How to Catch Trophy Northern Pike on Lake St. Joseph: Gear, Lures & Pro Tips

Lake St. Joseph Is Gator Country

Big water produces big fish. It's no wonder, then, that the over 90-mile-long Lake St. Joseph is home to some of the biggest pike in Ontario. Lake St. Joseph is the fourth, fifth, or sixth largest lake wholly inside Ontario depending on if you are measuring by volume, surface area, or shoreline respectively. Regardless of how you measure, Lake St. Joseph is BIG. So are its northern pike. 

Gear: Choosing The Right Setup

In order to properly fight this fresh water monster, you need a much beefier set up than your average walleye or bass rod. However, your musky set up, along with most of your musky baits, is overkill. A seven foot, medium-heavy power, fast action rod will suit the bill really well. What lures to throw for pike will be covered later in the article. However, in general, you need a rod that will throw ¾ oz - 1.5 oz baits. Choose a rod that is too heavy, and you will not be able to get any distance out of your casts. 

Whether you use a spinning reel or a casting reel, a braided line that is 25-40 lbs test will provide the strength needed while still giving the sensitivity to tell the difference between a bite and a weed. If you decide to go down the bait caster route, ensure that you are well versed in its operations and settings before venturing on a trip like this. Casting washers in your backyard is a great way to get accustomed to your baitcaster setup. Do not be the person who spends more time picking out birds nests and respooling than actually fishing. When chasing a trophy fish of any species, time on the water is priceless. Know your gear and come prepared. 

Tackle: Keeping It Simple

There is no magic lure for trophy northern pike on Lake St. Joseph. Pike are an aggressive and reactive fish. If it flashes and pushes water, the lure will get the attention of any hungry northern. Like with walleye fishing, Old Post guides take the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) approach to choosing lures for pike fishing. Spoons reign supreme with large Mepps style spinners in a not too close second. Spoons in the ¾ to 1 ounce range are a favourite. Old classics like a red and white Daredevil or silver William Wabler are reliable, tried and tested trophy producing baits. However, any bright or flashy spoon in the appropriate size and weight will likely work just as well. Sharp hooks are needed for setting hooks into the boney mouth of a pike. Keeping a hook hone handy will ensure your lure bites back. A 12” sturdy steel leader in the 30lb range is essential as the razor sharp teeth on pike will slice through regular fishing line. Pike can also be targeted with a fly rod all summer long. Rods weights between 8 and 10 will allow you to throw the large flies necessary to get the attention of a hungry pike. Like with gear fishing, fly selection does not need to be overly fancy. Deceivers, closures, and bunny leeches tied on heavy gauge saltwater hooks will get the job done. More modern fly patterns like the Game Changer and Buford can be extremely effective, especially when paired with a sinking or intermediate line. Fly leaders for pike also do not need to be complicated. Add four feet of 40lb fluorocarbon to a 20lbs break off section in the butt. Steel bite guard is recommended, but in a pinch you can easily get away with using the same standard steel leader used by your gear fishing counterpart. 

Tactics: Where & How To Catch Them

For the most part, you will not need to change your lure or fly depending on the season. Rather, you need to find active feeding fish. The location of trophy pike changes significantly as the season progresses. 

• Post-spawn: Chase the Temperature: As soon as pike can find open water, they will start moving into back bays and tributaries to find suitable spawning habitat. Ice typically leaves Lake St. Joseph in May, but sometimes as early as late April and late as early  June. Post-spawn, pike are looking to recuperate calories and recover. They do this in the warmest water they can find. However, northern pike can be lethargic until water temps rise. The magic number is 60 degrees fahrenheit. Look for bays with black bottoms as they will be the first reach warm up. 

• Transition: Finding Active Fish: In June, before weed beds are established on the lake, predicting pike feeding habits can be challenging. However, finding areas where walleye and pike of all sizes are active, is fairly routine. Windswept shorelines and points that are close to spawning habitat will have concentrated forage that eager pike and walleye are gorging on. At this time of year, big northerns are often found alongside large schools of walleye. They will of course eat the occasional walleye, but are also eating perch, whitefish, ciscos, and suckers. Finding an active walleye bite and switching to a larger presentation such as a spoon or spinner bait is a great way to increase your chances at landing a large pike that is lurking nearby. You will get some aggressive walleye chasing your spoon as a bonus. 

• Mid-Summer: Weed Wackin’: Main lake weed beds establish themselves by late June or early July. As soon as this happens, pike switch over to fairly predictable feed habits. The most productive weed beds are big, sometimes up to a kilometre long. They have distinct edges that drop off into deeper, cooler water. Pike will hang out on the drop or roam the edge of the wedge bed waiting for susceptible prey. During this time of year, it is important to try and stay out of the weeds with the boat, and cast your lure into them retrieving at a fast pace. 

• Late Summer & Fall: Last Weeds Standing: Weed beds start to die off in mid to late August. Rough weather and wave action can accelerate this process dramatically, especially on main lake weed beds that are exposed to the elements. The rule of thumb for late summer and fall is to fish the last, healthy, green cabbage you can find. Pike still need access to deeper water this time of year, so finding weed beds that are protected behind leeward points and at the mouth of back bays is essential to finding big fish. When weeds finally fall for good, fishing structure, for example, a bolder lined point, near an old weed bed will help you eliminate water and find active fish. 

Conclusion: Increase The Odds

Predator fishing of any kind is rarely a game of numbers. Time on the water and the amount of casts thrown play a bigger factor than having the most expensive gear or fanciest lure. Any angler who decides to fish Lake St. Joseph for trophy pike has already increased his odds of landing a trophy. Set yourself up with a few basic pike necessities and prepare to cast until your arms are tired. Make sure you save a little extra gas in the tank. When you hook into a Lake. St. Joseph monster, you will need every ounce of strength to bring the beast to hand.