One of the most fierce and tenacious fish you’ll encounter at Uchi Lake is the northern pike. At times this predator will hit your bait right at the boat, displaying no fear of you or the Lund you’re sitting in. Because of their aggressive nature, northern pike can be taken early in the season, soon after ice-out on Canadian Shield lakes, on topwater baits in bays. Look for areas with new, green bull rush shoots poking from the water. You will usually find these shoots in 3 to 5 feet of water (don’t be fooled by the thin grass that is often mistaken for bull rush. The grass grows in 1 to 2 feet of water and will usually host only small hammer-handle pike).

Buzzbaits can be very effective at this time. Make long casts into the bull rush and work the buzzbait on a steady retrieve, making sure to vary the speed on each cast until you find the one that drives pike wild. Be warned: pike do not hit this bait lightly! Expect a violent explosion when pike smash into this bait. And they may hit it several times before they finally hook themselves, so be patient and wait to feel the fish before you set the hook.

There are roughly 300 bays on Uchi, so don’t spend too much time in one spot. Keep moving until you find pike. Some of these bays are hardly ever fished and support a large population of northern.

Casting Daredevil spoons along cabbage lined banks and in weedy bays can also be a very productive technique for taking shallow to mid-depth pike. Watch closely as you bring your spoon to the boat. At times, this violent predator turns “spectator” and will follow your presentation all the way to the boat and never hit it. But be ready, the pike’s mood can change quickly and he may lash out at the last second and attack your spoon.

As the bigger pike begin to move from the shallow bays and river inlets after the spawn, they will often move to nearby points to feed. Try large, deep running fat-bodied crankbaits at this time, either casting or trolling. If you troll, use heavy line and rods, and troll fast. Many fishermen make the mistake of using walleye speeds to troll for pike. But pike, despite their usually belligerent nature, must sometimes be induced to strike, and a fast, wobbling bait will often do the trick.

During summer, it’s fun to try those weedy bays when there’s a little chop on the water and toward evening. Tie on a big, 1/4 to 1/2 ounce Colorado or willow blade spinnerbait and cast into pockets in the weeds. Work the bait just fast enough to keep the blade barely beneath the surface. The blade should create a bulge in the water. Pike do not sneak up on this bait—they smash it!—so stay alert.

And don’t forget your favorite walleye spots for pike. Remember, pike like to eat walleye as much as you do. If a particular area holds a lot of walleye, northern pike will not be far away. Like walleye, northern pike are very opportunistic and will stay close to the food.

Regardless of when you plan to take your Uchi Outdoor Adventure, be it June, July, or August, rest assured you will catch pike in the 6 to 12 pound class. And always with the chance of a trophy pike over 20 pounds! The more exclusively you fish for pike, the better your success will be.

These ancient battlers have inspired myths and folklore for hundreds of years, wild tales of fearlessness and voracity. You’ll understand why when you battle this amazingly complex and stunning fish. Be warned though, once you’ve gotten the “bug” for big pike, it’s hard to shake.