Pike Fishing at Night (Complete Guide)
Leave a comment after this article and let’s talk more about pike fishing. I’d love to read your feedback.
Fishing for pike at night can be great because these fish are more active and aggressive in the dark. For the best experience, aim for nights with clear skies and little moonlight, as pike tend to hunt in shallow waters or around structures during these times.
| Location | Where to Find Pike | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Weed Beds | Dense aquatic vegetation | 3-6 feet |
| Shallow Flats | Flat, shallow areas with minimal current | 2-5 feet |
| Near Docks | Structures extending into the water | 2-6 feet |
| Drop-off Edges | Transitional areas between shallow and deep water | 5-10 feet |
| Inlet/Outlet Areas | Areas where water flows in or out | Varies, usually shallow |
Table of Contents
Pike Fishing at Night
Will Northern Pike Bite at Night?
Northern pike will feed into the nighttime. As a general rule of thumb though, most anglers find fishing darkness within 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise to be the most productive.
Even with their eyesight hindered by darkness, they have other honed sensory systems that allow them to key in on prey. Northern pike are most active during the day when their sense of sight allows them to ambush prey.
The peaks for pike feeding are early morning and late evening when the water is coolest. Pike need to sleep just like any fish but they can be quite active feeding prior to bedtime. Many serious pike anglers can catch pike well beyond sunset. As a general rule of thumb, northern pike will hit lures and baits 1-2 hours after sunset and an hour prior to sunset.
This is because they are hitting baitfish also in a transitional period between rest and active. The darkness also makes it tougher for baitfish to sense nearby predators. It is during these transitional “dark times” that prey are the most vulnerable they will be all day. It is not advisable to cast for pike in the dead of the night.
You will rarely draw bites from northerns this time of day. It’s a wiser use of your time to focus on walleye now or simply wait until near sunrise. According to a study by Baktoft et al. (2012), northern pike feeding activity was much greater during the day than at night in all seasons.
For a complete breakdown of the best time of day to catch northern pike based on season, please check out this very helpful guide I wrote. I spent hours researching the nitty-gritty details in this article to ensure you catch more pike and fish only during the optimal time windows.
How to Catch Nighttime Pike
Night fishing for pike, an active nocturnal predator, is highly effective when targeting shallow waters near structures like weed beds and docks. Key tactics include using noisy and vibrant lures, such as spinnerbaits or buzzbaits, to attract the pike in low-light conditions.
Opt for slow retrieves to give pike ample opportunity to strike, and consider the moon phase, as full and new moon nights can enhance fishing success. Safety is crucial; use minimal lighting to avoid startling the pike and ensure personal safety. Patience and a stealthy approach are essential, as pike may take time to respond, making night fishing a thrilling and potentially rewarding endeavor.
Table: Best Pike Baits for Night Fishing
| Bait Type | Size | Color |
|---|---|---|
| Spinnerbaits | 1/2 to 1 oz | Bright colors like chartreuse or white |
| Buzzbaits | 1/2 to 3/4 oz | Dark colors for silhouette effect |
| Glow-in-the-Dark Lures | Various | Neon colors |
| Large Soft Plastics | 4 to 8 inches | Natural fish patterns, black or green |
| Topwater Lures | 3 to 6 inches | Black, blue, or natural frog patterns |
Moon Phases & Pike Fishing
Table: Moon Phase Impacts on Pike Fishing
| Moon Phase | Fishing Impact |
|---|---|
| New Moon | Excellent for night fishing; pike are more active in complete darkness |
| Waxing Crescent | Good for early night fishing; pike start to become more active |
| First Quarter | Moderate; pike activity increases but still not at peak |
| Waxing Gibbous | Good; increased visibility can lead to active pike behavior |
| Full Moon | Best for night fishing; pike are highly active and visible |
| Waning Gibbous | Good; pike remain active but begin to slow down |
| Last Quarter | Moderate; pike activity lessens as the moon wanes |
| Waning Crescent | Fair; lower activity but can still yield good catches in the right spots |
Night Pike Fishing Tips
- Use Appropriate Lures: At night, opt for lures that create vibration and noise, like spinnerbaits or buzzbaits, to attract pike’s attention in the dark.
- Go for Bright or Glow-in-the-Dark Lures: Lures that are bright or have glow-in-the-dark features can be more visible to pike in low-light conditions.
- Focus on Shallow Waters: Pike often move into shallower areas at night to feed, so target areas like weed edges, flats, and shallows near drop-offs.
- Slow Down Your Retrieval: Slower retrieves can be more effective at night, giving pike more time to locate and strike at your lure.
- Pay Attention to the Moon Phase: Full moon and new moon phases can be particularly productive times for night fishing, as discussed earlier.
