Location 3: Summer Pike Locations

In summer, pike move to deeper, cooler waters. So you have a few options.

First, you can stick to your favorite lakes and rivers and move out from the banks. ­Summer pike fishing can be especially effective near steep dropoffs. Use a depth finder to discover these underwater features, and try trolling around them.

Option two? Go exploring. Where the summer is colder, the pike are closer to shore. There's fantastic summer fishing in Alaska and the Yukon, where pike have been known to tip the scales at 40 pounds [source: Freshwater Fishing Canada]. You'll also see some of the most gorgeous lands in the world -- the craggy northern Rocky Mountains, glaciers, lakes and forests.

Some of the Yukon's lakes are accessible only by airplane, helicopter or float plane. You can easily book these services. Before you plan your trip, search the Web for a lake-by-lake breakdown of fish species. One of these bodies of water can provide the fishing experience of a lifetime. Fishing in the Yukon is subject to certain regulations. You'll need to get a license, and you should pay heed to Canada's conservation efforts.

In early and late summer, as well as the transition times between spring and summer and summer and fall, you might want to consider fishing in Ontario. The province has 15 percent of Earth's freshwater, and that means fishing opportunities abound.

If you want to aim for the history books, take a trip to Lake Grefeern in Germany. This lake was the source of the largest pike on record -- just over 55 pounds (25 kilograms).

Pike caught in summer sometimes have a muddy taste. You can get rid of this taste simply by removing the skin before you cook your fish. Of course, if you're practicing catch-and-release fishing, it's not an issue.

Where do you go when the days get shorter? Read on.