5-20 feet of water during cooler periods, then target deeper depressions and cooler water areas (6-12 feet deep) during summer months.
  • Target areas include weed bed edges near sharp drop-offs, shallow weedy coves and eddies, and areas where rivers enter lakes or old river channels with cooler temperatures.

Northern Pike FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Northern Pike in Idaho?

Top lure choices include 3-4 inch red-and-white spoons (or red-and-yellow in lakes with perch/walleye forage), with bright silver or gold spoons on overcast days. Large spinnerbaits with single silver Willow-Leaf blades and black bucktail bodies work well for fall trolling.

What flies work for Northern Pike in Idaho?

Effective fly patterns include Chip's Northern Magic (the #1 go-to pattern), Chip's Monster Magic for bigger fish, Barry's Baitfish 2.0 for clear water, Poor Man's Whistler for 3-5 foot depths, Pike Bunny patterns for bottom-feeding fish, and various streamers and large baitfish imitations.

When is the best time to fish for Northern Pike in Idaho?

The best pike fishing occurs during spring and fall when water temperatures cool, with March and April being prime months for pre-spawn fishing. They spawn in April and early May - this spawning period should be avoided for fishing to protect reproductive fish. During summer, pike move to cooler, deeper waters.

How do you catch Northern Pike in Idaho?

Presentation techniques include letting spoons drop just above weed beds then quickly retrieving for a few seconds before letting them flutter down, or dropping spoons to sandy/muddy bottoms and retrieving quickly before letting them settle motionless.

What do Northern Pike eat?

Northern Pike have a diverse diet consisting primarily of fish (yellow perch, pumpkinseed, peamouth, largescale sucker, bass, and smaller pike), but they also consume frogs, mice, young muskrats, ducklings, crayfish, and aquatic insects.

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