Where are the Pike right now?

[Alejandroi1]

Hello all, I'd just like to report that after multiple attempts at catching a pike, I have failed. The most success I can report is having gotten a follow by a fish that changed its mind after it saw me (at centre Island a few weeks back), and having gotten a strike on a white cotton ordell a few years back. This strike on the white lure was the reason I've been trying to actually land one of these fish and right now things are looking grim for me. I would like to know :

1) are pike are still in the shallows at this time of the year?

2) If not, then where/ how deep do they go?

3) for summer pike, how deep do they go in Lake Ontario? ie; whats the avg depth of the lake?

I have been using big daredevil spoons, silver williams wabblers (since i lost my 5 of diamonds ) , mepps spinners (black fury mostly) blaze crankbaits (big) jointed perch patterns , lipless cranks, and regular ord bass cranks. I have read that the mouth of rivers are good places because of water temperature mixtures, food availability etc. I am just about to head out to the mouth of the humber river and around the marsh area (gonna TRY to look for a way to fish it from shore since it seems impenetrable) and will report back with any forum worthy stories.

Thanks to all and tight lines.

 

[RedSkullz]

1. Up here (southern georgian bay) pike are still in shallow water....last week we were getting them in less than 9 fow. Find good green weed growth and you should hit pike.
2. Soon they will move deeper especially the big ones...small pike will stay shallow (under 12fow) for the whole summer. Big pike once the water warms too much will move deep, from 40-90 feet deep, generally following shcools of baitfish around the thermocline level.
3. Cant help you there as i have never fishined lake ontario....average depth is quite deep in ontario...somwhere around 80 feets average iirc? (please correct me if i am wrong)

4. Get a buddy and go north of sudbury/temagami camping for a week....you Will get pike!!


It sounds like you are definitely on the right track with your lure choices. Also consider trying large tube baits....ive smashed a ton of pike on those.(and some big ones too)

 

[Mykester]

Keep trying, every outing this year to the toronto islands I have caught pike, it was my first time this year as well.

 

[RedSkullz]

Ahh right....it wasnt 80 feet average depth but 80 meters average depth!! Crazy!! 283 feet deep average!! Max depth is 802 feet...only second to lake superior (average depth of 483 feet)
Crazyness indeed!!

 

[Alejandroi1]

So, I guess ill be going down to the Islands one of these days. The mouth of the humber river was a letdown, didnt even see a fish. I did see a dead beaver or squirrel floatin like a balloon though. lol The shore along the river a little upstream is completely covered in tall grass, and i couldnt get close enough to fish (the west side, just north of the train bridge and gardiner). I did however see people fishing the east side from what looked like boat launches. Anyways, I;ll report with any new stories soon. thx for ur time

 

[reefrunner]

I went to the TO Island last weekend, had a couple follows from a pike on a J-11, but for the most part they were sluggish and non-commital. Usually I would've thrown back a 4inch tube but was travelling light. Saw lots of big carp. Goodluck.

 

[RedSkullz]

I bet a 4.5" tube would have made 'em hammer!!!