New in town

[20lbSloughShark]

I bought my first boat last year (age 16) its a 14' Alumacraft with 1972 18hp Evinrude. It's a great set up and I have fished my whole life and have lots of gear and a number of poles. I'm on a quest to catch the big one, a 20 pound northern pike. I have tried hard for 3 years now and the closest I have gotten is a 36" 8 pounder (in the picture), a few broken lines, and a bitten through leader. Last year I swear I had it on, the problem was, we were bass fishing with a glob of scrawlers. For some reason a massive northern decided to take. An hour later after chasing and fighting (we had oars) we got it to the surface. I could not believe something that big could be in our lakes it was so big. Anyway it flipped once and cut the line instantly and after a yell session we oared back. Now I fish exclusivity for Northern's and need tips on how to get big ones. I have done my homework and realize, I know what I'm doing. I have the right gear, I'm fishing in the right spots, and make sure the lake I fish on have great food and genetics. Is it just a matter of time?

[reinhard1]

the only thing i can tell you is at this time of the year the large one's you speak of are in deeper water. if you are fishing primarily in your area i would use a jig with a stinger hook and work the deeper drop offs and breaklines. big pike love cold water.

each lake is different. shallow lakes are different of course. oxygen content is another factor on how deep you can go. for example years ago i was fishing big marine lake in a tournament for pike [northerns incorporated]. i didn't place well thinking i knew everything. well a young guy won the thing with a jig and minnow working deeper breaks off structure. everyone else including me caught pike but nothing like he did. learned something that day.

it's hard for anyone to say "this is the way you do it" without knowing what lake you are fishing in. just in general. big pike equals colder water. WELCOME TO HSO AMD THANK YOU FOR THE POST. good luck.

[TravP]

LOTW's, Rainy, or Canada ...

[LEECH21]

I agree with Lake of the Woods. I'm 32, fished my whole life looking for that 40 inch, 20+ pounder. Went to Lake of the Woods this last March and BAM! 2nd fish I catch thru the ice is 40 inches with a 19.5in girth!

The question is....Is your goal to catch a 20 pound pike...or is your goal to catch a 20 pound pike out of YOUR lake? Not sure about your lake? Its prolly a great lake with some very large pike. But, sometimes its a numbers and percentage game. You want a big fish?....Then you need to hit waters with lots of big pike in numbers. Lake of the Woods has my vote.

[ozzie]

I like to troll nice sized suckers along the weedlines that has been a productive producer of bigger pike but as others have said bigger waters will hold bigger pike

[20lbSloughShark]

Being as young as I am, I'm limited in how far I can go (and my tank of gas). I like to stay within 25 miles. I know the whole big lake=big fish but it seems to me low fishing and high food=big fish. The biggest pike I have ever caught is in my avatar at 36" and 8 pounds it was caught on Indian lake last January. Not a big lake by anyone's standards.

[T-water]

Here's a hint find the lakes around you that are catch and release only for pike. 20's a high mark for south of Grand Rapids but it can be done, remember the most important part is the journey not the destination!

[ozzie]

I would seriously get a buddy or 2 and go to Mille Lacs early morning and find the weedline and troll a medium sized sucker minnow and hang on. My buddy turned me on to this last year and between his boat and mine (mainly his) I have seen in pics or been with of 5 over 40" and many in the upper 30's.....some are chuncky and some skinny but for a lake within an hour or so this would be my suggestion for you.............

[reinhard1]

Ozzie, i think you nailed it as far as mille lacs is concerned. vineland, cove, and isle bay and the northern weedlines are the places to go. years ago i made up a live bait rig and trolled this thing with a big sucker and it worked great. i'm thinking of making a few of these things and maby put them on line next year. this lake has some big pike and the places i mentioed above are great places to go especialy in the fall. good luck.