How to Ice Fish for Northern Pike In Connecticut

Northern pike have made a huge splash as far as ice fishermen in Connecticut are concerned. The Department of Environmental Protection reintroduced northern pike to several Connecticut lakes, with the result being a very strong population of these predatory and toothy game fish. Northern pike being taken through the ice is a thrilling experience for even the most veteran ice fisherman, never mind a novice. Here are some tips to help you land northern pike while ice fishing in Connecticut.

Things You'll Need

• Ice fishing gear
• Cold weather gear

Instructions

1. Know where northern pike can be found. Northern pike have successfully been stocked into Bantam Lake in Litchfield, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir in Windham, Pachaug Pond in Griswold, Quaddick Reservoir in Thompson and Winchester Lake in Winchester. The population of pike in these bodies of water easily supports fishing. The Connecticut River is full of northern pike, which can be ice fished for in the many inlets and offshoots that freeze solid in the cold weather. Pike have also filtered out of Pachaug Pond into nearby Hopeville Pond and Ashland Pond, but not in great numbers.

2. Use wire leaders. Northern pike will chew through regular monofilament line and ice fishing line with no trouble. Your hooks have to be attached to long wire leaders to avoid this misfortune. You do not want to get a lunker pike on the line only to have it bite through and escape. Wire leaders are found in bait and tackle shops and sporting goods departments. They simply tie onto the line and have a clasp that you open and attach the hook to.

3. Show them a shiner. Medium to large shiners are recommended for northern pike. There are very large shiners called “pike shiners" as well as small suckers that are sold as pike bait. Always call ahead to your favorite bait and tackle shop to see if they are well-stocked with shiners. Pike can be caught through the ice on any size shiner, but most prefer the larger variety.

4. Spread your tip-ups out to cover as much area as possible, within reason. You don’t want to have to walk a really far distance between tip-ups when ice fishing, but you want to saturate the lake you are fishing in to increase your chances. Pike like to live near weed beds and they can be caught in water as shallow as 3 feet deep. Remember that when ice fishing in Connecticut you are allowed a combination of up to six tip-ups or hand held lines in the water at once and no more.

5. Let them take line. Most pike will grab a shiner and run with it. Let them take as much line as you can. Set the hook hard with a very strong pull. Pike will give quite a battle and they are especially angry when the hole is in sight. Be extra careful when you have the fish within a short distance of the ice hole. Maneuver the pike so that you can guide it through the hole.

6. Watch those teeth. The time to show the most care when ice fishing for pike is when it is coming out of the hole. You cannot put your bare hands near a pike’s mouth; they have razor sharp teeth that they will be glad to use on you to shred your fingers. Instead, most pike fishermen in Connecticut or elsewhere have a specially designed tool that is like a large pair of pliers. They grab the pike’s lower lip with it and shut it, giving them the ability to hoist the pike out of the water safely. Another way is to scoop the pike up with a hand under its gills. If you have to grab a pike head on, make sure you have a thick pair of gloves on.

7. Know the law. In Connecticut a northern pike has to be at least 26-inches-long to keep. The creel limit is two per day. The state record pike is a 29 pounder that was caught in 1980 at Lake Lillinonah. Pike up to 20 lbs. are not uncommon in Connecticut, reaching lengths well over 40 inches. If you are caught with a pike under 26 inches, the Connecticut DEP will give you a hefty fine, so be smart.