With a belligerence matched by no other game-fish and a penchant for literally mangling lures and sub-standard gear, I seldom have to explain my preoccupation with pike fishing anymore. The word is out – pike are in. And, Esnagami Lake has some bruisers.
As a case in point, the very first pike caught on the big lake by our group was a 13-1/2 pounder hooked on a a Johnson Silver Minnow at the first weedbed we fished. At Esnagami Lake, casting any of the following lures will consistently produce pike, including some big ones: bass spinnerbaits, weedless spoons, bucktails, jerkbaits, buzzbaits, stickbaits, topwater plugs, even flies. If you can cast ’em, they’ll catch Esnagami pike.
If you’d rather troll, try minnow-imitating baits in either the “hot” colours or natural baitfish patterns, especially perch. Other very effective trolling baits for northern pike include magnum Canadian Wigglers, Swim Whizz, Believers, and, of course, big casting spoons (Dardevles, Five o’ Diamonds). It’s hard to find a bait that is too big for a 20 pound-plus pike – probably harder than finding a 20 pound-plus pike.