Fishing for Northern Pike can be challenging enough in this competitive, fast-paced environment and then you factor ice into the equation. This article is aimed to help the inexperienced fishermen catch more and bigger Northern Pike. Northerns are not known to be “challenging” to catch but if you don’t do it correctly it can be nearly impossible, follow these simple steps to improve the odds of your catch:

1. Get a ice fishing rod with a heavy action and strong reel, make sure your reel has 6lb line or bigger because these fish have aggressive teeth.

2. Get some hooks and leaders, make sure the hooks are big enough to hold a minnow and also offer enough space to set into the fish’s lips.

3. Find a lake with Northerns: this is usually quite easy because they are abundant in most freshwater lakes.

4. Plan your trip: this is especially crucial because you don’t want to hurry out the door and forget key materials and tools. You definitely need an ice auger and some pliers.

5. Find water that isn’t too shallow or too deep: 6-12 foot water tend to be the best depths for these fish in the winter.

6. Have the correct technology: While it is not essential, it is sometimes nice to have a fish flasher or fish TV to give you an advantage over the fish. These tools give you reassurance if there are fish there and aren’t biting or maybe there aren’t fish there at all.

7. Now you may drop your line, hook a minnow through the mouth or the tail, either way works.

8. Let your line down all the way to the bottom: Northerns like weeds and when your minnow is on the bottom you can “jig” it. This gives the illusion that your minnow is wounded and dying, this draws the fish’s attention and they usually charge.

9. Hold on! You could just catch a snake but your chance at some nice fish is also a possibility. Normally the northern doesn’t bite but “strikes”.

10. Set the hook! Once line starts being pulled out or simply tugged upon, give your pole a stiff pull upward. This pulls the hook into the upper lip of the fish and secures it on the line.

11. Safely return the fish or place it on the ice: if you see blood on the fish then keep it, they usually won’t survive in the cold climate. Otherwise, ease the fish into the water to make its transition back as painless as possible.

Ice fishing is a great sport and the Northern Pike is just one of the many fish you can catch, once you grow more experienced you can present some different presentations, good luck!