Northern Pike Fishing in Sunset Country

When you travel a long distance to go on a fishing trip in Canada - as many US-based anglers do - your expectations about what you might catch are usually high. For those who love fishing for northern pike (Esox lucius), catching a big fish, usually one 40 inches long or better, is always in the back of your mind. The good news for these anglers is that visiting Ontario's Sunset Country gives you a good chance of landing a pike that big and, in many cases, even larger. The key is to know their behaviours and determine their location in the lake related to the time of year you visit and the weather conditions you are fishing in. 

It's actually very easy to catch northern pike in just about any lake in Ontario's Sunset Country, but catching trophy pike takes some work. While relatively plentiful in our waters, these big fish are still much rarer than the "hammer handle" size you're likely used to catching. Tactics play a big role in your ultimate success (or failure), so do your homework before visiting to maximize your chance at a trophy fish.

The time of year you're here fishing is also a significant factor, as the big northern are not in the same spots in mid-summer as they are a few weeks after the ice goes out. You also have to have the right kind of tackle, strong enough to withstand the big fight a trophy northern will give you. These fish don't want to be landed, so if you hook into one, be prepared for a few runs, especially when the fish first sees the boat. Medium-heavy to heavy action rods are highly recommended, and always use a leader to ensure you don't get bit off.

A few years ago, Sunset Country interviewed Jeremy Smith, longtime co-host of the popular television show Lindner's Angling Edge, about pike fishing techniques. Jeremy has visited Sunset Country on numerous occasions to target big trophy northern pike and his favourite, trophy muskies. Jeremy's love of fishing for esox species is well-known by any show fan. Here's part of what he had to say about pike fishing in Ontario's Sunset Country. 

• Jeremy's favourite time of year to fish for big pike in Sunset Country is the Fall. The weather is slightly cooler, and the big pike are more predictable. 
• Jeremy's favourite places to look for big pike in the Fall are rocky structures, especially those at the end of points, gull rocks, etc. and even better, rocky structures with current.
• While Jeremy both casts and trolls for pike in the Fall, he prefers trolling, largely because of how much water you can cover as you seek out the rocky structures noted above. 
• Favourite trolling baits are large crankbaits, but his favourite for big pike are jakes. 
• Trolling between 3-4 mph, when targeting big northerns, Jeremy usually fishes a little deeper than he would if he was using the same method for muskie. 12-18 feet are the best depths to troll in his experience. 
• Jeremy also targets big pike shortly after ice-out when the water temperatures are still very cold and walleye season is closed for the spawn. Under these conditions, Jeremy looks for big northern in shallower black bottom bays and bays adjacent to bogs where meltwater flows into the lake.
• Springtime trophy pike are usually quite shallow - between 5-10 feet of water.
• Spring pike baits are different than those he uses in the fall with large soft plastics and size 12 X-Raps being his favourites.
• Recognizing that most visiting anglers fish in Sunset Country in late spring and summer, Jeremy offered this advice: Look for the big pike much deeper—say 25-30 feet—and troll for them. Deep diving X-Raps and Sluggo boot tails are his favourite summertime deep water baits. 
• An alternative tactic later in the summer is casting into the cabbage grass beds, which occasionally hold monster pike.

Giant northern pike are caught through the ice in Ontario's Sunset Country every year. So, if the colder weather doesn't bother you, it's a great time to visit for a trophy northern. The preferred strategy for many ice anglers is using tip-ups and often, larger live bait, but a lot of presentations work as pike are definitely not fussy eaters. Here is a list of lodges offering ice fishing packages.

Virtually every outfitter in Ontario's Sunset Country offers northern pike fishing. A lack of choices is not an issue when deciding where to stay. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself:

• What is our trip budget per person?
• What is our party size?
• What time of year do we want to go?
• Do we want to cook our meals, or do you want meals in the package?
• Do we want to drive, boat or fly to our destination?
• How far north of the border are we willing to travel? 
• Are you bringing your boat? Or renting one?

These questions will help you determine the best place for your needs and budget. Fly-in trips are generally more costly than a drive-in lodge, but the rewards of flying into a remote lake can be significant. Outposts, where you "own" the lake for a week, are another option and almost all are fly-in access.

An American Plan Lodge is the best choice if you want a boat, a guide, and meals. Of course, with more in the package, the cost is higher. If you're willing to cook for yourselves and want a drive-in location, renting a housekeeping cabin is your best bet. All lodges offer boat rentals so don't worry about hauling up your boat unless that's what you want to do. Other accommodation options include renting a houseboat, bringing up your RV and staying in a campground, or even staying in a hotel. The good news is we have a place to fit everyone's taste and budget. 

We highly recommend you order your free Sunset Country Travel Guide and Fishing Map. It will help you decide where to go. 

Or you can go directly to a list of lodges offering northern pike fishing. 

Remember that you cannot import live or frozen bait from the USA into Canada. To make it easy on you, here's a list of bait and tackle stores in Sunset Country, Ontario, Canada.

Have fun! If you'd like to talk with someone about travelling to Sunset Country, call us at 1-800-665-7567 or email us.