layout: layout.njk title: Northern Pike - The Gators of Lake Nipigon

Northern Pike: Shadows in the Weeds

If you want heart-stopping strikes and visual takes, the Northern Pike (Esox lucius) is your target. Lake Nipigon's sheltered bays are massive "nurseries" for trophy-class Pike, with fish exceeding 40 inches caught every season.

Why They Get So Big Here

The combination of vast cabbage weed beds and a high-protein diet of whitefish and suckers allows Nipigon Pike to reach "Gator" status. These aren't your average hammer-handles; these are thick-bodied predators.

How We Hunt Them

• Topwater: On calm mornings, there is nothing like a massive surface strike on a "Walk-the-Dog" style lure.
• Casting Spoons & Swimbaits: We use large, flashy spoons (like the Eppinger Dardevle) or 6-inch swimbaits to trigger reaction bites from fish buried in the weeds.

Gear Check

When we go for Pike, we don't mess around. We use heavy-duty fluorocarbon leaders and medium-heavy rods. These fish have teeth like razors and the power to match.

Hunt for Gators