When you come to New York State it is very hard to go fishing and NOT catch some Northern Pike. Many small lakes and ponds have these very aggressive fish in them. Hold on to your rod and get ready for some heavy pulling as this fish can fight!
Rod Needed: Be sure to purchase a medium to heavy rod and some good line to get this fish in the boat. The reel can be a good open face spinning rod or bait casting reel. I would say 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 foot rod will do the trick.
Lures: Many lures can be used to catch this river monster, mostly spoons like a daredevil or spinner baits with a little red in them will do the trick. Try to stay away from the soft plastic as this fish will tear them up. You will also need a good steel leader as their teeth can chew thru the line and all will be lost.
Popular places to go: of course the most popular is the St. Lawrence river is a fantastic place to go and there are many NY DEC parks and launches along its shores. A special place for me is Black Lake near Hammond, NY.