Northern pike is one of the most desirable fish to be captured in the world. Their size and strength make them fun to catch as they fight hard. However, due to their size, pace, and quick movements in the water, they are renowned for breaking the angling equipment. Make sure you have the right rod, and reel combination for northern pike fishing will both help you hook the beast and make sure your equipment is up to the challenge. You definitely need the best rod and reel combo for northern pike fishing!
You don’t want to be out there fishing with a thin, frail reel. We will always suggest a medium to a heavy rod that is long enough for a long-distance cast and a reel with a smooth action and a wide enough spool for a decent amount of fishing line. You may want to remember that the Northern Pike has a collection of sharp razor teeth. It’s normal for them to cut your line with a fast-twitch of their head. If you want to land a northern pike, you want to make sure you use a good fishing line.
| The Best Rod And Reel Combo For Northern Pike Fishing | Product Image | Expert Rating | Get It On Amazon! |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Ice Fishing Reel & Rod Combo |  |  | Check Price |
| PENN Squall Level Wind Reel & Rod Fishing Combo |  | | Check Price |
| Zebco Dock Demon Spinning Reel or Spincast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo |  | | Check Price |
Best Rod And Reel Combo For Northern Pike Fishing
Our Top Pick!
Product Name: Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Ice Fishing Reel & Rod Combo
Product Description: Ugly StikGX2 is the next generation of Ugly Stik that combines the heritage and tradition of the original while maintaining the strength and durability Ugly Stiks are known for. Ugly Stik GX2 rods offer better balance for lighter feel, improved components and eye catching cosmetics for a more modern look.
-
Value For Money
-
Durability
-
Ease Of Use
-
Material Quality
Overall
We took the time to draw up a list of some of the best picks for Northern Pike fishing in a number of categories. Check it out, here are the best rod and reel combo for Northern Pike Fishing!
a. Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2
UglyStik is a well-known business in the angling community, and many of those who came to this combo have in the past owned UglyStik. Buyers had a lot of positive things to tell about the rod, praising high-quality construction and materials. The biggest criticism among buyers is that it’s not a convenient rod to use for long fishing trips — short handles can be rough on your wrists and hands.
We couldn’t resist awarding our first place spot to this GX2 combo. It emulates the saying, “simple but effective.” It is clear that Shakespeare and Uglystik took time and effort to create this combo design, and it shines through in the performance. Graphite and fiberglass composite is a perfect construction for a wide range of anglings.
The GX2 line is a fine choice for more experienced anglers who are preparing to hunt trophies among the Northern Pike trophies. Although the rod is very responsive, in terms of sheer strength, it really shines. It’s fun to grab the big boys.
Bottom line
In conclusion, the UglyStick GX2 is an ultra-reliable rod that we would suggest to every angler in the world. It’s a no-frill style that relies on the power and durability of capturing. This is a perfect choice for anglers looking to step up the game.
b. PENN Squall Level Wind Reel & Rod Fishing Combo
Those who bought the Penn Squall Level Wind Combination were, for the most part, very pleased with its success as a saltwater and freshwater powerhouse. Several anglers praised the combo’s ability to pull large fish easily and complemented the sizeable line capacity—a recurring complaint related to the handle’s construction.
Alongside the multitude of fishing combos on the market, this Squall combo stands out for its strength and durability. It is clear that the company has taken time to develop a careful design, and the materials used in the construction are fantastic. The Anglers don’t have to worry about this rod breaking in a battle with the Northern Pike giant.
This Penn combo is a great choice for Northern Pike anglers who need a bit of versatility — maybe they like spending time on ocean fishing, too. With the combination of an advanced drag system and a solid backbone, both the rod and the reel are ideal for reeling fish such as Northern Pike, as well as large ocean fish.
Bottom line
Overall, the Penn Squall line is an option that will ensure reliable reliability for any angler, freshwater, or not looking to step up their fishing game. From the sizeable ability of the line to the reel’s sturdy structure, this is a combo that can pack a punch in the battle against a big fish.
c. Zebco Dock Demon Spinning Reel and Fishing Rod Combo
Those who bought the Zebco Dock Demon Combo were very satisfied with the price and some aspects of the setup and not so happy with the others. Buyers liked the style, saying it was robust and lightweight. A lot of anglers felt the reel could use a great improvement, identifying the fact that the rod is of far better quality than the reel.
