02-16-2017, 11:05 PM
[#0000FF]There are lots of good videos on Utube and other sites on BASIC pike fishing. But for Utah Lake, they will hit anything you are fishing for walleyes or largemouth...or even catfish. In other words they will smack almost any kind of plastic or hardbait. Spinners are good...big spinners and spinnerbaits. Bright colors are good...like chartreuse. But combos of black and chartreuse, black and orange or black and pink are good too.
Look for them wherever smaller fish are likely to congregate or come swimming by. Pike are ambush predators. They usually don't actively cruise the lake looking for dinner. More often they will set up beside a rock, inside a brush pile or under a dock to wait for something silly (and smaller than they are) to come close enough for a sudden attack.
During low water times there has not been much brush and very little rock or other structure for the pike to use. Ditto for bass. They like the same areas. But any little change in bottom contour or something else they can relate to will keep a pike semi happy.
The main places where pike have been caught from Utah Lake the past few years are either in or close to natural inflows...Provo River, Hobble Creek, etc. Other spots are those that attract white bass, bluegill and crappies...like docks, rocks, brush and warm spring inflows...like at Lincoln Beach.
One of the harbors that has seen a disproportionate number of pike has been Saratoga Springs at Pelican Bay...on the west side of Utah Lake. But with the recent dredging there may be changes in whatever has been the attraction.
During the spring and early summer there is a good chance for some topwater piking. Voles (large mice) around the lake get frisky and some of them end up out swimming in the water. Pike love them. Even silly old catfish slurp up those voles. There are also newly hatched waterfowl swimming around near the edges...and some of them end up on pike menus. Good topwater buzzbaits or Spooks can get 'er done.
Most of the year a good big spinnerbait...with a big plastic tail...or hair...or feather...are great for pike. But don't be hurt if a largemouth, walleye or even a catfish intercepts it before a pike can.
Bottom line? Go fishing for multi species with something that has wide appeal. Be happy with what you catch but you can always hope for a northern pike. Most caught are taken by anglers fishing for something else. But you can work hard and study up and target them on purpose.
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Look for them wherever smaller fish are likely to congregate or come swimming by. Pike are ambush predators. They usually don't actively cruise the lake looking for dinner. More often they will set up beside a rock, inside a brush pile or under a dock to wait for something silly (and smaller than they are) to come close enough for a sudden attack.
During low water times there has not been much brush and very little rock or other structure for the pike to use. Ditto for bass. They like the same areas. But any little change in bottom contour or something else they can relate to will keep a pike semi happy.
The main places where pike have been caught from Utah Lake the past few years are either in or close to natural inflows...Provo River, Hobble Creek, etc. Other spots are those that attract white bass, bluegill and crappies...like docks, rocks, brush and warm spring inflows...like at Lincoln Beach.
One of the harbors that has seen a disproportionate number of pike has been Saratoga Springs at Pelican Bay...on the west side of Utah Lake. But with the recent dredging there may be changes in whatever has been the attraction.
During the spring and early summer there is a good chance for some topwater piking. Voles (large mice) around the lake get frisky and some of them end up out swimming in the water. Pike love them. Even silly old catfish slurp up those voles. There are also newly hatched waterfowl swimming around near the edges...and some of them end up on pike menus. Good topwater buzzbaits or Spooks can get 'er done.
Most of the year a good big spinnerbait...with a big plastic tail...or hair...or feather...are great for pike. But don't be hurt if a largemouth, walleye or even a catfish intercepts it before a pike can.
Bottom line? Go fishing for multi species with something that has wide appeal. Be happy with what you catch but you can always hope for a northern pike. Most caught are taken by anglers fishing for something else. But you can work hard and study up and target them on purpose.
[/#0000FF]
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