Best Lake for Pike

[fishhuntwork]

Thinking about take a fishing trip in Mid-January to find some pike, any suggestions?

[harvey lee]

I have fished all over the state and Rainy Lake has a very good population of very big pike.

You could call Woody at Woody's resort to see how the big pike fishing is at the time you are looking at. I did very well last season at the end of March tip up and jigging for pike and landed one at 19.5#'s.

Memorial weekend we went back up and landed many pike with 2 over 20 and many other under that.

Second option would be Red lake.

[trappingaddiction]

If you want to try a somewhat smaller lake and are going for eaters more than tropheys, I would try Pelican lake up by Orr. There is a ton of pike in there, and from when I fished it I would say the average size was about 3 lbs. We caught them up to 6 or 7 lbs. There is also a good population of panfish and a few walleyes if you would like to try them along with pike. If you want to try more for a trophey, I would try some of the larger lakes like Harvey mentioned.

[merkman]

I have fished all over the state and Rainy Lake has a very good population of very big pike.

+1

Big Fish No Slot!!!

Healthy eater sized fish too.

Rainy has fat eater sized fish rather than the skinny fish you see on some other lakes.

[harvey lee]

I was up late March Merkman and in 2 days caught approx 38 pike with the largest going 19.5 and many around the 8-12 pound mark and yes, they are fat fish.

The tip up fishing was awesome and my largest came on a jigging rod in 9fow.

[JBMasterAngler]

There's also basswood lake if your looking for a BWCA adventure.

[Steve Foss]

Do you want numbers/eaters or size?

For size, the limited pike slot that's been in effect has really turned a lot of lakes around. Kicker is, on many of those lakes, it's hard to find anything under the protected slot, so if you want to eat pike, you have to hope to ice a 36-inch+. Not a problem on some of the better pike lakes.

Rainy is just one of them, and with no slot everything is fair game. Don't let yourself get caught up in any hype on a specific lake. I can go out on four lakes within 20 miles of my house and expect to ice pike over 36 inches.

So let us know what you are after. You want a long trip? A short trip? Trophy potential? Eaters? What?

[harvey lee]

That's exactly why I mentioned Rainy Steve.

It has many large' small and eater pike and very fat pike at that. I do not know what a guy could ask for more than 38 pike from small to trophy in 2 days of fishing.

Rainy simply has it all including beautiful scenery.

Then one also can pick the brain of Woody who has been fishing this lake for 40 plus years. Then as you mentioned, with no slot everything is fair game.

Not too many lakes offer this type pike fishing.

[Gordie]

I'm going to give rainy a try this weekend and we'll see just what I can ice should be fun

[harvey lee]

Elwood

Talk with Woody or Fishmeister one of the staff on Fm and either can really help you out for the area for pike. Fishmeister or Dave is the mod in the Rainy forum and knows the lake very well.

[fishhuntwork]

I would like to catch possibly a 40"+ and be able to put it on the wall. I know url has a new slot where 26-44" has to be returned immed. I also wouldn't mind getting a few to pickle.

[harvey lee]

We all know there are no guarantee's but I would call Woody at Woody's resort on Rainy Lake. He could explain to you what your odds are at landing a 40 plus pike in Jan.

http://www.fairlyreliable.com/