Well-camouflaged and extremely aggressive, Northern Pike will strike at just about anything that crosses their path. These fish are traditionally caught on lures or live bait. But when host Lawrence Pyne joins pike enthusiast Drew Price on Bristol Pond (Winona Lake) for a day of pike fishing, they break out the fly rods in pursuit of these great predators.

By the time February roles around most fishermen are chomping at the bit for warm weather to arrive. But a dedicated group of ice fishermen look forward to late winter just as eagerly. They know that the tail end of ice fishing season is one of the best times to catch a huge northern pike. Of the top 20 pike entered in the Vermont record fish program more than half were pulled through the ice in February and March. Many of them came from Glenn Lake in Western Rutland County and a good share were caught by just one man, Joe Bruno of Castleton.

As winter slowly loosens its icy grip on Lake Champlain, activity on and around the lake is almost nonexistent. But under its slushy surface, it is a different story. As spring approaches, multitudes of fish are gearing up for the spawning season, and many of the lake's bays and marshy setbacks teem with life. For the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, it's the perfect opportunity to begin gathering data for its northern pike management project.