Species
Northern Pike
Esox lucius · family Esocidae
Live · updated
A toothy, torpedo-shaped ambush predator that lurks in weed edges and drop-offs and strikes large spoons, spinnerbaits, and live suckers. Spawns in shallow flooded vegetation right after ice-out, holds shallow in spring and fall, and slides deeper through summer. Caught year-round, including through the ice — the prairie reservoirs of the northern plains, Fort Peck chief among them, grow trophy "gators" past 20 lb.
Preferred conditions
- Water temp
- 50–70°F (ideal 63°F)
- Tide
- either
- Moon
- either
- Depth
- 4–30 ft
- Active months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Best northern pike conditions today
Lake Champlain (Burlington)
Fort Peck Lake
Lake Coeur d’Alene
Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)
Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)
Navajo Lake
Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)
Lake Audubon
Harlan County Reservoir
Devils Lake (Grahams Island State Park)
No locations match that filter.
Regulations by jurisdiction
NTMTE
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Eastern District: 10 northern pike daily and in possession (no size limit). Pike are an introduced predator in much of Montana — many waters encourage harvest.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTID
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No bag, length, or possession limit on Coeur d'Alene Lake and much of the panhandle — pike were introduced illegally and harvest is encouraged to protect native and stocked fish.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTND
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
North Dakota: no daily or possession limit on northern pike on most waters — harvest encouraged.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTSD
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
South Dakota: no daily limit on northern pike on the Missouri River reservoirs.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTVT
non tidal
- Min size
- 20"
- Creel
- 5
Lake Champlain: 5 northern pike/day, 20" minimum. Missisquoi Bay is legendary pike water.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNM
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
New Mexico: no bag or possession limit on northern pike — all caught must be kept; harvest is encouraged (e.g., Navajo Lake).
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNE
non tidal
- Creel
- 3
Nebraska: 3 northern pike/day; some Sandhills lakes add a 24–34" protected slot (one over 34").
Source · verified 2026-06-03