Any tips on BIG northern?

[ajmurf]

I don't get sick of it, but, those hammer handles are somethin' else when you are trying for the big ones. I haven't caught many big pike, so I was wondering if anyone had some general tips for fishing open water pike? I usually use bass size spinnerbaits.
They seem to work the best, but I always get into the little ones more so than the lunkers. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[Jim W]

Outside of spawn,((summertime) the larger pike generally aren't going to be right in or near the weeds..

Sometimes of course, but you will continue catching hammer handles fishing shallow.

Try trolling with bell sinkers on a three way attached with a stick bait. Get a solid contour map of the lake and look for where the main weed beds are. Then look for a set-up where there is deep water. Deep water that shoots down fast from a weedline.

Then key in with your electronics!

NO fish, move.
Also, it would help to know what type of forage the pike have in your particular body of water, so you can make an attempt at replicating your presentaiton.

If it is real deep water with ciscoes etc, Trolling over deep water, keying in on the top 20 feet of the water column can be real effective.

Please refer to "Toad's" writings on the aforementioned. He is the expert on open water trolling for trophy pike, walleye and musky!Most of his articles can be found in the brainerd forum.

Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W

[ajmurf]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look that guys articles up thanks again.

[LocalGuide]

Since you posted about matching the forage I get a Question.
What lure will be represent a crappie? On a lake that I fish on NP and Walleye both feed on crappies. The two main times are in the fall/winter and in the spring/early summer.

I was wondering what lure in a crappies pattern would be the best to catch some big pike?

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AKA PikeEye 300

[Bobb-o]

have you tried one of those castaic soft baits? or maybe a super shad rap. they have the large side profile that look like a crappie somewhat. Chances are though that that is no the only fish they are keying in on, they may just be in the area that the crappies are in becaue there is a lot of baitfish in the area. Northerns are opportunity feeders, they have a hard time resisting anything that is struggling. I have caught a lot of northerns with a spinner or other lure that still had partially swallowed suckers or perch in their mouths.

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Diplomacy - The art of saying "nice doggie" while you find a rock.

[guideman]

The first thing you need to do is fish lakes that have trophy pike available.
Not all systems can support numbers of large pike.

Trolling is one way to catch pike but I prefer using different methods when I'm searching for them. You can catch deep water pike on spinnerbaits, you will need to adjust your presentation however.

"Slow rolling" your spinnerbait along a deep edge can be very effective. I have taken pike on spinnerbaits, in as deep of water as 25ft. I like to use a 1oz to 2oz spinnerbait, depending on the depth and the wind I'm faced with. Big colorado blades with a softplastic trailer, will make the bait very easy to find, in the murky depths.

I also use hair Jigs to fish for deep summer pike. Large (1 or 2oz) bucktail jigs, tipped with a piece of plastic is a Stone Killer, on deep mid summer Pike. Don't worry about using up to a 2 oz jig, however a braided line works best when fishing deep. I work the jig with a good quick snap and let it fall to the bottom, on a tight line.

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Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
aceguideservice.com
Lake Vermilion
Muskies and More.

Pro Staff Member.
Catch-n Tackle.
CKat Custom Muskie rods.
Bearpaws Handpoured Baits
Ohio Pro Lure.
Muskie Nut Tackle.
Big Chimney Muskie Baits.
Marcum.

[This message has been edited by guideman (edited 03-02-2004).]

[ajmurf]

Thanks for the advice. I've never tried going that deep with a spinnerbait. Now I will definetly try it. Thanks again.

[carlcmc]

This past august, I caught a 7lb Northern in North Long lake by Brainerd in about 20' of water (probably at about 10' depth). I was fishing a weighted texas rigged 5" senko in the baby bass/green color. I had let it sink for a bit then was just retreiveing it/letting it swim back and bam out went my string.

Fun!

[Coach Dog]

GO DEEP! Pull deep diving cranks in 20-30 feet of water. Deep down fat raps are my favorite. My biggest is 17 pounds (this was 4 years ago so she's gotta be over 20 lbs. by now) and caught several 10 pounders w/ this method. Find deep inside weedlines or structure drops. Be patient and the big fish will come.

Let em go so they can grow.

Coach Dog

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GIT-R-Done!

[Guest]

Terry hit it on the head......

Big water equals big fish.............

Case closed.........

I have about 10 fish over 20lbs.

Largest being 28.9lbs. (Lake Vermillion)
Second coming in at 24lbs. (LOTW)
4 over 20lbs on a fly-in at a lake that was 15 miles wide x 5 miles deep
My one buddy's biggest is 26lbs (MilleLacs)
Another buddy has a 38" @ 23lbs (MilleLacs)

Get away from bays in the summer. Deep water stucture is the way to go. Also, I've come to love open water trolling. We did the open water trolling on LOTW this past summer for a day. We were trolling up by Corkscrew Is, down towards Wiley Point. Over water up to 80 feet, as shallow as 25 feet. We were targeting schools of bait fish. We averaged a fish every 10 to 15 minutes and they all averaged between 8 to 15 pounds. We did pull some smaller fish (5lbs) here and there, but not many at all.

Also, look for good, deep, cabage patches that are close to deep water. As much as the muskies hang out on the north end of Mille Lacs in the cabbage, so did some VERY BIG PIKE!!!

good luck!

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!