34 Nebraskaland • June 2021
or anglers who love a good fi ght,
the northern pike, a needle-
toothed, aggressive — almost
primeval — fi sh, is highly sought
after.
According to the 2021 Nebraska
Fishing Forecast, Hackberry and
Dewey lakes on the Valentine National
Wildlife Refuge, Box Butte Reservoir
and Lake Wanahoo are this year's top
picks. Other reservoirs like Elwood,
Enders, McConaughy, Merritt and Red
Willow hold a few big pike. Several
other lakes around the state have
been stocked with pike as well. To fi nd
stocked waters near you, check the
stocking reports on the Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission's website.
After deciding where to fi sh, here
are a few tips to make your pike fi shing
trip a little more successful.
TIP 1
Find the vegetation.
After ice-out in early spring, focus
on shallow, weedy areas near coves
and shorelines where the water warms
faster and pike spawn. Fish areas with
weed beds and submerged logs where
pike patrol for prey.
As the water warms, fi sh the
fl ats and points leading into coves,
typically in 3 to 10 feet of water. Look
for structure near drop-off s and weedy
points.
During the heat of summer, larger
pike will head to deeper water, 6 to
10 feet, in search of baitfi sh schools.
This is when anglers will need to cover
a lot of water to fi nd pike. Trolling is
a good way to locate big northerns,
along with fan-casting to deeper weed
lines. Don't stay in one place too long
without a bite.
TIP 2
Use bright, fl ashy and noisy baits.
Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits,
spoons and surface plugs with highly
visible colors are often the best for
Story and photos by Julie Geiser
F
Tips for Catching
Northern Pike
A Toothy, Primeval Fighter
A northern pike is guided into a landing net at Elwood Reservoir in Gosper County.
Lake Wanahoo
Valentine NWR Lakes
Box Butte
Reservoir
o
V
According to the 2021 Nebraska Fishing
Forecast, these are the state's top northern
pike fi shing destinations.
