Fishing for Northern Pike in Montana

Best known for its blue ribbon trout streams, Montana offers another exciting opportunity for anglers: fly fishing for northern pike. These apex predators provide a different kind of thrill, and exploring their world through fly fishing is an adventure and can be an exhilarating experience you won’t want to miss.

The Northern Pike

Northern pike—often simply called “pike”—are one of Montana’s most thrilling freshwater predators. Known for their aggressive strikes and impressive size, these toothy fish can reach well over 40 inches in length and top 20 pounds. Built like streamlined torpedoes and armed with razor-sharp teeth, pike offer the kind of heart-pounding action many anglers crave. It’s easy to see why northern pike fishing in Montana has become such a target species.

When and Where to Find Northern Pike

Montana offers a variety of waters where you can target northern pike, including lakes, reservoirs, and slower-moving rivers. Found on both sides of the continental divide early summer and late spring are prime times to pursue these apex predators as they become more active in warmer water temperatures. Look for them in weedy bays, backwaters, and slow-moving side channels where they can ambush prey from cover. As water temps rise, Northern pike will move to deeper weed lines, drop-offs, and submerged structure. Wherever there’s shade, food, and a good ambush point, there’s a strong chance a pike is lurking.

Fly Fishing for Northern Pike

When fly fishing for northern pike in Montana, it’s essential to have the right gear and fly patterns. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Rods and Reels: A 7 to 9-weight fly rod with a matching reel and plenty of backing is ideal for handling large fish and casting bigger pike flies.
• Leaders and Tippet: Opt for heavy leaders and tippet in the 20 to 30-pound range so you can really pull on these fish to keep them out of the weed beds they often hang around. Wire Leaders can be used but are not a must.
• Polarized Sunglasses: A good pair of polarized sunglasses will help you spot pike and also see the chase when these fish are lurking in the shallows.

Flies Patterns For Northern Pike 

• Streamer Flies: Streamers are one of the most effective types of flies for northern pike. They imitate baitfish, which are a primary food source for pike. Common streamer patterns for pike include the Clouser Minnow, Bunny Leech, and Deceiver.
• Poppers: Poppers are surface flies that create a commotion on the water’s surface when retrieved. Northern pike are known for their explosive strikes, and using poppers can be an exhilarating way to catch them. Look for large, noisy poppers with a lot of surface disturbance.
• Mouse Patterns: In some situations, especially during the summer months, northern pike can be enticed by mouse patterns that imitate small mammals falling into the water. These patterns are usually large and can create a lot of surface commotion.
• Dahlberg Diver: The Dahlberg Diver is a popular choice for pike. It has a large, buoyant head that pushes water and creates a lot of noise when retrieved. The rabbit strip tail gives it a lifelike swimming action.
• Color Selection: The color of your pike fly can be crucial. Pike are known to be attracted to bright and flashy colors, so consider using flies with chartreuse, orange, yellow, or red in their patterns. However, it’s also a good idea to have a variety of colors in your fly box to match different water and light conditions.
• Retrieval Techniques: Experiment with your retrieval techniques. Pike can be triggered by different actions, so try steady retrieves, jerky retrieves, and pauses to see what works best on a given day.

The Thrill of the Fly Fishing for Northern Pike

Fly fishing for pike in Montana is a whole different kind of thrill—one that gets our heart going no matter how many days spent on the water. Out here, the wide-open landscapes set the stage, but it’s the pursuit of a true apex predator that keeps anglers coming back. When a northern pike charges and crushes your fly, it’s not subtle. It’s violent, electric, and easily one of the most unforgettable moments you can have with a fly rod in hand.

We love showing folks that Montana isn’t just a trout state. Sure, our rivers are famous for their rainbows and browns, but the northern pike fishery is a whole different frontier—raw, underrated, and full of opportunity. Chasing these toothy critters is a testament to just how diverse and abundant our waters really are.