Northern Pike 2023

After a highly successful trip in 2022, Katie and I were eager to make the annual North Idaho pike trip in 2023. Over the last several years, we felt we'd finally begun to "crack the code" on the ol' gators of the north. However, this year would challenge us more than ever.

As we idled into the first lake on the first night, we realized the water was already warmer than we expected. 

As we fished, we also realized 70 degree water resulted in more weed growth. In fact, most of the spots we had fished in the past were already choked out with weeds, making fishing difficult. 

Our first evening of fishing produced a largemouth bass hook-up and a boat-side pike blowup.

On our second outing, we tried a new lake. Once again, the water was warmer than we wanted and we ended up focusing our efforts on deeper, shadowed banks with trees and logs. Katie began to get some pike action. 

Most of Katie's hookups were right at the boat. Over the last couple of years, Katie has learned to experiment with the action of her fly once it gets close to the boat. Whether she knows a pike is following her fly or not, she changes the action of her retrieve; she lets it fall, gives it a couple of quick pops, changes its trajectory or simply lets it dangle for 30 seconds. It's amazing how well this works for her. 

For one reason or another, her fish kept getting off. We finally put one in the net, only to lose the next fish; a larger one of course, to a submerged tree. We broke off 2 flies on fish; something we rarely do. 

We finished our first full day of fishing with only one pike to hand, and several hookups, with Katie having most of those.

The next day we rode the Route of the Hiawatha; a fun experience that we both recommend highly. 

Katie's parents made the trek north and joined us for a few days. Katie's dad, Rick, had never caught a pike and was eager to give it a try since "we had it dialed". Rick joined us in the boat for several outings over several days. Everywhere we went, we struggled. We tried finding cooler water or fishing in the evenings. Fishing different weed beds or bank types. Fishing deeper, slower retrieves and smaller flies; nothing was working. 

The only fish we managed to catch in several days was a small crappie and a snagged bluegill. 

The scenery is always splendid and the wildlife is hard to beat. In the afternoons we went on several, "turtle rides", looking for painted turtles; a critter we don't get to see on a regular basis down south.

We had to face the facts that we were simply too late this year. The winter had been more mild and the spring warmer than previous years. It was time to move on.

My Aunt Connie and Uncle Jeff have a cabin home in Heron, Montana. I used to spend most of my summers here as a kid. Connie and Jeff had recently moved back here full time. Katie and I planned to stay with them for a few days for some quality catching up time. 

Connie and Jeff are in the process of renovating the cabin. It felt good to return to a place full of so many childhood memories. 

Connie and Jeff were excited to go out in the boat with us and try some fishing. The following day we set out for a spot Katie and I had done very well at last year. 

We quickly realized this years water was much lower as we pulled into the first slough and the boat barely floated in. Darn, this year was challenging us! We casted around in the first spot and surprisingly had a couple encounters in the weed choked, shallow slough. Jeff had a hit, and Katie had a follow from a medium-sized pike. 

We moved onto another spot where I hooked a pike that jumped out of the net. We tried a few more spots and had a couple more encounters before the afternoon heat had us worn out. This trip was sure humbling us. 

   

That afternoon we visited some nearby giant cedar trees! 

The following day we decided to try fishing again. This time we hit the water earlier and were a bit more sneaky when entering some of the sloughs, and it paid off. 

We finally began to get some pike action. Most of the love was on my flies however. 

We drifted into a good bass area and went into bass mode; A much needed switch in tactics for everyone in the boat. The smallmouth were fat and eager to eat.

They were digging the slow, side to side action of our flies so we switch to a jerk bait on the spinning rod for Connie and Jeff and it began working quite well!

The flies continued to work and and we even began to fish topwater. My uncle Jeff was giddy as the bass blew up on his surface lure.

"These bass are fun!" My aunt Connie said, after catching another.

Our trip was nearing its end and I began to accept that this year we had gotten our butts kicked. We said our goodbyes to my aunt and uncle after a great 3 days of quality time. On our way home though, I had saved a few hours to check out a lead I'd gotten from a bass angler on the previous years trip; "We caught a few 40 inch pike on glide baits at this spot. You should check it out if you're into pike." The gentlemen shared the location with me and I figured it was worth investigating if we had time.

We launched the boat for the final time on our North Idaho pike trip. The water was calm, clear and inviting, but storm clouds were already beginning to build. We cruised over to the spot and were happy to find dark, patchy weed beds in 5-10 ft of water. This looks good. The water temps were 68-70; better for sure.

We started casting our 8" pike flies and retrieving them just over the tops of the weeds. The clear water enabled us a clear view of our flies the entire retrieve; and see if anything was following. 

"Oh! Big pike!" Katie squeaked as she gave her fly a few erratic pops next to the boat. 

I looked back and could clearly see the 30" gator right on her fly's tail. She tried her boat-side Katie magic but the fish slunk back into the shadows. That was a good sign. If we caught just one pike like that it would save the whole trip! 

We continued casting. Not 3 strips into one of my retrieves, a big gator suddenly appeared, devouring my fly. I set the hook and he charged for the weeds. I had zero control and soon the fish was deep in the weeds. I pulled hard and slowly brought the fish out of the weeds along with a Costco-sized quantity of lake salad. I eventually won the battle and we finally had a big pike in the boat.    

Katie was on next with another great fish!

The next couple hours were the best pike fishing we'd ever had together. Clear water and big, hungry pike in the 28-36 inch range.

Our flies began to show the effects of a pike's mouth.

The storm clouds continued to build and as the lightning began to flash atop the nearby mountains, we knew our incredible fishing was over. 

The final spot in the last hours made the whole trip. As Katie and I loaded the boat back up and started our drive south, we had smiles you couldn't erase. Next year, we'd spend a little more time prospecting that new water, and just maybe, hit that 40" mark.