Late Fall Northern Pike | Hamilton Lake, Indiana

First off let's come to an agreement that the phrase 'Late Fall' is a combination of unseasonably warm weather for December 6th 2015 and the weeks leading up to this fishing excursion.  Like most all of our outings the group starts text messaging each other on Monday morning (post coffee +1 or more) with "who's fishing this weekend?".  These conversations sometimes go on for days as we talk about the weather patterns, what reports we have heard from fellow anglers and just simply what fish we want to target!

Led by Mike Densel (Hobie Fishing Regional Team Angler), Brad T. and James E. we all paddle our fully outfitted fishing kayaks out of the launch site and head northwest towards Crystal Cove.  Now I have been fishing on Hamilton Lake several times for Largemouth Bass and combed almost every single inch of the best shorelines, but I must admit I have never ventured into this location Mike suggested we fish for Hamilton's most sought after fish; the Northern Pike!

As we are paddling and talking with one another there is a shout of 'Oh My Gosh, look at your locators!  In 50+ feet of water we were looking at HUGE bait-balls with very large arches posted at the most strategic locations ready to pounce.  *Sidenote, in case you don't know (Bait-balls) ie; bait fish tend to gather up very tight to try and look larger but in the end this simply makes for an easy shoot thru the buffet line of life for a hungry Northern looking for a tasty meal. 

As we enter the gateway to the cove we all look to our lead man for tackle advice, Mike gives us a few suggestions on what he would suggest; jerk-baits, lipless cranks, spinners and we all start to move thru the water.

A few casts here and there and Mike begins to peddle towards this really cool bridge, not wanting to be left behind I follow him to the other side, and I am glad I did.  Shortly after we arrive on the other side I decide to put on a 5" original Rapala (Perch color) and very slowly troll the 9 to 12 foot crystal clear water, it must have been no more than 3 minutes and WHAM I had my first Northern on the line, not the monster I wished for but a nice 20 incher that gave me my first taste of fishing for Northerns from my Hobie.

Now I have to tell you I would have thought these fish would put up one heck of a fight but after the initial strike and a short thrashing they just kind of turned into a log, as if to say ok..ok, you got me.  Never the less I had a really good time with my friends fishing for Northern Pike on a super clear lake and in DECEMBER no less.  So the next time you're sitting around trying to figure out where to go, set the GPS North bound, grab your rod and reel and head to Hamilton Lake Indiana for some excellent Pike fishing.

Take care my friends and remember, a bad fishing is better than the best day working.

<o)))>< Fish Simply...your friend on the water

Hobie Fishing Team 2016 Angler | Joe Armstrong