03/04/2026
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Crikey, that's a big pike-y! Jacob Kinney caught this 43" long, 18.7-lb monster while ice fishing on Lake Champlain last week. Needless to say, he was shocked (and ecstatic) when he pulled this pike of a lifetime through the ice. What a thrill! After a couple quick photos, Jacob released the big female to swim and spawn again!
As we enter March, keep in mind that this is a prime fishing period for big Northern Pike, when they begin moving towards flooded marshes and vegetated backwater areas to spawn. Pike generally start spawning as soon as the ice goes out in late March and early April. Cool fact: pike will even spawn UNDER the ice in the right conditions! Part of what cues pike to spawn is increasing daylight and the intensity and angle of the sun, not just water temperature!
If you're hoping to catch a whopper through the ice before winter winds down, March is the time to do it! You can see a list of traditional Northern Pike ice fishing hotspots on our website: https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/fishing-opportunities/vermonts-ice-fishing-opportunities
š· Jacob Kinney
