Best Pike Lures For Alberta

Article By: Joe Seaborne 2021-04-21

Best lures for northern pike

The day was dry and hot as hell as we sat in the boat-slowly making our way through the thick weeds. As the sun beat down on us we painfully watched as the mid-afternoon sky turned into evening.

It had been a frustrating day of catching nothing but weeds. One of those days that makes you want to throw your rod into the lake and curse every fish that’s ever lived!

I just sat on my cooler, gazing into the water as I slowly drifted into a state of semi-consciousness while watching a dragonfly eat a mosquito. My mind was definitely elsewhere!

“Bzzzzzzzz” I was abruptly awoken as I looked over to see my wife’s rod almost bent in half as she fumbled with the reel. Tighten the drag—I yelled as I scramble to get ready.

like some sort of crazy person, I began throwing everything around while trying to find the pliers. “What the hell are you doing,” my wife said! After about five minutes of fighting and reeling in the line, I finally began to see what was on the other end.

It was at least a twenty-five pounder! The biggest pike I’d ever seen! I grabbed the net and leaned over the boat as I got into position to scoop her up, but it was no use. The net wasn’t big enough. I tried my best to get her into the boat anyway but, eventually, she broke free.

We both sat back in disappointment and disbelief as we recovered from an endorphin-filled fishing high. Even though my wife’s pike got away, we were both filled with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. We packed up that evening and drove home with a smile on our faces.

Days like these are what keeps me hooked on chasing after big pike. It’s an exhilarating experience that’s highly addictive and rewarding.

The only trouble is that catching anything over fifteen pounds is usually pretty rare. Unless you’re planning on ice fishing or going to some secluded lake, it’s not going to be easy!

To catch big pike you have to think like one and Knowing what lure to use is just the beginning! Presentation, diet, water conditions, and time of day are just some of the factors that go into catching the perfect pike. Without knowing any of this, your chances of actually catching anything other than hammer handles are slim to none!

The good news is that fishing lures have been around for a long time and have been re-designed over and over again to the point of perfection. The lures of today are crafted with decades of trial and error behind them. When buying a Len Thompson or Panther Martin, you're not just getting a lure - you're getting a design that has years of perfection behind it!

So to make things easier, I've compiled a list of what I think are the best fishing hooks for Northern Pike!

The Best Fishing Hooks For Northern Pike That Should Be In Every Tacklebox!

  1. Storm WildEye Live Pike
  2. This is a great all-around fishing lure for going after pike. It looks extremely realistic and natural as it swims through the water.


  3. Len Thompson
  4. A classic lure that has a reputation as being the most perfectly balanced spoon on the market! Len Thompson Spoons have a slow wobbling action that provokes even the most stubborn pike to strike. My favourite designs are the green frog and five of diamonds in a #4.

    This is a great all-round fishing lure that can be trolled, jigged or cast.


  5. Panther Martin Pike Lures
  6. Panther Martin lures are unique because of their perfectly designed blade that always spins at a consistent 40 degrees. The pike & musky line comes in several attractive finishes specially designed for predatory fish. They also come with a bright bucktail that’s absolutely deadly for pike fishing!

    Panther Martins are heavier than other spinners, making them good for casting or trolling deep water. They also have an extremely sensitive blade that’s capable of spinning at slow speeds.


  7. Blue Fox Vibrax
  8. Blue Fox Vibrax Spinners are known for their ability to emit low-frequency vibrations that are simply irresistible to fish! The Super Bou series comes with a stacked, double treble hook and bucktail that’s absolutely crazy. Pike love these things almost as much as you will.


  9. Salted Tubes
  10. Salted Tubes are perfectly scented and flavoured to be irresistible to fish. They are a versatile and highly effective lure that can be presented in several different ways. Tubes are easy to use for beginners but also benefit from the skill of the advanced angler.


  11. Rapala Deep Down Husky Jerk
  12. The Down Deep Husky Jerk is a deep-diving jerk bait that has a consistent side-to-side wobbling action. It also features an internal rattle chamber that emits a sound wave that drives pike nuts!

    This great all-around trolling lure for going after pike on open water.


  13. Pike Streamers
  14. A Streamer is a simple yet effective lure that’s most commonly used for fly fishing, but can also be jigged or added to another lure. Bright coloured streamers are highly effective for catching pike and fantastic for hitting the weed patches.


  15. Dardevle Spoons
  16. Don’t even think for a second that I would forget these bad boys! DarDevle’s are notorious for getting hammered by big pike and for good reason. DarDevle’s are crafted to have perfect weight and balance and have a narrow profile that's optimal for casting or trolling.

So there you have it—my ultimate list of pike fishing lures!

But why you might ask?“How come you chose the lures you did?”

Because it’s not just a list of the best fishing lures randomly put together. When filling your tackle box it’s not about grabbing a handful of Rapala’s and heading out. It’s also important to have a variety of lures for every situation.

Simply put—it’s a complete “set” of pike fishing lures.

What to consider when putting together a set of pike fishing lures.

Fishing for pike can be challenging at times because of their natural behaviour and habitat. Pike tend to ambush their prey by finding a good hiding spot where they can sit and wait for their next meal.

That means unless you’re baiting, you’re going to be looking for them in weed beds, underwater structures or even cooler water.

A good set of pike lures is a lot like a set of golf clubs. You wouldn’t drive a golf ball with a putter, would you? Likewise, you wouldn’t use a deep-diving crankbait in a shallow cabbage patch!

Basics of using a set of pike fishing lures.

When you look at a set of pike fishing lures you should (at a minimum), have a lure for every situation.

Let’s take a look at my list of pike fishing lures and see how they do in a variety of situations.

Fishing for pike in weeds

Weed patches are thick and difficult to fish but pike love em so you gotta fish em!

The best method of fishing for cabbage patch pike is going to be jigging. To do this you can drop a Len Thompson, Storm Wild Eye Pike, Streamer or Tube into the cabbage and start jigging wherever there’s an opening. “Hey”, if all else fails, at least you can take home some fresh salad.

Fishing for pike near the shoreline

Try casting or trolling close to the shoreline in the ten to fifteen-foot depth range, just past where all the weeds are.

Len Thompson’s, BlueFox Spinners, Storm Wildeye’s and DarDevle’s will all perform well. It’s just a matter of figuring out “the flavour of the day”.

Fishing for pike in deep water

When you’re looking for pike in deep water it’s important to be on the lookout for any underwater structures. Pay close attention to drop-offs, boulders, vegetation and even little craters.

Trolling with a deep diving lure like the Rapala Deep Down Husky Jerk will do a good job at covering a lot of areas quickly. Panther Martin Pike and Musky Spinners are also good at covering deep water because they are heavy but require a slow trolling speed to sink.

For a more precise method, try dropping a Tube or Wildeye directly into the area you want to target then jig away!

Final thoughts:

A set of pike fishing lures should be a collection of lures that can be used in all different scenarios. Pike are picky and no two lakes are the same! Having the proper gear is a must if you’re planning on going after big pike—to get the job done you’ll need quality lures that have a proven track record of delivering results!