I used to target pike alot in my 20's.    Here is what I know.    Spawning usually starts at 40 degrees water temp.   They like to spawn on weeds, gravel and sand in that order.    They do not make nests, they will drop eggs 5 to 10 times at different places.   Spawning only last  10 days to 2 weeks.   Females usually bugg out faster than the males after they spawn.   There are excellent pike waters around the area including the estuary (never fished there)  ,  Lakeview marsh and Sandy pond.  Lakeview has a 10 hp max and you can access the side streams and get way back in with a canoe or Jon boat I have not went deep in there  in 25 years.  

Thanks clint... thats kinda the area i want to target... that 40 degree number is such a good steely number also though... decisions decisions... if youre interested in hitting em send me a pm and maybe we can put something together...

For forty degree water temps, i think we're a long ways off... we're already one degree below the forecasted low for tonight at a current fifteen degrees. Probably gonna hit singles tonight. Yesterdays high and low were both ten degrees below the norm... although tomorrows gonna be high thirties we could pick up six plus inches by tuesday morning and tuesday through thursday is snowy as well..cold nights as well... that ground hog wasnt joking when he saw his shadow...

Schizammm- Hope that Steelie spawn aint one of those real quick  affairs when the weather warms a lot  overnight and stays that way. Thats a real danger in a late cold pattern. Have seen them run into feeders to spawn  and be done quite quickly. In and then gonzo. Seems that they RUN out to the lake those years too.
 Coupla years back it went on for a few weeks. Made several great trips that season and the next year only one. Quickie spawn -- hot weather came in fast.
  Much prefer a gradual thing that can last well into May if ya know where to go.
 Water temp - water temp.
 

Wow, woke up to use the john... decided to throw another log on the fire... man itsit freezing... 3.2 and probably dropping. Maybe gonna be a sub zero morning!!!

-1 at 5 am this morning...they say 39 and rain today... I guess we'll have to wait and since they were 17 degrees off with the over night low

It was supposed to hit 40 here this PM and it is snowing to beat the band now,  I have a garden full of frozen yellow crocus!
 
L13

Well the pre storm bite was on for my buddy on LG today.
Hoping they don't get the expected 8-12" tonight. If so , oh gonna deal with it and jig some last ice lakers Friday .

Was 5 degrees here at 5:15 warmed up a bit during the day and is now snowing pretty hard.   I do not think it will add up but never know

Lucky13

It was supposed to hit 40 here this PM and it is snowing to beat the band now,  I have a garden full of frozen yellow crocus!

L13

Yup... was supposed to be 39 here... i dont think it got above freezing. Clint, i have a funny feeling its gonna add up tonight through wednesday...im guessing 12 inches all said and done by thursday...
This is gonna be an interesting spring. Definitely one to leave us guessing fishing wise...especially the newer guys to the fishery...Which is a good thing. 335 and warm weather all season long as an average like weve had the past two years definitely spoiled a lot pof people...

I'm sick of plowing mud!   I'm  hoping for  just a few inches over here on the Vt. border.   Dime, I haven't seen much low water this winter, I was hoping for a little warm up in the  water temps for  some  more aggressive fish, though.  Looks like the Beginning of April is going to be more like mid-Feb.   I guess I'll go and hope for the best. That's why I hired Randy for a day.  I trust him to have the knowledge I  lack for high water spring fishing.  From the sounds of it, they'll be run-off for quite a spell.  Dime, I'll get in touch with you just before I leave, maybe we can  get together after you get out of work,  now the light stays on.... Clint, I'll call you, too.   
 
Charlie