Tricks for big pike

[live_2_fish]

I have tried and tried every winter to catch a big northern(10 lbs. plus). I can't get one. I catch tons of snakes but nothing big. I would like to know some good tricks to catch a big northern through the ice. I want this year to be the year. Thanks.

[fiskyknut]

Perhaps it's the watershed you are fishing...Are there big Pike present in the waters you're fishing?

I have pretty good luck on the LOTW Pike using 8-10+ inch Smelt baited on a Quickstrike rig under a tip-up. Other baits work but Smelts get more big fish for me than anything else.

More than anything else you need to be on a watershed that has a good population of large fish. Try the LOTW or URL.

fiskyknut

[tbags]

It is all about the water you are fishing. If you are on a lake that that has lots of dinks and few hogs....that is what you will catch. Do some homeowrk. You do not need to go to LOW for big fish (although it is a great choice). Find out what lakes were first used for the slot limit study. There are bigg'ens in them waters. Good luck!

[drizzle]

fiskyknut and tbags are right it's the watershed. One pointer though is check with the DNR and find out which lakes (if any) have size regs for pike and for how long they have been enforcing it. This is a good starting point and has worked for me. Then buy suckers no smaller than 8". My favorite set-up is a stiff jig rod and a baitcaster spooled with 30lb spiderwire. Then clip one of the side fins off of the sucker, the sucker will struggle to right itself and pike can't resist. Good luck!! Nothing funner than pulling a 30+" pike through the ice

I noticed you are from the battle lake area. I'm originally from the Detroit Lakes area. If you get a chance this winter try fishing Lake Sallie (just south of Detroit Lakes) I've caught many 30+" pike and even some hefty largemouth through the ice there.

[10,000 Casts]

Buy some Smelt or herring, some qickstrike rigs or sweedish hooks and go to amor flats or Balmoral hole on ottertail find the weedline or whats left of it early season.... I have a place on ottertail and trust me, it is one of the best northern lakes in the area, u just have to find them. if not OT then I like Sucker minnows under tip ups on Clitherall back in the SW bay. Also just about anywhere on N. Turtle is a good bet but u need a way to get on it.

Just some thoughts

John

[CB34]

I too would suggest smelt on a quick strike rig for large pike. I really like how easy using smelt is, you dont have to try and keep it alive. Last year was the first year I used smelt and the first year I caught any northerns larger than 30". I ordered it from a bait shop in Wisconsin. Does anyone know of a bait shop local to Hackensack/Walker that might sell it?

[live_2_fish]

I know they are in the waters I am fishing because I catch them there in the summer. It just isn't the same as pulling a big one through the ice.

[live_2_fish]

Does anyone know where I can get smelt around the Battle Lake area.

[10,000 Casts]

we will have smelt and herring at gander in fargo. good quality but, at a price... around $9 a dozen. We get the herring from a guy in Bemidji. Other than that I haven't seen any around BL. Josie at Bens Bait might know of some closer.

John