Al Schmidt shows off one of his multiple northern pike catches by using a hard-bodied jerkbait worked in an aggressive, erratic fashion. The northern pike's popularity is rising.

Like the backup quarterback that admirably fills in for the injured starter, northern pike aren't appreciated until those days when the more popular species are tight lipped.

Well, at least not valued in Pennsylvania.

While contingents of anglers annually venture north of the international border in search of oversized northerns, at home pike-fishing opportunities are largely overlooked, at least until they are the only species biting.

In general, the rap on Pennsylvania's northern pike fisheries is that the fish don't reach quality size, instead being comprised of smaller fish more likely to bite off an expensive crankbait than to put up a notable tussle.

But some worthy pike fisheries do exist, ones boasting fish of 28 inches and longer — the approximate mark at which northerns grow out of the hammer-handle profile and begin to put on some shoulders.

In Pennsylvania, northern pike are native to the Ohio River basin (with includes the Allegheny and Monongahela watersheds) as well as Lake Erie. So it isn't surprising that many of the better pike fisheries are found in the western portion of the state.

This isn't to say there are no opportunities to the east. The Susquehanna River produces some nice pike. Cambria County's Glendale Lake has good numbers of northerns, including some nice sized fish. But for consistent pike fishing odds, go to the western waters.

Here's a look at a three of our area's better northern pike waters:

n Conneaut Lake. A natural inhabitant to Pennsylvania's largest natural lake, northern pike populations have been especially striking the past decade or so, as larger-sized fish have been evident. Though present pike numbers are to the chagrin of many muskie anglers, who feel young northerns outcompete with young muskies, limiting the latter, there's no denying the sport pike are providing.

The two major edges to cover for Conneaut's pike are the deep edge as well as the tops of the weeds. Being quite clear, subsurface weeds grow out to depths of 10 or so feet, a perfect scenario for pitching a skirted bass jig tipped with a soft trailer next to the outside edge and allowing it to flutter down. Pike are tooth critters, so it's wise to incorporate a six- to 12-inch fluorocarbon leader of 60 pound test.

Such leaders will prevent bite offs; at 60 pound test the material is still supple enough to accept good knots (rather than using crimp-on sleeves).

Submergent weeds are regularly cropped below the surface by a harvesting machine (to minimize the impact of weeds on the lake's boating throng). The result is a band of "clean" water two to three feet above the tops of many weed stands. Aggressive pike will rise up out of weeds to intercept a moving bait like a soft swimbait or a lipless crankbait.

• Middle Allegheny River. The 100-plus miles of the Allegheny River from the Kinzua outflow down to the start of navigable water near East Brady harbors a strong northern pike population, including a fair percentage of quality-sized fish. It's likely that the upper end of this stretch, from Kinzua outflow down to the West Hickory area, contains the best pike situation as the water remains cooler because of the dam's discharge. Northerns, particularly larger ones, fare better in cool water environments rather than warm water. But pike are well distributed throughout the entire length.

When the water is warm northerns will chase down moving baits like fluke-style soft jerkbaits and hard jerkbaits. Spinnerbaits excel, particularly when the water is colored from rain.

• Kinzua Reservoir. The backwaters of Kinzua Lake afford the best chance of tying in to a trophy-sized pike. The three top fish registered with the Commission's Angler Recognition Program last year came from "the zoo," including a girthy 46 incher with an estimated weight of 30 pounds.

Kinzua has a reputation for relinquishing many of its biggest pike during the ice fishing season. But large northerns are taken during open water, mostly by trollers presenting large lures near schools of suspended baitfish spotted on a sonar unit.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoor columnist for the Butler Eagle.