Its time of the year again! But things fell into place when I lowered an underwater camera equipped with a temperature sensor. And on a bigger point or reef, you might catch a few more. Ice Fishing: How to Catch Monster Late-Winter Pike. When you fish a spot at the same time you pre-baited it, you'll find the pike waiting for you. In my opinion the most productive rig and to be honest the most basic is the simple ledger rig set up, with a dead bait pencil attached. It is everything that we expect the top of the food chain predator should be, both in its lifestyle, nature and appearance. So, let us clear everything out for you.For pike fishing, you usually want to have a longer 8-9ft (2,4-2,7m) rod with fast action, medium-heavy to heavy rod power and casting weight between 15-50 grams. But, if you fish shallow, weedy pike lakes, especially lakes those prone to winterkill, slush can be a godsend.Casselman confirmed the "slush pattern" many years ago and it's saved the day for me many times. Stay active and don’t cast in one spot for too long.Depending on whether you’re fishing at a river or a lake, there are some differences in looking for a great spot for pike fishing. Resistance is the enemy when it comes to fishing for predators the rigs we use are not self hooking, unlike carp methods the pike can and will drop your bait if they detect too much resistance. When choosing the gear, think about the size of pike and what likes to eat.As a beginner in pike fishing, probably the easiest way to catch pike would be with lure fishing.As conditions vary, you should have multiple types of lures with you, which all work well in certain situations: crankbaits, spinnerbaits, plastics, top-water lures, weedless lures.Bigger pike require bigger lures – that’s a great rule to go by. Bring on the summer! Find those things and you might find pike. Come December time and the colder weather approaching it is however time to start looking towards the deeper water. They’re more likely in turns, river mouths, and on the bank where the water gets deeper.When it comes to pike fishing, finding the right spot is something a lot of fishers struggle with – even pros.This is why it may be a great idea to invest in a great tool – a castable fish finder. However, the overall tips apply for both.Pike like to hunt near natural obstacles so that they can hide and attack the prey by surprise. Finally as the temperature starts to rise again the big girls closely covered by the jacks will be looking to feed heavily before going into their spawning bays. Winter pike fishing is truly an experience of its own. Yup. Seasonal Fishing Tips for Northern Pikes. Then for me its pike rods packed away, cat rods took out to play. Pike are generally an ambush predator, hugging and hiding around weed beds, shelves and rock features in our lakes and waterways, waiting for the opportunity to propel themselves upon any unsuspecting prey fish passing over or through the ambush area. But, if you don't draw attention to yourself and hit the Dead Seas under ideal conditions — first ice, last ice, during mid-week, ideal weather conditions — and set up around the best locations, you can enjoy pike fishing that rivals the best fly-in experiences.The two biggest mistakes pike anglers make are assuming pike are always in vegetation and forgetting that seasonal patterns evolve.