NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/963498
APRIL 2018 • NEBRASKAland 41 including long lines of trees, creeks and bays, makes it seem even larger. By knowing what conditions pike favor, you can eliminate large swaths of water and narrow your search dramatically. The first consideration should be water temperature which, more than any other factor, dictates a pike's behavior. In spring, pike go on a feeding binge just before the spawn. This feeding often begins even before the ice is off, when water temperatures are still in the mid-thirties. During and immediately after the spawn, feeding will slow, only to pick up again a few weeks later. As water temperatures continue to climb, feeding activity slows dramatically and pike descend into the depths of the lake to find cooler water. However, smaller "hammer handle" pike will stay in the shallows nearly year-round, making them a fun target in the height of summer when large adults are too deep for fly tackle. Pike favor places where they can hide and wait for their prey. Being ambush hunters, pike are sprinters, not marathon runners, and stay camouflaged until an unsuspecting baitfish wanders too close. Pike can't sustain their initial burst of speed for long, but their lighting quick attack takes place in the blink of an eye. Downed timber, large rock piles and weed lines are especially productive features. While pike are territorial and don't school like other fish, they do travel in close proximity to one another so if you catch one, there are likely more nearby. Seasons of the Pike Pike are one of the first fish of the year to move shallow. This makes them a welcomed relief for fly anglers anxiously waiting to shake off winter doldrums. Pike begin their "spring" as soon as the ice creeps off the water, and so should you. Spring is undoubtedly the best time to catch pike on a fly rod. There is no other time of the year when you can find large, aggressive pike in shallow water. Look for fish in shallow bays with dark mud bottoms because these areas warm more quickly than the rest of the lake. Other potential areas are locations where feeder creeks drain water into the lake. Pike spawn over vertical vegetation, so if you find one or more of these conditions, slow down and work the area thoroughly. Pike will remain shallow after they spawn until the water warms and pushes them out of the shallows. While summer is not as productive, the persistent fly angler can still catch fish. If you found a fruitful bay in spring and notice the pike getting smaller, chances are the bigger fish have moved deeper. Begin looking at the first major drop-off outside of bays. During the summer, pike prefer depths of 5-20 feet of water, ideally with healthy green vegetation. Vegetation provides shelter for baitfish, and affords pike the cover to wait in ambush. These areas are usually unwadable and require a canoe, float tube or boat to access. Just because pike are deeper doesn't mean they won't take a fly. You just need to work a little to find them. In fall, fly-fishing for pike is feast or famine. It can be an outstanding time to catch large pike, as fish feed heavily in An early-season pike with a colorful mouthful of fl y.