At the first hint of cool weather, perch seek out green weeds in shallow water. Here, in anticipation of winter, they feed heavily on minnows. Schools of up to 200 perch will be pressed into deteriorating weedbeds. These teeming schools of perch attract big pike. When north winds push minnows and perch into weedy, southern shallows, packs of deep-water pike close in for the kill.
Pike also use the increased turbidity of storm-tossed shallows to ambush their prey.
As a result, pike are most active when skies are windswept and gunmetal gray. But whether the weather is blustery or balmy, autumn pike will be striking in or above green weeds in less than 15 feet of water. Some Weeds Are Greener Not all green weeds are equal at producing big pike. For example, milfoil is often associated with northerns, but by autumn milfoil can be so thick and impenetrable that there simply isn't room in it for really big pike to freely maneuver. In contrast, bulrushes provide plenty of room for big fish and will hold pike long after other green weeds have died.