Quick answer: the lures to start with
If you only want a short list, start with a spoon, an inline spinner, a jerkbait, a paddle-tail swimbait and a weedless option. Together they cover most water temperatures and types of cover. Classic names that keep appearing in pike guides include the Eppinger Dardevle and Johnson Silver Minnow (spoons), Mepps inline spinners, Rapala X-Rap jerkbaits and Booyah-style spinnerbaits. Any well-made lure in the same category will do the job, so use these as examples rather than requirements.
Spoons
Spoons are a long-standing pike favorite. The wobble and flash imitate an injured baitfish and can trigger reaction strikes from fish that are following. They cast a long way, can be trolled, and work around weed edges and open water.
- Standard wobbling spoons, such as a Dardevle, are good for casting and covering water.
- Weedless spoons, such as the Johnson Silver Minnow, slide over weeds and lily pads with fewer snags, often with a trailer.
Inline spinners and spinnerbaits
Inline spinners (Mepps-style) give vibration and flash and are easy to fish: cast and retrieve. Larger sizes suit pike, and many anglers use a dressed treble for extra bulk. Spinnerbaits have a safer, more snag-resistant profile through weeds and are an excellent choice for shallow, vegetated bays.
Jerkbaits and glide baits
Suspending jerkbaits such as the Rapala X-Rap family work well in cold water, where long pauses between twitches can draw strikes. Large glide baits, which swing side to side on a pause, are popular for bigger fish in clear water, though they are heavier and require a stout rod.
Swimbaits and soft plastics
Paddle-tail swimbaits are easy to fish with a slow, steady retrieve and look natural to wary pike. Rig them on a weighted or weedless hook, and use a wire leader, since soft plastics are still bitten off. Soft plastics are also a good option when fish have seen a lot of hard baits.
Crankbaits and topwater
Deep-diving crankbaits can reach pike holding on deeper weed lines or points in summer. Topwater lures, including large prop baits and walking baits, are a good option in shallow weeds when water is warm and light is low, and strikes are exciting to watch.
Bladed jigs (chatterbaits)
Are chatterbaits good for pike? Yes, they can be. A bladed jig gives strong vibration and a compact profile that can be pulled through sparse weeds. Pair it with a trailer and a leader. As with soft plastics, a standard hook may require an upgrade, and expect some snags in thick cover.
How to choose: temperature, cover, forage and color
- Water temperature. Slower, subtler presentations like jerkbaits and slow-rolled swimbaits tend to suit cold water, while faster lures and topwater can work as water warms.
- Cover. Use weedless lures in thick vegetation and spinnerbaits or chatterbaits around moderate cover.
- Forage size. Pike eat fish, so match the size of the local baitfish, and go larger if you are targeting bigger pike.
- Color. Natural baitfish patterns work in clear water, while bright or contrasting colors, such as white, chartreuse and fire tiger, help in stained water. Color is rarely as important as location and presentation.
Leaders and hooks
Whatever the lure, use a wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader. Sharp pike teeth can cut through monofilament or braid quickly. Check that split rings and hooks are strong enough, and carry long pliers for hook removal. For more on gear, see our guide to fishing for northern pike.
FAQ
What do pike like to eat the most? Mostly fish, including suckers, perch, ciscoes and whatever baitfish are common locally. They will also eat frogs, ducklings and other prey when available.
What is the best lure for big pike? There is no single answer, but large profile lures such as big swimbaits, glide baits and bucktail spinners tend to appeal to larger fish. Season matters too; see early spring pike fishing for cold-water choices.