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Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Northern Pike in Montana are apex predators known for their aggressive behavior, torpedo-shaped bodies, and razor-sharp teeth. Montana is home to trophy-sized pike that can grow to nearly 40 pounds and exceed 40 inches in length, with some reaching 30+ pounds.

Scientific Name: Esox lucius

Physical Characteristics:
  • Northern Pike are known for their aggressive behavior, torpedo-shaped bodies, and razor-sharp teeth.
  • Montana is home to trophy-sized pike that can grow to nearly 40 pounds and exceed 40 inches in length, with some reaching 30+ pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Pike are native to Montana only in the Saskatchewan River drainage on the east side of Glacier Park, but widespread legal and illegal introductions have made them common gamefish statewide except for southwest Montana.
  • They prefer standing or slow-moving waters of lakes, reservoirs, and streams with dense vegetation, seeking areas with weedy tributaries, bays, pools, and backwaters.

Key Locations

  • Top Montana pike waters include Fort Peck Reservoir (northeastern Montana), Flathead Lake, Cabinet Gorge Reservoir, Noxon Rapids Reservoir, Thompson Falls Reservoir, Lower Crow Reservoir, Upper and Lower Stillwater Lakes, Swan Lake, Whitefish Lake, and numerous sloughs connected to the Flathead River system.

Specific Spots

  • Focus fishing efforts around weed edges, drop-offs, submerged structures, flooded shoreline vegetation, bays, coves, inlets, and marshy areas with abundant cover.

Northern Pike FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Productive lures include large spoons (1/4 to 1 ounce in gold/silver), soft plastic swimbaits in chartreuse, red, yellow, and white, and inline spinners with quality ball-bearing swivels.

What flies work for Northern Pike in Montana?

Effective fly patterns include large streamers such as Chip's Northern Magic, Chip's Monster Magic, Barry's Baitfish 2.0, Poor Man's Whistler, Pike Bunny, Lefty's Deceiver, SeaDucer, Banger (topwater), and Half and Half for deep water.

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

The best pike fishing in Montana occurs in spring and fall when water temperatures cool, with early summer and late spring being prime times as pike become more active. This is a period to avoid targeting pike as they become difficult to catch and focus on reproduction rather than feeding during spawning.

How do you catch Northern Pike in Montana?

Use systematic trolling patterns to locate fish, then cast to specific areas where pike are found.

What do Northern Pike eat?

These voracious predators are highly piscivorous, feeding almost exclusively on fish after reaching 3-4 inches in length, including yellow perch, chubs, suckers, walleye, bass, and other pike. They also consume frogs, mice, small birds, snakes, crawfish, and leeches.

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