Looking to catch small northerns from my kayak this weekend in the metro

[Stick500]

I don't need to be catching anything bigger than 2-footers- just looking for some fun action with little pike from my kayak on a metro-area lake this weekend (Oct.11-12).

Can anyone point me in the right direction to a lake that has a high population of pike, not necessarily big ones? I was looking at the DNR Fishery Survey (1991) and it says that the Shady Oak lakes in Hopkins had a high number of small pike back then. Does anyone know what that lake might be offering in 2014?

I just want to enjoy a sunny, warm day with some small spoons and crank baits and haul in some mean and nasty little pike.

Thanks in advance for any info!

[MnCatGuy]

PM sent

[Lunker]

It's been over a decade since I've fished it, but Lake Hiawatha in MPLS (next to Nokomis) had a high population of smaller pike. And there is no launch for motorboats so it would be plenty quiet for your kayak. But as I said it's been a long time and not sure what the current status is.

[JBMasterAngler]

It's on the opposite side of the metro from you, but big marine and big carnelian lakes are loaded with hammer handles.

[cruiseforever]

Lake Minnewashta in Chanhassen. Lots of smaller pike and good areas to get out of the wind if there is any.

[tolle141]

Lake Charlotte in the west metro. 20 minutes or so west of plymouth. Wind will never be a problem, it's a small lake so you'll have it all to yourself. I run tubes and small swimbaits on the weedline. Usually average 10-20 northerns in an evening trip. Colors should be pretty epic right now

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=86001100

Worth the drive if you're looking for paddling action

[fishuhalik]

Minnetonka. Just cast a white spinnerbait over the submerged weed beds in Grays Bay & you'll catch plenty, with the chance at a big boy or Muskie.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

twin lakes in robbinsdale 100/81 north end straight out from the boat launch

[mainbutter]

In general, small lakes will not have numbers of fish, and I do not know of any true "snot rocket" lakes where the pike are numerous. In general if a lake is known for small pike, I catch fewer than on lakes known for overall good pike fishing.

+1 on Minnetonka, plenty of good water and fish to be caught. If you want to be somewhere with less traffic, there are some lakes west of the metro with slot limits, decreased possession etc, and they have all been good to me. Literally what I have done is opened up the regs, found a lake within 45 mins of the metro with decreased possession, and fished it. The lakes that have been protected from harvest have all yielded good numbers of fish, and in general on the smaller lakes the sizes have been 20-30''.

There are also some lakes with reduced or zero harvest for pike that also have gas motor restrictions, these particular lakes make for a quiet, peaceful time in a yak or canoe.

Bring lures that do double duty for LMB (which of course for pike fishing, is most lures, as long as you don't go too big), pretty much all the metro lakes with pike regs also have LMB regs, and decent fishing for both species.