The Dock Demon wins a spot on our list because we really appreciate the importance of this combo. Given the below-average reel, this is a pretty tough setup, and the rod will certainly take a beating. The design’s lightweight nature is also a pro for it, making it a good rod for travel or baby.
While this may not be the perfect match for expert anglers, for those on a fairly tight budget who want to learn more about spinning rods, this is a great training combo. It’s also a terrific setup for kids who might not handle their gear as nicely as it should be.
Bottom line
While this combo has a kind of dud reel, it should not be ignored as a choice for anglers looking to hone some spinning rod skills on a slim budget. This pick is robust and has an appealing finish that will stand out from the water.
Best Rod And Reel Combo For Northern Pike Fishing: Considerations When Buying
Here are the things to consider when buying the best rod and reel combo for northern pike fishing!
1. Casting Vs. Spinning
Casting reels usually have fewer line power, but they are generally considered to be easier to use. Larger targets are likely to call for a baitcasting reel, which is mostly smaller in size than the two. If you’re a professional angler or intend to be one eventually, you’ll need to learn how to use a baitcaster sometime, and the Northern Pike is just as good an excuse as any.
2. Rod Duration
Longer rods allow the casting of curly-tailed soft bait, back knuckles, and flies that get pike long distances with less effort. Shorter rods are going to work well with finesse lures, and they make the battle against the pike more difficult, which can make up the excitement factor. Longer rods can also accommodate a heavier line, so it’s safer to have a rod about seven feet long or longer.
3. Fishing Environment
Tones of northern pike anglers fish from the sea. Northern inshore pike fishing is also common, along with northern pike ice fishing and northern pike fishing. Of course, fishing off a boat is also popular. They prefer 60 ° F of water, but they will be near sharp drops in deep water in colder weather. Pike spawned earlier this year in areas with a lot of green vegetation, preferably 6 to 8 feet deep. In more compact lakes, you might want to catch a float tube of northern pike fishing.
4. Frame Material
The reels are made of many materials, but the most common are aluminum and graphite. Many anglers value machined aluminum reels as the finest and most reliable. Sometimes, though, only the spool itself will be made of machined aluminum. The exterior can be made of graphite or plastic. If the reel is graphite, the construction of a single piece would be more durable. Die-cast aluminum is weaker than graphite, so be sure to find machined aluminum if you can.
5. Drag method
Drag systems may be in the front or rear of the reel, and some of the reels have both. Front drag is hard to change in the middle of a fish war, but it’s pretty uncommon to have to do that anyway. Front drag systems typically have larger washers behind them, which increases their smoothness. Rear drag is easier to access, so the spinning rod and reel combo geared towards beginners normally has it in the back.
6. Line Capability and Gear Ratio
Northern Pike likes running, so the more line you’ve got on your spool, the more effective you’re likely to be. For larger pike, the 20-pound test would be optimal, so make sure your reel contains plenty of it. Gear ratio specifies how much line falls back to the spool in one of the handle cranks. Slower gear ratios are best for larger lures and trolling, while faster gear ratios are best for pushing lures like buckets, swimmers, blades, and spoons through the water column rapidly.
7. Ball Bearings
The gears and moving parts inside the fishing reel are bolstered by ball bearings that make them move smoothly without scratching each other. More ball bearings can mean the reel’s smoother operation, but the consistency of the bearings is the most important factor.
Stainless steel is the most common material, but the fancier versions have ceramic bearings. To prevent the debris from coming in and jamming things up, the ball bearings are secured. Additional protection is offered for double-shielded ball bearings, which are the most desired bearings in a reel.
8. Extra Reel Features
Reels can have different spool sizes, which determine how many lines they can carry and typically affect their retrieval rate. The handle of the reel can be extended or adjusted to give it more torque. Brake systems prevent the line from being completely loose in the free-spool, which can help to control casting and prevent backlash in baitcasting reels.
