Fishing Alaska - Northern Pike

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Check out our current June/July 2025 Trout, Pike, King, Grayling Fishing Special with day Fly-Out float trip!

Preparing for your Alaska Pike Fishing Experience

Northern Pike are abundant in the nearby scenic Fish Lakes Chain. This area is accessible by boat and portage within 20 minutes of the lodge. Large numbers of fish 2-4 lbs with some exceeding 10 lbs. can be taken by various techniques in these secluded glass-water lakes. Pike are voracious feeders and provide hot action on top-water lures and flies throughout the summer. Low light periods of the day and early and late season provide the best times to chase pike. Overcast and rainy days allow for consistent fishing all day long. This is a great supplementary side trip to your Alaska salmon and trout fishing vacations. The lake chain is a beautiful, peaceful place that is a whole different world compared to wade fishing our local river system. You can set up a trip to our area pike lakes with your guide at any time during your stay. Many people that have never pike fished before will love this experience! For veteran lakes fishermen, this is still a unique experience that you should include as part of your complete Alaska fishing experience. Most of the pike that we catch are targeted in less than 4 feet of water. It's a great kids venue as we literally see every fish attack our lure or fly from the surface or just underneath. Northern pike are notorious for following lures right to the boat and striking within an arm's reach! We have a good number of guests that book June trips specifically to blend the best of shallow-water northern pike fishing in the lake chain with excellent trout and grayling fishing on our main river.

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Alaska Northern Pike Gear

Outfit yourself for your Alaska pike fishing experience. If you prefer to not bring your own fishing equipment, our lodge provides all you need to be as a complimentary part of our inclusive fishing lodge packages.
Spin fishing tactics for alaska northern pike.

Pike Spin Fishing

For northern pike, our guides utilize the same rod and reel combinations we typically use for silver, pink and chum salmon. We us medium to medium fast action 6 1/2 to 7 foot spin cast rods with Penn Fierce 4000 series reels. 15lb monofilament is the norm, but running a minimum 8" steel leader is essential for targeting these toothy critters. Berkley makes a great, durable leader that is teflon coated black for minimal visibility. At least a 20lb test leader is preferred. With respect to lures for pike, there is a ton of different products that can be highly effective. Here are some of our go-to's:

-Topwater buzzbaits
-Topwater frog/mouse imitations such as the Snag Proof series
-Johnson Weedless Silver Minnow spoon 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz with grub trailer
-Baby Pike imitation lures such as the DamEffzet Baby Pike

Best fly-in fishing for Alaska pike

Pike Fly Fishing

We fish pike with primarily 8 weight rods, 15-20lb leaders with steel leader trace. Floating lines are the norm as we prefer to target pike on or near the surface. During warm weather and mid-season, it may be more productive to switch to a sink-tip fly line and fish large streamers in deeper water off the drop-offs adjacent to points and weed beds. Pike are receptive to most presentations, but typically we start fast on the surface and transition to slow &: down low if we're not getting receptive strikes.

Fly patterns for Alaska rainbow trout

Northern Pike Fly Patterns

There is no limit to the fly patterns you can throw at northern pike. They are hungry, aggressive and a blast to catch on the fly. Our go-to is top-water mice patterns, but any attraction pattern will be effective. All flies are best presented with an erratic retrieve. Pike will often trail flies prior to striking and become most aggressive when enticed in an erratic fashion. Here are some of our preferred Alaska pike fly patterns:

  • - The venerable "Lefty's Deceiver" size 2 and 1/0, We like Silver/Black and Silver/Chartreuse
  • - Dolly Llama size 1/0, Black and Olive Flash
  • - Morrish Mouse Size 1, brown or black
Peak Alaska pike fishing periods

Pike Peak Fishing Dates

For a breakdown of all peak periods visit our Alaska peak fishing calendar. Northern pike fishing is excellent all-summer long. Pike are most active during cooler weather patterns and during cooler water periods of the summer. With overcast skies and cooler air and water temperatures, pike have the tendency to move into shallow bays and weed beds and are thus easier to locate and target.

Alaska Facts: Northern Pike

Northern Pike, Esox Lucius are naturally distributed throughout northern North America, including the upper Midwest, West, Canada and Alaska. They are also found circumpolar throughout northern regions such as Siberia, Northern Europe and North Asia. Almost all northern pike inhabit lakes and rivers north of the 40th parallel. Pike are early spring spawners and will begin to lay eggs in shallow, quiet bays almost immediately after ice-out each spring. Northern Pike, despite their reputation as a slimy warm water fish, has incredible flaky, tasty white meat. Pike are valuable to the commercial fishing industry of Canada and are important table fare to native villages across Canada and Alaska. Pike are incredible predatory sport fish and can reach weights of up to 65 pounds!

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Let us guide your to plan your ultimate Alaska fishing trip. Our wilderness lodge is the ideal base camp for your Alaska off-grid adventure. Explore our fly-in fishing packages and unique off-grid adventure bundles. Experience the finest, most flexible Alaska wilderness experience within a 100 mile radius of Anchorage.
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