GOOD NORTHERN LAKES

[TDOT]

The only lake that has produced Northerns with size this year seems to be Minni. Doe's anyone know of any good tip-up lakes for Big Northern??

[tunrevir]

I don't know that you'll get alot of responses about big pike and the term big is relative to the person catching it. Forest lake, Green lake in Chisago have decent pike populations with some chances for some really large pike but it isn't a numbers game for the big dogs and they might be in locations that one wouldn't typically fish for pike. Quality fish of 4+ pounds can be had regularly and fish up to 15+ can be had in either lake with the right approaches.

Tunrevir~

[AceintheHole]

i've seen numbers of big pike in the 15+ range come out of prior and spring ever winter just have to fish them deeper like 20+' over a rock pile is the best for me

[JBMasterAngler]

It's a little outside of the metro area, but the mississippi backwaters produce some really nice pike through the ice. Otherwise white bear and big marine should be good for 5 pound + fish.

[Maximum12]

TDot, I know that most folks, myself included, would have to be waterboarded by Cheney to give up spots / smaller lakes that have coughed up good-sized pike on the ice.

That said, I would guess that most lakes that harbor pike, even in the cities, have good-sized fish. By good-sized, I mean any pike at 30" or over. While you need to go to Prior or Tonka or another large lake for a true trophy, I've caught 30" fish on two lakes this ice-fishing season that are a hundred acres or smaller, and plenty more in other years & seasons on smaller lakes. So they're there. You just need to pick a few lakes to target & put in your time.

[Peepers]

Hey JB, where is the closest Miss backwater that you'd recommend for Northern action? I'm down in Hastings, tried North Lake once with no luck and am wondering if anything near the casino here is worth trying or if I need to drive South of Pepin. I love fishing the backwaters down near Winona and Trempeleau but that's quite a drive.

[JBMasterAngler]

PEEPERS, Pepin itself might be a spot, however I couldn't tell you where to start. I don't know if it's possible with ice (or lack thereof), but the vermillion river right outside of hastings has some nice pike. Sturgeon lake is another option. In all honesty I only fish the backwaters in early spring (pike season is year round down there)so I don't know the ice conditions down there. Would be a question to ask in the pool #4-11 forum.