What is a Trophy Northern in Minnesota?

[Desperate Fisherman]

I know on Muskie everyone fishes for the elusive 50" on Walleye it is that 30+ incher but what is the benchmark on Northern pike

[Ralph Wiggum]

Depends on where and what you would consider a trophy. For the southern 2/3 of the state, I'd consider a 35" a great fish, and it's have to be at least 40" for me to consider putting it (or more likely a replica) on the wall.

[Desperate Fisherman]

My gut tells me your right but I was just curious.

It seem's for every spiecies it is easy to name the goal

60"sturgeon

50"muskie

30"walleye

2LB crappie

But I was giving some thought to what a goal on pike was and for some reason I couldn't put a number on it.

Be interesting to see some other feedback on this.

[MSchmillen]

I think this is differant for every person. Having said that I'd go with 45". I caught a 40" fatty last year and the thought of it being a trophy didnt even enter my mind, in fact I dont think I even took a picture, it just didn't seem that big.

[minnesotamusky]

I'd have to agree with MSchmillen. 45" would be a trophy for me.

[porterhouse]

Good question. My biggest Pike is a 41" but it didn't seem like a trophy to me. I think 45" is a trophy but I could be wrong.

Brian

[james_walleye]

A trophy northern in MN? I dont think you have too go as high as 45". I dont see a whole lot of 35" fish in MN much less 45". I caught a 42 1/2" fish in Canada and that was a big fish.

[Jim Hudson]

Am hoping someday I can reach the 50" mark for a Pike.. They are out there and I hope I find one someday... But on average, for the states, I would say any Pike 40" or over is a true trophy. And in some Canadian waters, I would say 45".

But in reality, the word trophy, when it comes to fish and fishing, is always in the eye of the beholder...

[rubber duck]

How many lbs does a 40 incher go?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Depends how fat it is. I'd say generally around 20 lbs is a good guess.

[bigdog]

Since lengths and weights on Northern vary so much I would say anything over 20# would be a trophy in MN regardless of length.

[CH47]

I know the question was for MN but what about this pig?

http://www.metersnoeken.nl/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=518

What are they feeding these things in the Netherlands?

[Random guy]

Quote:

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What are they feeding these things in the Netherlands?

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Small farm animals?

[Sorgy]

I have been fishing Lake Vermilion for years and I have not broke 43.5". I caught a late fall northern at that length in 1989. I have however lost a pike in the 46"- 48" range years ago that inhaled a M&G spinnerbait blades and all at boatside. I consider every pike over 38" a big pike. Over 40" is another level. The truly large pike are very rare. I know quite a few muskie fishermen and a 50" muskie is probably easier to catch than a 42" pike.I did see a pic in the Dulth newspaper 4 years ago of a 53.5" monster out of Rainy Lake. The fish was released. That is by far the largest pike I have heard of from a lake close to MN. Please give these huge pike the respect they deserve.

[RandyR]

I think 45 inch pike are virtually nonexistent in Minnesota, except perhaps LOW, Red Lake or Mille Lacs, and even there I would guess that only a few 45 or over are caught each year. Compare that to Canadian standards where 45's are much more common. I think a 40 inch pike in Minnesota is an outstanding catch. Perhaps with the recent move to protective slots in Minnesota waters that have a decent chance to produce larger pike, we may begin to see improvement.

[TMan]

I love that picture and moreso, the comments from others on that site... the only words you can understand are the cuss words...he he he. I think this says it all regarding that fish....

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Dit was hem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iedereen weer strakke lijnen toegewenst, ook in dromenland….

Ps..Komende woensdag kunnen jullie lezen wat ik gevangen heb samen met Lucien..

Dick

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My opinion is that 40 inches is a trophy in MN. Randy makes a good point, if all works well maybe we'll see trophy be defined by something greater than 40" in the future, let's hope so.

Tackleman

[Random guy]

How about this:

Any fish that you have earned due to good thought process and patterning of the species is a trophy. Big fish very seldom happen sitting in your living room. If you have gotten yourself out fishing, figured the fish out and landed a nice fish it is then a trophy. If you let a couple of inches determine if you are a successful angler you will never have a true trophy fish. That said any fish that I had to work for becomes a trophy in my mind.

One of my "best trophy fish" was a 46" musky that I could not get to bite; she would follow every time I hit that spot but never snap at the lure. One day as I was rolling onto that spot an idea finally hit me and the fish took the bait after months of seeing the same fish and never hooking up. That fish was then a trophy class fish to me.

As JKH said it is in the eye of the beholder.

[superhawk16]

I would have to say a 45incher would be a true trophy for me, but as far as MN goes I would say that a 40 is a darn nice fish.

[eyepatrol]

I too think "trophy" is in the eye of the beholder. I fished for six years before ever catching my first walleye as a lad. That first 'eye will always be a trophy, even though it was 2 1/2lbs. A few years back I caught a 38" pike that was my biggest ever, and that to me was a trophy. My brother has caught the only musky in our entire family (43"), and that to us is a trophy.

So, I think it's in the eyes of the beholder what exactly is a trophy. For some, it may be a 35" pike, for others who catch 35"ers on a fairly consistent basis, a 45"er may be a trophy. In truth, I think every fish is a trophy as I thoroughly enjoy the bite, the battle and the release (or fillet) no matter what the species is.

[DitchPickle13]

I guess I've always thought 18-20 LBS in MN.

[hanson]

Minnesota trophy is gonna be a 40" 20 pounder.

There are some lakes that you will have much greater odds at catching a fish of this caliber but they still won't come easy. Lake of the Woods, Upper Red Lake, and Mille Lacs are all good choices but you still have to put in your time.

[DTro]

Whoever said it before was right. I caught a 40"er on Vermilion a few years ago and for some reason I just can't put my finger on it. It didn't seem like a trophy. It might have been that I was slip bobbering for eyes with 6lb test when I caught it.

[Quackaddict9]

thats a trophy for me.

[Ritz]

Big monster pikes are actually pretty common in the MN river system. I have caught many big ones(at least 45 inches) from there. HOwever, I think big pikes are uncommon in the lake systems in MN.

In general, i just think rivers pretty much hold bigger fish compared to lakes!

[hanson]

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In general, i just think rivers pretty much hold bigger fish compared to lakes!

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Shhhhh....

We got this eye on the Miss' on Tues by accident fishing cats. If we can get them this big by accident, its scary to think of what could happen if we were targeting them.

If you don't believe the "accidental" catching, notice the white rods in the rod holders. Yep. Cattin'!!

This one was on a cut sucker, 4oz No-Roll sinker, 80lb PP, and 5/0 circle hook. Dang near had the rod tip pulled into the water when we noticed the bite!