Best Bait for Pike
The best baits for northern pike — large, flashy, and aggressive presentations.
Top Pike Baits
1. Spinnerbait
1/2-1 oz spinnerbaits with willow leaf blades. Cover water fast along weed edges.
2. Spoon
Large spoons (1/2-1 oz) for casting and trolling. Silver and gold for clear water.
3. Jerkbait
Large jerkbaits (4-6\") for twitch-pause-twitch. Deadly in cold water.
4. Swimbait
Large paddle tail swimbaits (4-6\") on a jig head. Realistic presentation for pressured pike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spinnerbaits, spoons, and jerkbaits are the top pike baits. Pike are aggressive predators — use large baits (4-7 inches) and strong leaders (20+ lb wire or heavy fluoro). In summer, pike relate to weed edges and use topwater and spinnerbaits. In fall, they chase baitfish — use jerkbaits and spoons.
Yes — pike have sharp teeth that cut through regular fishing line. Use a wire leader (20-40 lb) or heavy fluorocarbon (40+ lb) when targeting pike. A 12-18 inch leader is standard. Without a leader, you'll lose baits and fish.
White, chartreuse, and natural patterns (perch, shad) are the top pike colors. In clear water, use natural colors. In stained water, use bright colors (chartreuse, fire tiger). Pike are aggressive — color matters less than presentation and vibration.
Spring and fall are best — pike are active and feeding aggressively. In summer, fish early morning and late evening when pike are hunting. In winter, pike hold deep and feed less. Pike are aggressive year-round but are most catchable when water is 55-70°F.
A trophy northern pike is 20+ lbs and 40+ inches. The world record is 55 lbs. Average pike: 3-8 lbs, 24-36 inches. Pike grow quickly — a 10 lb pike is considered a good fish in most waters.