Northern Pike

For northern pike near Fountain, focus your attention on the backwaters and slower-moving sections of the Pere Marquette River and the connected lakes. These areas offer the weedy habitat pike love to ambush prey. Spring is a fantastic time to target them as they move into shallower areas to spawn. Large spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits are all effective lures. Don't be afraid to experiment with different retrieves to find what the fish are responding to. Access to the PM is readily available via numerous state forest campgrounds and access points. A local tip: explore the smaller, less-pressured lakes in the area; they often hold some surprisingly large pike. Be prepared for some aggressive strikes, and always use a wire leader to prevent bite-offs. The pike in this region tend to be ambush predators, so focus on areas with plenty of cover.