- Be Quiet: Noise and vibrations can scare pike away. Approach your fishing spot quietly and handle your gear with care.
- Use a Headlamp or Flashlight: A light source is essential for safety and efficiency, but use it sparingly to avoid spooking the fish.
- Fish Near Structures: Pike often lurk near structures like logs, rocks, and docks at night, waiting to ambush prey.
- Stay Safe: Night fishing can be challenging, so ensure you’re familiar with the area, wear a life jacket, and let someone know where you’ll be fishing.
- Patience is Key: Pike fishing at night requires patience. They may not bite immediately, so give each spot ample time before moving on.
Ice Fishing: Nighttime Tips for Pike
- Use Lively Bait for Tip-Ups: When fishing with tip-ups, you’ll want lively bait. This is because tip-ups are the most passive way you can fish through the ice. Healthy bait is a good rule of thumb for tip-ups regardless of time of day. It is even more important during the night when pike are relying more on other senses to hone in on prey. Choosing healthy cisco, sucker, or yellow perch could be a wise investment.
- Select Appropriate Lures for Jigging: When jigging, you’ll need a good lure that will trigger pike’s other senses. Select jigs, spoons, and spinners that release a lot of vibration and noise into the water. My favorite baits are big soft plastics and spoons. You can even tip the spoon with a piece of cut bait for added effect. Visual attractiveness is still important so lighter-colored lures are also a good bonus.
- A Little Flash Goes a Long Way: When the water is dark and cold, a little bit of flash can help pike see your bait. The natural flash of a golden shiner or a yellow perch can be replicated with the right lure selection. Stay away from baits that glow in the dark. That’s excessive. Instead choose spinners with a chrome, golden, or silver blade. These baits will produce enough flash to look natural and attract pike.
- Fish Over Deep Vegetation: In the evening, northern pike will settle in near the edges of weeds and other deeper aquatic vegetation. While their feeding activity slows down some, they are still open to picking off prey. If you know where your lake’s weeds are located, drill your holes here. If not, simply digging a few holes about 50-100 feet from shore and noticing any vegetative debris on your hooks is a great indicator. Drop live bait, dead bait, or jigging lures along these edges at sunset. This approach may also work shortly before sunrise.
- Fish Hour After Sunset and Hour Before Sunrise: An hour or two after sunset is a very good time to target northern pike. Pike will become incredibly hard to catch during the dead of the night but this post-sunset timeframe affords pike a chance to feed before sleeping. According to a study by Kobler et al. (2008), during the summer pike exhibited peak feeding and movement activity during the twilight hours. Likewise, the hour before sunrise can also be quite active for pike. This is because baitfish are starting to become active after bedding down the night. Baitfish are most vulnerable during these early hours because of this transition.
Conclusion
Focus your fishing efforts in the early morning and late evening. Pike activity will certainly carry over into the darkness but not too far. Fish up til 2 hours after sunset and 1 hour prior to sunrise for best results. Don’t waste your time casting for pike at night. All you do is get sore casting muscles.
Additional Related Questions
When do northern pike sleep?
Northern pike, like all fish, need to sleep to recover from the previous day’s activity. Pike typically enter what we would consider their “sleep cycle” a few hours after sunset and start becoming active an hour prior to sunrise.
How do northern pike sleep?
Pike sleep by settling into a protected nook or bed in or around some cover. They are unable to close their eyes so their eyes remain open and “somewhat” alert to movement around them as they rest. This is the fish’s period of inactivity but they remain alert enough to react to danger or even a properly paced bait. Related Northern Pike Post Why do northern pike jump out of the water?
Do pike feed at night?
Although pike feed mostly during the day, they absolutely do feed at night. Full and new moon nights offer the best fishing. While they may be less active during nighttime, pike can still take advantage of opportunities to hunt and feed.
Can pike see in the dark?
Pike have excellent vision, allowing them to see in low light conditions, but they are not fully adapted to seeing in complete darkness. They rely on their acute sensory system, including lateral line organs, to detect movement and vibrations in the water, which helps them navigate and locate prey even in dark environments.
Scientific Literature Referenced:
Baktoft, H., Aarestrup, K., Berg, S., Boel, M., Jacobsen, L., Jepsen, N., … Skov, C. (2012). Seasonal and diel effects on the activity of northern pike studied by high-resolution positional telemetry. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 21(3), 386-394. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2012.00558.x (via: Wiley Online Library)
Kobler, A., Klefoth, T., Wolter, C., Fredrich, F., & Arlinghaus, R. (2008). Contrasting pike (Esox lucius L.) movement and habitat choice between summer and winter in a small lake. Hydrobiologia, 601(1), 17-27. doi:10.1007/s10750-007-9263-2 (via: Springer Link)
