Northern Pike Fishing

Rainy Lake’s northern pike fishing is some of the best found in Canada. If you are looking for an awesome outdoor adventure, Ontario pike fishing can’t be beat.

angling-in-Canada_1   kids-fishing-for-pike_1

Northern Pike Tips and Techniques

  • Rainy Lake has some of the best northern pike fishing because of it’s diverse structure. It has many shallow weedy bays, very deep sections, many islands with shoals and long weed beds.
  • The larger pike like to hang out just inside the weed beds that have deeper water just outside of them. Trolling along the outside of these is very effective. Since the introduction of smelt, we now catch many pike just trolling in open water. Just off the drop offs on any reef or shoal is also another great spot to target.
  • If you are looking for medium or smaller specimensfor some non-stop action, the weedy bays are full of them. If you are looking for a few to eat for a shore lunch, these are the places to fish.
  • We have a slot size on Rainy Lake. You must release any of the northerns between 27.5″ – 35.5″ .  We also prefer that you release all of the trophy size one’s 35.5″ and above. The slot size, combined with the smelts have turned Rainy Lake into a true trophy lake for northern pike. These northerns are often deep bellied fish that weigh heavy on your line. Be prepared for a good fight!

About Ontario Northern Pike Fishing

Ontario has the finest northern pike fishing on the continent, with waters where 30-pounders (13.6 kg) prowl. Spring, early summer, and fall are peak periods in southern and central lakes for trophy northern pike fishing.

At ice-out in spring, northern pike begin to spawn. This occurs in the weedy shallows as early as March. Prime locations to fish when angling seasons first open are weedlines, flats, points, and creek mouths.

As the water heat ups, northern pike shift to deeper water with submerged weedbeds or other forms of cover or structure. During this period, deep-water trolling is your best bet. The most effective places to fish during summer are along the edges of weedbeds, drop-offs, points, islands, and humps.

In autumn, when water temperature drops, northern pike become very active again. They return to the weedy shallows, rocky bars, or below rapids in rivers or streams.

Effective northern pike lures include large spoons, noisy surface or diving lures, or bucktail spinners. You can also use live bait such as sucker minnows and smelt.

Information for Northern Pike Anglers

  • The Ontario record northern pike is 42.12 pounds.
  • Average size in most lakes and rivers is between 4 and 10 lbs. Fish surpassing 20 pounds are considered trophies and most be released.
  • Northern pike are a cool water species by nature, and prefer water temperatures of 60 degrees. Their ideal habitats are the edges of deep rocky reefs and dense weedbeds.
  • Northern pike spawn during and after ice out in flooded areas and back bays in March and April. Fertilized eggs are scattered randomly along weedgrowth and shoreline vegetation.
  • The northern pike range is throughout all of Ontario in lakes and rivers of all sizes.
  • Regulations vary by specific zones and waters throughout Ontario. Please adhere to regulations for your specific waters through your purchase of an Ontario Sport Fishing License or Conservation License for resident and non-resident anglers.
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News and Updates from the Camp Narrows Blog

Hunting with Camp Narrows

Seasoned hunters and those new to the sport are all welcome to try a little (or a lot!) of fall hunting at Camp Narrows. We offer duck, grouse, black bear, and whitetail deer hunting opportunities. Fo

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Outdoors Cards & License Tags

Before visiting Camp Narrows, order or renew your hunting or fishing outdoors card, buy your Ontario fishing or hunting license tags, and (during annual application periods) enter big game draws.

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Ontario Regulations

Strict laws regulate when, where, what and how a person can hunt or fish in Ontario. Visit the links below to know what rules apply on your waters and woods in every Ontario region. Read the summaries & regulations.

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