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Northern Pike Hunting


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#1 Guest_NateTessler13_*

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 05:33 PM

Hi everybody,
The ice is finally off the rivers in Northwest Ohio (hopefully until next winter). One thing I was thinking about today is that it's not far off from the time that Northern Pike ascend streams and ditches looking for flooded vegetation to spawn on/in. What I was wondering though is...is it too early to start checking the ditches for adult Northern Pike? Do I need to wait for temperatures and daylight to increase a little bit? Or, is this exactly the time to find the spawners? Also, if we have any members in Northwestern Ohio that would like to come to the Bowling Green area, I'd be glad to do some ditch hopping. Another question, do they mostly spawn at night? Should I be playing flashlight tag with these fish? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

-Nate

Edited by NateTessler13, 18 February 2009 - 05:34 PM.


#2 Guest_Uland_*

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 05:53 PM

Nate,

Locally we've always hit the backwaters as soon as ice was out at this latitude (outside of chicago). Some years we believed pike would spawn under the ice and I'm almost certain grass pickerel spawn under the ice when it's slow to thaw. Not sure about the night spawning though.

#3 Guest_smbass_*

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 07:14 PM

I agree they should already be there. I think they start moving in during December or earlier because I have found them below a certain dam on muddy creek about then. I think that it is likely they move in when they can (high water events) starting late fall and then spawn as soon as the ice is off. By the end of March the larger females will be gone. I am convinced many of those pike we see in the portage and other Lake Erie tribs the rest of the year are mostly males or young fish.

#4 Guest_NateTessler13_*

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 07:34 PM

Well, I'll be on the look out for them starting next week when it won't be as cold as it will this weekend.

#5 Guest_fishingfoolbg_*

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Posted 25 February 2009 - 01:15 PM

Well, I'll be on the look out for them starting next week when it won't be as cold as it will this weekend.


Hey Nate, I just saw this post looking around and I also live in BG. I think I have fished with you before at a pond near campus. I tried fishing some tribs of the maumee on monday and didn't have any luck. I know of some spots that hold pike on the portage, that i want to give a try. Send me a PM and we can go after these guys. FFBG

#6 Guest_kzimmerman_*

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Posted 26 February 2009 - 11:52 AM

Pike spawn during the day, and are innactive during low light levels. You can catch them at night with a dipnet and a flashlight though. Good luck, they are very fast fish.

#7 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 01 April 2009 - 07:28 PM

Do Northern Pike even spawn in Ohio outside the great lakes area?

#8 Guest_skason_*

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Posted 01 April 2009 - 10:30 PM

Pike spawn before the Musky do, and it all has to do with water temperature. Muskies begin spawning when the water temperature hits ~53 F, but I don't know at what temp pike do. If you want to find them, you can look day or night and you can look anywhere that has water less than a meter in depth, look for a place with a nice silty bottom and lots of organic matter.



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