Northerns at nite

[msnden]

We got a pretty good argument going on, so I thought I would come to the experts,, do NorthernPike normally hit at night??

we are talking ice fishing, Thanks Msn

[Steve Foss]

I've done tons of open water bass fishing at night in shallow and medium depth veg. Only ever caught one pike, even though pike and bass lures are pretty much the same at night.

Same deal with walleyes and pike ice fishing, except that I've never caught a pike at night through the ice, even when fishing the deep weed edge or weedy flats for 'eyes. These are locations I catch pike from all day long.

My answer is "no, not typically."

[Walleye Guy]

Not typically. I have caught a handful. I caught a 43" x 20" pig at 11 pm at night on a tip-up while fishing for walleyes at our place in WI in December 2009. Thought for sure it was just a big walleye. Didn't make a big run. I actually kind of horsed him up the hole. Wouldn't have done that if I knew what was on the other end of the line. I got very lucky as he was hooked in the top lip.

[msnden]

Thanks guys, that is the side of the argument I was on. I spent many years Ice fishing and can never recall catching a Northern at night, (not that it couldn't happen) I just didn't think it was that typical of the fish, Thanks again, msn

[mrklean]

ive never caught one at night maybe a bit after sun down but i dont think anything later then that

[mainbutter]

They certainly don't hit for me at night. I asked the same question of some of my musky friends who night fish, and they only pick up northerns during the day as well.

[reinhard1]

i cougt a 10 pounder one night at 9pm in open water fishing for walleys. that was the only time ever in my life. good luck.

[Gordie]

I have never caught a northern after dark thru the ice but have caught a muskie or two while fishing eyes after dark as for open water I have only caught on pike after dark and it was trolling for eyes with raps on Mille Lacs

[Sam Sterner]

Caught a 41 at 2:00 am this summer on double 13s. Kind of took us by suprise when we saw what it was.

[terrible_fisherman]

I spent a lot of nights in my fish house and by a lot I mean probably 10-12 nights a month on various bodies of water around the state. I do catch some pike at night but it is pretty rare..maybe a couple each month. However, one night on Red my buddies staying in the house with me caught 4 in one night. They tell me I took them all off of the hook but I cant remember doing it, too much beer prolly. The story does make sense though considering my fingers were cut to shreds in the morning and I had blood all over my pants and shirt:P.

[TroutYammer]

I have caught a few Northens just before daylight and a few just after dark....but never in the night.

[ANYFISH2]

I would say typically NO. Although over the past 3-4 seasons we have caugh a number of pike while fishing for crappies. It has normally happened when we are swamped with small crappies (6-8"). I would be imagine this is thier food source. On Saturday we caught 4 of our seven pike for the entire day (8am-12am) after 9 pm. Is it typical no, but uder the right conditions it is certainly possible for it to be a feeding period.

[slipperybob]

I've caught one at 3 am in the morning when I though it was a crappie. I've also had a few later in the evening arond 8-9 pm, again thinking they were crappies.

[OnAFly]

I've caught a few at night, but it definitely isn't the norm and I wouldn't target them specifically then.

[walleye365]

iv caught a few at night as well but its not common.34in was the biggest 10:35pm fishin walleye 34fow got me thinkin just maybe it was a 10LB eye but when it got close to the hole and took off i new what it was. Still a great battle