Lake Oahe Northern Pike
Northern Pike Population in Lake Oahe
Lake Oahe contains a trophy northern pike population, with many of the fish exceeding 10 pounds. When Lake Oahe refilled in 2008 and 2009, vegetation and trees on the banks provided excellent spawning habitat for northern pike and the number of young pike has increased. Catches of 3 to 10 pound northern pike will be available and good numbers of large northern pike will be available now and in the coming years as they grow into larger sizes.
Northern Pike Fishing Techniques
Anglers fishing for northern pike on Lake Oahe have the best opportunity to catch one in the early spring. Northern pike activity increases when open water starts to show up around the edges of the ice cover. Northern pike stay in shallow water through June, and then typically go deeper for the rest of the summer. In the spring, many anglers fish from shore or shallow water with a dead smelt on a treble hook rig or cast slow moving lures. Northern pike seek out the warmest water available in the spring and feed on anything they find, including fish that died during the winter months.