And we all know what happened to the curious cat. It sounds simple enough on paper, but usually takes serious moving and hole drilling to locate fish. Pick a half-dozen spots on a lake chart and then give them all a rattle during the course of the day. If you don't like moving, hope you hit the right spot on the first try. It does happen.
Pike are active all winter, but key periods are first and last ice.
Understanding basic pike movements makes the winter game a little easier to figure out. In late fall, pike move from deep to shallow water and feed on cisco, perch, and other forage hanging around reefs and weedbeds. As ice forms, pike stay shallow for two or three weeks. The tops of large feeding flats, shoreline-connected reefs, and underwater points are good bets to hit. Whatever green weeds are left in these areas deserve special attention, as pike remain close to vegetation as long as it holds baitfish and provides protection.