LOTW Pike

[Doop]

Does anyone on this part of the forum fish LOTW for northerns?

I was hoping to get some info about Warroad or Swift Ditch...has anyone tip up fished these areas before?

[only ice]

i would try the LOW form. Im sure you will get some good advice!!

[Doop]

I did....but nothing...that's why I tried this spot.

[DeBo101]

We tried it one year during spring break - first week of march or so. We didn't have much luck. Biggest pike was 8lbs or so and a few pout as well. I think we had more flags the first afternoon/evening then the other 3 days combined.

We fished out of swift ditch. Got coordinates from some people who had been out there shortly before we were but the bite had fizzled. Pretty intriguing area though lots of water and lots of pike. In retrospect I think we should have searched I bit more actively. They had really good smelt at the grocery store in town as well.

If you really enjoy flags and pike I don't think your gonna find a better chance at a 20 in the states. Lots of water to keep you busy if your up there for a while.

[Doop]

Thanks Debo...we generally fish the 4-mile bay area and have done ehhhhhh....okay at times. I was wanting to try a new spot this March. Did you have a tough time getting on the ice at Swift? Do you remember what road you took to drive out there?

How big were the smelt you bought at the grocery store...when you say "in town" you mean Warroad?

How deep is the water over there?

[DeBo101]

Getting on the ice was easy for us and it must not have been a big ice year as we didn't need an extension for the auger. I just rememer going east of town and I am pretty sure there was a sign for swift ditch. If not one of the area bait shops can help you out, and I think the access was on the MN gazateer atlas.

We stopped at one of the bait shops and asked about smelt and they sent us to the grocery store in Warroad, sorry but I don't remember which one. Nice big smelts though, would have made beautiful head and tail chunks for the smaller pike back home.

We fished 6-9 FOW. Not much for sharp breaking structure in that part of the world but there were some minor depth changes here and there.

[Doop]

Thanks Debo...I really appreciate your help.

I'll report back after the 1st week of March and let ya' know how we did. It won't be for lack of trying though!

[Jay R]

Doug's Supermarket in Warroad for Smelt

J