When to fish for pike in ponds: the best times and techniques

For those wondering when to fish for pike in ponds, we will guide you through the seasons and reveal our techniques for becoming a true expert in the field.

What are the ideal seasons for pike fishing in ponds?

The success of your pike fishing session depends largely on the season you choose. Each time of year offers unique opportunities to catch this freshwater predator. Here's a summary:

Autumn

Autumn, particularly in October and November, is a very busy time of the year. exceptional for pond pike fishing. Pike are very active at this time of year and hunt hard to get through the winter. This is the ideal time to try your luck with lures. Here is a selection of lures which will come in very handy when fishing for pike in ponds.

The spring

is also a good time to fish for pike in ponds. This period corresponds to when the pike spawn. Pike are often gathered near the edges, hungry and very aggressive. This gives you a golden opportunity to catch them more easily from the shore.

We recommend that you target the edges and seagrass beds at the beginning of the season, mainly using fairly active techniques such as the chatterbait, the spinnerbait, the crankbait or the swimbait. Pike like to hide near the edges to hunt at this time of year. So don't hesitate to bring your lure right up to the end. Attacks often occur at your feet.

Summer

Visit summerPike fishing requires you to adapt your techniques:

• Favour the coolest times of the day. The morning and evening shots are often the most favourable at this time of year.
• Target the deepest, shadiest and best oxygenated areas.
• Explore the shallows in the cooler hours of the day

Winter

Thewinter is a season that is a little more difficult to fish but rich in opportunities. As the temperature drops, it takes its toll on the angler's equipment and physique. Pike are more apathetic, even lethargic, in order to conserve as much energy as possible.

As for when winter pike fishing in pondsIn the end, we'll be taking the opposite approach to summer, favouring full daylight to take advantage of the hottest periods. The aim here will be to look for areas that are likely to warm up quickly and generally offer big bites to decide a pike to move.

During this period, we love fishing with large swimbaits, glide baits or large shads animated slowly in linear mode. Here is a selection of lures which will come in very handy when fishing for pike in ponds in winter.

What technique should you use to fish for pike in ponds?

As with any watercourse, when fishing for pike in a pond you need to adapt to the weather conditions and the time of day. During our many outings to ponds in Paris, the Occitanie region and the Rhônes-Alpes region, we were able to refine our techniques for targeting pike effectively.

The better weather conditions for pike fishing are :

• A covered weather and windy
• Just before or after a storm
• During the time changes after a stable period. This should be taken with a pinch of salt, as it can seriously stall pike.

As for good times of dayWe recommend that you give priority to :

• Dawn, early in the morning
• The end of the day, before sunset
• Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in winter

It is also essential toadapt your technique according to the season. In spring and autumn, opt for active lure fishing. In summer, alternate between surface fishing in the morning and evening, and a deeper approach during the day. Winter calls for slower fishing with large lures.

Here is a summary table of the techniques to use depending on the season:

Season	Recommended technique	Areas to target
Spring	Active lure fishing	Edges, grass beds
Summer	Surface (morning/evening), depth (day)	Deep, cool, oxygenated areas
Autumn	Active lure fishing	Edges, grass beds
Winter	Slow fishing with large lures	Pits and deep areas

Adopt a responsible approach

As fishing enthusiasts and pike lovers, we are well aware of the importance of this fish in the ecosystem of our rivers, but also of its fragility. That's why it's vital to comply with the regulations in force to preserve pike populations. Here are the main rules to be aware of:

The legal opening periods for pike fishing vary according to the category of water body:

• 2nd category: from the last Saturday in April to the last Sunday in January. However, check with your local AAPPMA for the exact opening dates.
• 1st category : from the 2nd Saturday in March to the 3rd Sunday in September (with compulsory catch-and-release until the last Friday in April)

It is also key to respect legal catch sizes, even if we strongly encourage the practice of no-kill.

Fishing is authorised from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

By adopting these good practices and respecting the environment, we are helping to preserve this captivating species while enjoying our passion for pond pike fishing to the full.