When I was a kid my family took a knee wall fishing trips up north to Canada or to northern Minnesota. Many of my happiest memories of childhood involve fishing for northern pike and walleye. I would include Muskie in that group, but on a very consistent basis we were Scott and every time we went after that you elusive and maddening member of the Pike family. One of the big benefits of fishing for northern pike as opposed to while I like our neighbors was a was easy to stay interested as a kid because of the big fight and northern pike to put up. Whether it was leaping out of the water, making a run for the boat’s engine to cut the line, or the constant back-and-forth fight and polling of the line between angular and fish, there was no problem paying attention.

This is one of the reasons that makes sense to encourage northern pike fishing among youth. Way too much time is spent texting on cell phones, playing video games inside, or watching TV and movies. Encouraging outdoor activities is always a good thing but we also have to understand that with all these gratification now type experiences, it can be hard for old ways of having fun to compete with the new ways. So which do you think is more likely to hold the kids attention: fishing for trout which will throw 5/6 hooking attempts, or fishing for northern pike will smash into the lures and caused instant excitement?

Walleye caught many 12, 14, and even a couple of 15 pound northern pike I never did catch that trophy 20 or 30 pound fish. However, the excitement of knowing there is always a chance and the excitement of pursuing a monster sized fish which could end up as a mounted trophy on the wall made those trips wonderful. Being able to have that excitement is a critical part of helping today’s youth relive those same types of experiences because when people get older they remember the things done together with family, and they also remember the time wasted when they didn’t. Getting started with pike fishing as a youth is a great way to make sure there’ll be many happy family memories to look back upon when everyone is grown up.