Early season Pike on SE east side

[yellowsubmarine]

Hello all,<BR>I just started fishing LOTW last year. I will be up again this year for the walleye opener fishing in 4 mile bay. Last year on the opener trip we tried Zippel Bay one day for Northerns with our so much as a single bite. I thought Zippel was supposed to be great that time of year. Do you fish in the bay or just outside it in the shallows. Can anyone give me some pointers on where to try for a few gators? Thanks.

[yellowsubmarine]

Usually people will give you all kinds of advice you don't want and didn't ask for. Know when I ask for it, no one has anything to say. Whats up with that? <P>Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

[Tom Stay]

Maybe I can be of help. Zipple Bay is a good choice, spring through early summer the bay itself is where to concentrate. Spoons, spinnerbaits, shallow cranks, stick baits all work well, vary your retreive. There are some nice cabbage beds that grow up to the surface later on that will hold some nice fish. My largest (44 incher) came from Zipple Bay in August on a Muskie size white spinner bait.<P>Four Mile Bay will hold lots of gators too. The Bostic creek area on the west end of the bay near Morris Point is good in the spring.<BR>The river you will find fish in any of the little bays or creek arms, or just troll the shorelines. <P>With the low water this year, once you find them there should be more nearby.<BR>Good Luck.<P>------------------<BR>Gonzos Guide Service<BR>http//GonzosGuideService.com<p>[This message has been edited by Tom Stay (edited 04-30-2003).]

[fiskyknut]

Oh well we can't see every post now can we!!! Zippel is usually decent for spring pike fishing, though you'd probably do better on the westend of the pond. Tournement last weekend they caught plenty. Were you using bait or lures? Usually you can get them in the bay or just outside of it. 2 years ago my partner and I caught the biggest single day weight of the Zippel tourney history and got 2nd in the 2 day tournement. We were anchored right near the end of the jetty fishing deadbaits. I spose boat traffic after opener could really effect fishing there though. You could also try around that weedbed just N. of the state park marina, or the narrow spots before you hang the last left when heading onto the lake.<P>Best advice if your after Jackfish would be to fish out of Warroad/Springsteel on the westend though.<P>Fisky

[yellowsubmarine]

Thanks for the info guys. Last year we were using all lures if I remember correctly. We fished a few spots in the bay including the narrows just before the last bend to the lake. I don't feel safe there anymore considering we almost got blind sided by two CO's that were coming thru that no-wake channel at full speed. Then they had the balls to check us from top to bottom. I was so shocked that they were CO's and couldn't even think straight, if I would have, I probably would have chewed there A$$ real good. They aren't above the law. What a bunch of hypocrites.<P>Fisky, we are staying at Border View on the Rainy, if I can talk someone into making the haul over to Warroad, would you suggest fishing the river there or will the run be over? Thanks.

[fiskyknut]

Run will be over for sure by then, it's winding down now. All the bigger Pike I've seen over the past week were spawned out already. The bigger fish at the Zippel tourney last week were spawned out also, 41 inchers weighed only 14-15 pounds. Try pulling J-13's or Husky jerk-baits along the S. shore of Muskeg or the Elm point area.<P>Fisky<P><BR>

[Guest]

I fish out of Warroad, and where are the best places to catch some jacks then, if the run is almost over? <BR> Im into live/dead bait fishing, but im not sure on the different kinds. How do the smaller sucker minnows work? Whats the best type of dead bait to use? Or should I forget that and toss some crank baits? Thanks much.<P>------------------<BR>Walleye Slayer<BR>"Leave nothing to fate"<p>[This message has been edited by walleye_slayer (edited 04-30-2003).]