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Pike area?


jay83196

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Wanting to bring my daughter up and do some catch and release pike tip up fishing and wondering where a good place to go would be? I'm trying to get her into this so some action would be great.

Thanks so much any help appreciated!

Location, depth etc

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Platte Lake is full of hammerhandles with an occasional bigger fish. As far as where to go, just about anywhere in 6 to 15 feet of water.

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I'd be curious as well. Just curious if a few guys can go out and catch 5-10 fish in a day and see some quality. My step dad got a 43.75" fish this winter on the rocks in about 15 FOW walleye fishing. I know others in the area were getting a random big pike here and there as well. Would think those fish would have to congregate in the bays in March before spawning. I just haven't decided if it is worth a weekend over going to Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods hasnt been great the last couple winters for me. Will be interesting with the extended season.

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The pike do in fact stage in many of the bays pre-spawn. This would include Isle Bay, Waukon, Cove, Vineland, Wigwam, and the areas around Cedar Creek landing, etc. There are also many good shore breaks to consider, particularly on the north end. You'll never know if you don't give it a try.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I would be interested if anyone has had luck pike fishing? Not the location just if they have had luck in numbers and size. Thanks for the info.

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Good advice sculpin,...............the north end has produced several fish over 35"this season alone.I know of at least 2 over 40" just this past week taken.One on a tipup one speared.Look for some/weed/rock combos in 7 to 14 fow water you should be golden.Dont be afraid to seek new shore line,virgin water/ice.........you maybe surprised.Still amazes me 132,000 acres and we get people drilling 20' away from your sets/house.Oh well happy fishin'!!!!!!c63

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  • 2 weeks later...

What would be the easiest access to vineland bay on Mille lacs be? I have a feeling that is where the majority of spawning pike will be.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Lots of pike spawn in Isle Bay

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  • 2 weeks later...

I got out on the lake this weekend, and did ok. Nothing big, but they were biting. I did end up catching a few walleye, one of which was tagged. The biggest surprise was bait. The cheapest bait I found for the big suckers was $16.99 a dozen, and those were not even decoy size. That was prince bait in Milaca. Rod's bait in Isle has the same size for $2 each, and the guy next door has tiny suckers for $4 each! I figured they would jack the price up a bit, but I am blown away by what some of these guys are squeezing out of people. If you find bait cheaper than that, get it now.

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Tom, How deep? Been out twice fishing weeds in 8 feet. Cannot find deeper weeds. Drilled many holes near rocks looking for pike food (perch), no luck. Two missed fish is all I got. Mark

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Its hard to tell if a lot of guys were pike fishing or panfishing. There were quite a few guys over a deeper hole, but not very many by me. I was fishing around 6'-8' and there were scattered weeds everywhere. I don't want to give too much away, but the pike and walleye are definitely in pre-spawn. Saturday we got about a dozen fish between 3 of us and maybe missed 4. Sunday we were only out for a couple hours but got 2 and missed 2.

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Guess I gotta find more weeds; If I can even get out there safely with this warm up. Thanks for the reply Tom.

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There was well over 3' of ice last sunday, so it will be plenty safe this weekend.

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Not really. No pike over 30", but I bet there will be bigger pike coming in ready to spawn this week.

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The ice continues to hold up amazingly well. I was all around the north end today, and there were trucks all the way out on the flat near the old Carlsona supper club, and trucks out from Garrison.

It should be a great weekend.

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