Sturdy options for catching fish once you get to the waters you fish.
By Rob Newmann/Doug Stange
Pike are in prime form this time of year, running on all cylinders you could say, because of cool water, vulnerable forage, and free reign in every lake area—shallow, deep, and in between. It’s the tune-up of tune-ups—all the right stuff.
During summer, pike are restricted to habitats offering the most suitable (or least offensive) thermal conditions. In just about all lakes south of the Far North, that means deeper, cooler areas of the main lake: open water, around primary structural elements like deeper reefs and points, or on deep flats. Habitat restrictions often mean giving up ideal feeding and growing conditions, although coolwater baitfish species seeking similar surroundings as pike can provide an important seasonal forage base.
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