Northern pike Esox lucius
5 of 15worth the trip today
Best right now at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania. Water is inside the 50–70° range northern pike like at 2 of the 2 spots with a live reading.
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About northern pike
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.
Esox lucius, family Esocidae.
Northern pike, spot by spot
All 15 spots with northern pike in season, scored for northern pike, best first.
54° water · 16 mph wind
12 mph wind
The water they want
Northern pike feed from about 50° to 70°F and best near 63°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 2 of 2 are inside the range.
How they feed
- Water50–70°F, best near 63°
- TideEither, as long as it moves
- MoonEither
- DepthUsually 4–30 ft
- Active monthsYear-round
Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works
Keep or release
- Idaho non-tidalno daily limitIdaho Panhandle Region: no bag, length or possession limit on northern pike, and harvest is encouraged; pike were stocked illegally. Spearfishing is allowed on some waters.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Michigan24" minimum · 2 a dayLower Peninsula Great Lakes: 24" minimum, 2 a day, open all year.Great lakes waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Montana Eastern District10 a dayEastern District: 10 northern pike a day and in possession.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Nebraska non-tidal3 a dayNebraska: 3 northern pike a day, 10 in possession, no minimum, only one 34" or longer. Several lakes have their own rules, including a 24–34" protected slot on some Sandhills refuge lakes.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 18, 2026 · source · 8 days since checked
- New Mexico non-tidal10 a dayNew Mexico: 10 northern pike a day, 20 in possession. Eagle Nest Lake alone has no limit, and pike there may not be released.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- North Dakota non-tidal5 a dayNorth Dakota (2026–28 proclamation): 5 northern pike a day, 10 in possession.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Pennsylvania24" minimum · 2 a dayLake Erie and Presque Isle Bay: 24" minimum, 2 a day, open all year.Great lakes waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Pennsylvania24" minimum · 2 a day24" minimum, 2/day. Open year-round.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
- South Dakota non-tidal6 a daySouth Dakota: 6 northern pike a day, 12 in possession, the Missouri River reservoirs included.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Vermont non-tidal20" minimum · 5 a dayVermont: 20" minimum, 5 northern pike a day, open all year. Missisquoi Bay on Lake Champlain is legendary pike water.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Northern pike are fished at spots in 9 states: Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont.
Waters with their own rules
These waters set limits for northern pike that differ from the rest of their state.
Fished in the same water
Species people target at the same spots as northern pike, and how they’re doing today.
WalleyeSander vitreus33 of 81 spots worth the trip
Best now at Presque Isle, PA96
Bites in 50–72° water
Smallmouth bassMicropterus dolomieu50 of 118 spots worth the trip
Best now at Potomac River, MD100
Bites in 55–78° water
Common carpCyprinus carpio46 of 147 spots worth the trip
Best now at Lake Norman, NC88
Bites in 52–86° water
Yellow perchPerca flavescens31 of 69 spots worth the trip
Best now at Presque Isle, PA96
Bites in 45–70° water