The initial approach for any pike fishing trip must take into account, among many other things, the characteristics of the environment where this predator will be sought. The fishing methodology will change significantly depending on the spot you will be fishing in.
In Italy, pike are widely distributed in almost every type of environment, although their numbers have been declining in recent years due to indiscriminate commercial fishing and poaching. Despite this, pike are still relatively easy to find in our lakes and rivers.
Let’s classify pike waters: volcanic lakes, karst lakes, mountain lakes (with natural barriers), artificial lakes, and rivers.

Volcanic lakes are formed in the craters of extinct volcanoes, have a fairly regular circular shape, and are usually very deep. The large volume of water they contain and the great distances from one shore to another create considerable difficulties when fishing from the shore. In these lakes, pike often live as pelagic fish and can move far (even kilometers) from the shores, reaching enormous sizes, especially when there is an abundance of forage fish. It is almost always the combination of large spaces and abundant medium-sized forage fish (whitefish, perch, etc.) that creates the ideal environment for our pike to grow into "Big Pike."
Fishing these lakes effectively almost always requires a boat, as the most productive areas are the "crown" and the "drop," a bathymetric ring and a slope that separate the shallower, vegetation-rich waters from the deeper, vegetation-free ones. Depending on the case, this spot can be found a few dozen meters from the shore or several hundred. Usually, within the crown, you'll find small to medium-sized pike, while the outer edge and the drop offer good chances of encountering larger pike. Another spot not to overlook is the open water. In open water, pike usually stay on the thermocline.
To effectively fish this mysterious spot, a good fishfinder is essential to locate both the pike and the thermocline.
When fishing from a boat, you can opt for trolling or spinning when you are sure you are on the fish and when they are not at too great a depth. Shore fishing in such lakes is very challenging and limited to those few points (steep shores) where the lake’s geography allows you to cast to a good depth, bypassing the weedbeds that will certainly occupy the first meters of the shore.
The most famous volcanic lakes in Italy for pike and bass fishing are Lake Bracciano and Lake Bolsena in central Italy.
Karst lakes are small basins formed in sinkholes, usually dependent on rainwater and small springs. They do not reach great depths, and their level varies according to the climate (heat/evaporation, cold/ice) and especially to precipitation. They are often surrounded by reeds and dense weedbeds, which, while forming excellent hunting grounds for pike, can create significant difficulties for fishing, especially from the shore. In these places, pike of all sizes can be found in any part of the lake.
Here too, fishing from a boat offers great advantages: you can fish outside the weedbeds and avoid the very shallow areas near the shore. When fishing from the shore, waders and gear capable of casting at least fifty meters are very useful.

Mountain lakes, natural barrier lakes, and artificial lakes: I group in this varied category the majority of the lakes in the territory. These basins have similar morphological characteristics, even though they can vary greatly in size. The main difference from volcanic lakes (apart from their formation) is the irregular shape, often characterized by large inlets.
Except for small mountain lakes, we are talking about large basins and great depths, which very often host huge fish. In these lakes, weed crowns and drops are often present but, due to the irregular shape and jagged shores, these features are not as easily identifiable as in volcanic lakes. Especially in artificial lakes, we can find structures, rocks, shoals, trees, and sometimes entire submerged villages that form spots and cover in unexpected positions.
These lakes are accessible from both shore and boat, keeping in mind that shore fishing requires long casts unless you are fishing very close, visible cover, such as emerging or submerged tree trunks, rocks, and structures near the shore. Boat fishing greatly increases the chances of a catch: you can follow weedbeds and drops at a certain depth along their entire length or move to great depths in search of "bait balls" near which large hunting pike probably reside.In these lakes, as in volcanic ones, “Big Pike” can become pelagic and move far from the shores. Another factor to consider is the high variability of the water level in artificial lakes compared to natural ones. Being basins predominantly managed by "ENEL electrical company," the level can vary greatly depending on hydroelectric needs, causing significant changes in the lake’s geography and the predators' behavior.
Among the best artificial lakes for pike fishing in central Italy are Lake Salto and Lake Turano.

Rivers: One of the most interesting and challenging environments for pike fishing is the river. We are talking about medium and large rivers because they are the ones that usually host the largest specimens. Lately, the pike population in rivers has drastically decreased. Certainly, our dear pike is greatly affected by pollution and competition from large non-native species that tend to occupy the top of the food chain, not to mention the serious issue of poaching.
Not being a great swimmer, especially in terms of endurance, pike are more easily found in slow or still water parts of the river, such as bends and deep holes, or sheltered by obstacles that create eddies, such as bridge pilings, large logs, or other structures. Here too, pike can be targeted from both shore and boat, keeping in mind all the navigation problems in a restricted environment potentially full of obstacles. For shore fishing, waders and heavy casting gear are useful to handle pike when fishing near strong currents or submerged structures where they could become entangled.
In central Italy, up until 20 years ago, the most productive river for pike fishing was undoubtedly the Tiber, but now catching this fish has become rare, with pike being replaced by the giant catfish in much of the Tiber River.