Skip to main content

Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Northern Pike are a circumpolar species native to North America and Eurasia, with Indiana representing the southernmost extent of their natural range. These voracious predators are ambush hunters that grow rapidly.

Scientific Name: Esox lucius

Physical Characteristics:
  • The Indiana state record weighing 30 pounds, 2 ounces (48¼ inches), caught at Clear Lake (Steuben County) in 1992.
  • Pike populations comprise primarily individuals measuring 21-28 inches (largely males at 85%), while 72% of pike larger than 28 inches are females.
  • Female pike in Indiana reach memorable size (34 inches; 10 pounds) by age-6 and trophy size (44 inches; 20 pounds) by age-12.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • In Indiana, pike inhabit approximately one-third of the state's 452 northern glacial lakes and many northern rivers.

Key Locations

  • Hamilton Lake and Clear Lake (Steuben County), Winona and Little Chapman lakes (Kosciusko County), Wolf Lake (Lake County), Lake Wawasee, Brookville Lake, and numerous northern glacial lakes.
  • In Indiana, pike inhabit approximately one-third of the state's 452 northern glacial lakes and many northern rivers including the Iroquois, Kankakee, Tippecanoe, Yellow, Fawn, Pigeon, Elkhart, St.
  • Joseph, Wabash, and Mississinewa rivers.

Specific Spots

  • Target structure like weed edges, points, drop-offs, sunken logs, and shallow vegetated areas.

Northern Pike FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Large spoons (1/4 to 1 ounce), inline spinners (Rooster Tail, Mepps, Blue Fox), spinnerbaits with trailers, minnow-imitating plugs, jigs with worms, and topwater plugs for shallow weed beds. White, yellow, and chartreuse are proven colors.

What flies work for Northern Pike in Indiana?

Chip's Northern Magic, Chip's Monster Magic, Barry's Baitfish 2.0, Poor Man's Whistler, Pike Bunny, SeaDucer, Lefty's Deceiver, Banger topwater flies, and Half and Half for deep water. Flies should be 3-12 inches long with flashy colors.

How do you catch Northern Pike in Indiana?

The best time to fish for northern pike in Indiana is during spring (late March through May, with April being peak) and fall, when they're most active and aggressive. Pike are early morning and late afternoon feeders, making dawn and dusk prime fishing times.

What do Northern Pike eat?

Pike are opportunistic feeders with a diet consisting primarily of fish, frogs, small mammals, birds, invertebrates, amphibians, and even other pike - with up to 90% of their diet being other northern pike in Alaska waters.

Where do Northern Pike live in Indiana?

In Indiana, pike inhabit approximately one-third of the state's 452 northern glacial lakes and many northern rivers.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Northern Pike.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Northern Pike water

    Pick Northern Pike and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Northern Pike

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Northern Pike are.

Open the map, filter by Northern Pike, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Indiana licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.