Upper Red Pike

[PDXFisher]

How clear is the water in URL? Is it clear enough that you can sight-cast to big Pike? How about Tamrac? I've been looking for a good candidate lake to throw flies at Pike in. I'm not too into fly fishing as a search method for big fish, however, I want to be able to see where to cast. I was looking at a contour map and wow, what an interesting lake. I have a place to stay in Northome, so it is an attractive option to me

Are there Muskies in URL?

Thanks!

[Wookiee]

No muskies in URL. Water is fairly stained but if Jonny P sees this I am sure he will chime in with his 2 cents and give you the lowdown.

[traveler]

No sight fishing I'm afraid. Red lake and the tamarac are both stained.

[PDXFisher]

 Originally Posted By: traveler

No sight fishing I'm afraid. Red lake and the tamarac are both stained.

Can anyone think of a gin-clear lake where sight fishing for pike or muskie is possible? I've seen Muskies in the shallows on Mantrap, for instance, but only two.

I suppose if there is an area of any lake that isn't gin-clear but one can still make a reasonable assumption that the density is high enough to offer a decent chance at success, that would be good info too

[traveler]

I know they see a LOT of muskies in the early season on Mille lacs, mainly on the sand on the north end by garrison.

[T-water]

Hey PDX

If you haven't read it yet can I suugest "Pike on the Fly"? It's the best book I've ever read about pike fishing period. Also gives good ideas about fishing for pike in lakes with flies. Good luck and give us some reports. Oh yeah, in the spring som of the border lakes up north are really awesome (sightfishing)

[PDXFisher]

 Originally Posted By: T-water

Hey PDX

If you haven't read it yet can I suugest "Pike on the Fly"? It's the best book I've ever read about pike fishing period. Also gives good ideas about fishing for pike in lakes with flies. Good luck and give us some reports. Oh yeah, in the spring som of the border lakes up north are really awesome (sightfishing)

Heh, I have indeed read it. In fact, I have an email correspondence going on with Barry Reynolds the past few days asking him these same questions. He has a newer version of Pike on the Fly out that overlaps a little and goes even further. I also have his DVD on the way, "In Search of the Water Wolf". He hasn't fished all that much in Minnesota, so he asked some friends for me.

Here's the list he came up with:

Lake of the Woods

Upper Red Lake

Mille Lacs

Big Birch Lake

Lake Sallie

South Center Lake

Leech Lake

Lake Vermilion

Lake Independence

The only one of these I've been on for any significant amount of time is Indy. Sallie looks like it could be fun.

[redhooks]

Basswood should be another on that list- I know of a couple 40" range fish caught on the fly last summer. It also home to the state record caught many years ago.....

redhooks

[budiva]

Here is a unrelated question. When you are throwing fly's for pike what kind of leader/tippet do you use? I have never tried it, but I have an old fly rod and reel and I was thinking of bringing them on my Canada trip this year.

[Random guy]

PDX these guys are correct, you will never be able to sight fish red, I have had pike along side the boat and barely been able to see them. The red stained water hides them pretty good.

For lakes to sight fish go to the DNR web sight and look at pike populations and lakes with a good Secchi disk reading. Lakes like Big Sand and Mantrap have a secchi in the teens.

[PDXFisher]

 Originally Posted By: budiva

Here is a unrelated question. When you are throwing fly's for pike what kind of leader/tippet do you use? I have never tried it, but I have an old fly rod and reel and I was thinking of bringing them on my Canada trip this year.

Check out the fly forum on here, there's a few threads addressing that very question. I usually use Cortland Toothy Critter, or some leaders my guide in Calgary makes and sells based on Tyger wire.

[PDXFisher]

 Originally Posted By: Jonny P

For lakes to sight fish go to the DNR web sight and look at pike populations and lakes with a good Secchi disk reading. Lakes like Big Sand and Mantrap have a secchi in the teens.

Yeah, I *love* Mantrap, but I never saw Pike in the shallows there, only smallies and a couple Muskies, and only very early in the morning. I'll check out Big Sand, I know someone that stays there for a month and golfs more than he fishes. I also hear Elk Lake is incredibly clear and may check that one out.

Thanks JonnyP!

[ole matty]

i see ur from oregon.. only lake i have in mind with good water clarity n good population of pike is sturgeon lake hour n half north of twin cities as its have slot with 20" n up immedately return to water but alot of slimers with few 30" n up but dunno if u can sight fishin them as i have no idea what u ll be fishin on, weeds? flats? shallows? etc. i had caught plenty of 30s" n up out there with biggest being 36" n had one bigger than that lost at boatside due to weak knot.

[Nick Kuhn]

PDX could try Bone in Wisconsin for ski's on opener. Secchi for that time of year is about 12 feet, and if the fish are active up shallow you shouldn't have any trouble spotting them. There's so many fish in there you are bound to find some up near the weed breaks or near the rock piles. Getting them to bite is the much greater challenge there.