Northern Pike

Crystal Falls, Michigan, offers excellent Northern Pike fishing opportunities throughout its many lakes and rivers. The key to success here is understanding the seasonal patterns. Pike are most active in the spring, right after ice-out, and again in the fall as the water cools. During these times, they'll be aggressively feeding in shallow weedy bays. In the summer, they tend to move deeper, seeking cooler water and shade. Try trolling large spoons or crankbaits along weed lines or casting jerkbaits and swimbaits around submerged structure. A local's secret? The Michigamme River is a great spot to try for pike. Be aware that the river can have strong currents in places, so be cautious if you're wading or using a small boat. The pike in this region aren't pressured as heavily as in some of the more popular southern Michigan waters, so you have a good chance of hooking into a real trophy!