Low-profile reels take up less space and are more convenient to use for long periods. Round reels carry more lines and have more strength to resist. Although the reels can be left-or right-handed, some of them have handles that can be mounted on either side.
9. Extra Rod Features
Anglers prefer to repair a reel’s movement, which explains how it bends when you have a fish on it. Northern Pike calls for a more versatile rod, probably a mild one. Materials used in rods include durable fiberglass, lightweight graphite, and carbon fiber. Cork and EVA foam grips are the most convenient rod handles. A split grip is better suited to a spinning reel, and a pistol grip handle gives more leverage to a baitcasting rod.
Best Rod And Reel Combo For Northern Pike Fishing: Details On Northern Pike
Northern Pike is found in freshwater in the Northern Hemisphere. Their appearance is different from that of other freshwater fish because of their body shape, although the musket is often mistaken for this species. The pike has a long, slender body that is olive green in color and fades to yellowish-white on the belly. The fish’s sides are marked with lighter colored spots that typically complement the color of the belly. One dorsal fin is at the end of the tail, and this fin, along with the others, is marbled with spots. It has a long, flattened snout and a mouth full of sharp teeth.
The key difference in the appearance of male and female pike is height. The female fish is naturally larger than the male fish. Both sexes continue to develop with age. The average weight of the Northern Pike is between 3-7 pounds and 24-30 inches. The biggest pike ever caught was 58 inches long and weighed 68 pounds.
More Information
The northern peak spawns in the spring when the water temperature reaches at least 48 degrees Fahrenheit. As the female spreads her eggs on the water’s vegetation no more than one foot deep, the male fertilizes them. Usually, there are between 15,000 and 75,000 chickens. After the sticky eggs are stuck to the submerged foliage, both male and female leave. After about two weeks, the eggs hatch. The freshly hatched “fry” feed on their egg sack until it’s gone and then turn their diet to zooplankton. They begin to feed on small fish after about two weeks. Pike develops most quickly in the first two years of her life. Sexual maturity is achieved between the ages of 3 and 5, with males reaching this stage earlier than females of the same age. The average life span of the northern peak in the wild is seven years.
Best Rod And Reel Combo For Northern Pike Fishing: Northern Pike Fishing Advice
Northern pike, also referred to as a freshwater shark, is one fish that every angler should try at one point in his life. This fish is bad for a bone with sharp teeth, a big mouth, and a voracious appetite like no other. Pike can grow to a size that seems almost fictional compared to other freshwater fish.
Experience catching the north is the concept of an emotional roller coaster. Most people think they’ve snagged on a log when they’re hooked on a big one, but in fact, there’s a freshwater beast at the end of their line.
1. Pike Gearing Up
- ROD
While pike may have the potential to grow extremely large, most of the fish you catch will most likely fall in the 3-to 7-pound range. For this purpose, our guide service uses the traditional bass fishing set up when casting for pike. The trick is to have a 7-foot medium motion by using a baitcasting or rotating reel.
It’s a smart idea to step up a notch when trolling for pike. We like to use a medium-heavy action rod mainly because we target fish in the 15 to 30-pound range.
- REEL
When casting the right reel for the northerners, the chances of landing a pike will increase dramatically. Having a drag system with a maximum drag of at least 15 pounds can help you land just about any pike that comes in your way.
When trolling for pike, we like to use reels with a maximum drag of at least 25 pounds. Getting extra drag helps with larger swim-bait lures that generate extra friction on the line, along with landing larger fish. Our guide service also likes to provide line counters.
Using line counters lets you realize how far back you’re going, allowing you the chance to break it down to science instead of luck.
- LINE
Pike’s teeth are incredibly sharp, giving them the ability to slice through a line with ease. It is important to structure your line with the reel and rod that you intend to use. For a reel with a drag value of at least 15 pounds, we like to use a 15 to 20-pound woven line.
When using a reel with at least a limit of 25-pound drag, we normally use a 30 to 40-pound braided thread. Add a 20-40-pound fluorocarbon 3 to 4-foot length to your mainline as a chief.
