<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Pike angling is becoming an increasingly popular pastime in Europe . Effective methods for catching this hard - fighting fish include dead baits, lure fishing, and jerk baiting . They are prized as game fish for their determined fighting . </P> <P> Lake fishing for pike from the shore is especially effective during spring, when the big pike move into the shallows to spawn in weedy areas, and later many remain there to feed on other spawning coarse fish species to regain their condition after spawning . Smaller jack pike often remain in the shallows for their own protection, and for the small fish food available there . For the hot summer and during inactive phases, the larger female pike tend to retire to deeper water and / or places with better cover . This gives the boat angler good fishing during the summer and winter seasons . Trolling (towing a fairy or bait behind a moving boat) is a popular technique . </P>

How to tell the difference between male and female northern pike