Some anglers want to add a wire bite to the end of their line to reduce the chance that the north will bite it off. The only drawback of the wirebite integration is that it can influence the lure’s behavior chosen to be used.
More Gear Options:
- NET
There’s nothing worse than having a pike to the boat or to the shore, and your net is too weak. Getting a net in the range of 20 to 36 inches. This depends on how much space you’ve got to store the net and how likely you’re going to catch something huge. Our saying is the larger, the better if you have the skill to match the scale.
- PLIERS
Removing the bait from the bait is an art of its own. It is highly recommended to have a pair of long needle-nose pins, a jaw spreader, and a fish lip flur, particularly for large fish. When removing the hook, take care of the sharp teeth of the fish and the tightened gills. Without careful care, these two things will cut through your skin like a hot butter knife.
2. Northern Pike Lures
- SPOONS
If you continue to hunt for pike soon enough, you’re going to have a huge variety of spoons. Let the spoon flicker and fall when it is cast. This imitates a wounded fish bait-fish and catches the attention of the hungry pike around it.
Start storing your bowl with spoons that weigh 1/4 to 1 ounce of gold/silver along with colors that resemble local fish.
- SOFT PLASTIC SWIM-BAITS
Soft plastic swim-baits are one of our favorite attractions when catching pike — having the opportunity to customize for any fishing spot.
Small minnow to life-size storage fish can be extremely active. There are thousands of swim-baits of various types, colors, and sizes. The easiest way to get started is by choosing the go-to select colors — chartreuse, red, yellow, and white.
You may also want to pick swim bats that fit other fish that look like in the water. Narrowing down their food supply precisely to where you’re fishing is a smart tactic — helping your lure blend in with your live family increases the probability that one pike will make a fatal mistake.
Extra Option:
- INLINE SPINNERS
When choosing an inline spinner, pay attention to the blade because it is the most important component. The blade produces vibrations while rotating, sending out frequencies in all directions. Pike has a sensitive lateral line that helps to sense the vibrations that your lure is giving off.
Choose a range of darker colors when fishing in low-light conditions and muddy water. Compared to a well-lighted condition in clear water, select colors such as graphite, yellow, and white.
3. Finding The Right Location Of The Fish
Before you start the blind-casting process, take some time to explore the water. Look for specific areas where the pike can reside. Aerial maps and depth maps are a great resource for pre-scanning, along with a quality fish finder.
Inlets, bays, coves, and drop-offs are perfect places to hunt for. In those areas, search for shallow, marshy areas with abundant weeds. Label shoreline places where there is a foundation, such as submerged logs or undercuts banks.
These areas normally contain large numbers of bait-fish. In other words, find your food, find the fish.
4. Lure Presentation
If you’re fishing in weeded areas, use either a weedless spoon or a soft plastic swimsuit with a weed garden. Pike remains motionless and can be mistaken for logs occasionally. Project your line past the weedline and roll it slowly along with the weeds.
When casting in areas with lots of submerged logs and undercut banks, an inline spinner is a great attraction to use.
Make sure you cover a lot of water but don’t throw it blindly without a plan. Cast in a fan-style that guarantees that the whole region is thoroughly protected.
Try using soft plastic swim-baits while searching for drop-offs. Whenever you see a pike follow, make sure you don’t stop reeling and keep the pace steady. If you end up stopping, the pike will lose your attention, and you’ll just have the memory to take home with you.
5. The Hook Environment
When you feel a solid pull, give a hard, upward hook to the rod. If you think the pig has gotten off right away, don’t be discouraged. Pike likes to play with their food, so keep on finding out about the likelihood of another attack.
Final Words
If you want a fun and exciting goal, it’s just the Northern Pike thing. Get a rod with mild action and enough strength in the blank, like Shakespeare’s GX2, the best rod and reel combination for northern pike fishing, and you’ll be reeling them soon. Fishing for Northern Pike is a fun way to challenge your current fishing skills and learn new ones. Now that you’ve got the equipment to pick up a terrific rod and reel combination, you’re on your way to your next catch. Happy fishing!
