Where to go on a trip?? Pike/smallies NEED HELP

[Bigguyone]

I am planning a trip for sometime in mid may to early june for myself and 5 other people (6 total). There will be all levels of ability, all will be adults, but some have not fished much other than on streams for trout while others have fished 80+days/year.

I need some assistance deciding on a lake/lodge.

We are trying to keep it pretty budget so will be doing self guided and housekeeping. No particular state we have to go to as we are flying from Utah (not mormon).

Please let me know your thoughts on when/where to go...I was thinking Pike and smallies mainly. I have considered Rainy but having a tough time finding lodges with availability and decent boats. Thank you in advance!!

My email [email protected]

[SevenTine]

Have you considered Lake of the Woods or Lake Vermilion?

[SHAQ]

smallies and pike, millacs period.

[metrofisher7]

Go early june up at rainey, try Kettle falls lodge its right on the border and has a good current to find huge pike and smallies, plus you will find some nice walleye's.

[SHAQ]

the cookie bowl

[mule]

We hit Kabetogema just south of rainy every may. no shortage of northern or smallies there that time of year, but we go for the eyes. there are sevral mom and pop lodges to choose from that can provide boats and lodging for resonable rates, or you can rent a boat and stay at any of the camp sites in the nat'l forest for free. just watch out for the beer stealing bears and bait stealin otters.

[SHAQ]

millacs

[esox jason]

lake of the woods, upper red lake, and leech are all great pike lakes mil lacs too but the slot size makes it tough if you wamt some to eat

[Muskie456]

Rainey is really a good call if you want to get out of town a little bit and cast to shore lines and islands

[b1gf1sh1]

Manitoba, Canada.

if you come to Minnesota you'll likely need to settle for a big MUSKIE. ...but you'll be able to deal with that i'm sure. unlike most states with pike/muskie your more likely to get a good sized muskie than a good sized pike. assumming the lake your on has both of course. good luck.

[Tim_Anderson]

I would choose either Mille Lacs or Vermilion. Mille Lacs has a really remarkable average size on smallies. And it has some really big pike. Not great numbers, but a chance for a real hog.

Vermilion is great for both as well. It has both large and smallmouth bass in good numbers. Good mix of size. Better numbers of pike, and again, some really, really big fish.

Vermilion is much more beautiful and scenic than Mille Lacs. Mille Lacs is a big round bowl that at times looks like an inland sea. Vermilion has over 300 islands and lots and lots of nooks and crannies to hide from the wind and other fishermen if that's what you want to do.

If scenery and pike were the focus, I'd do the big V. If smallies were most important, then I'd definitely do Mille Lacs.

You should have no problem finding a place to stay or boats to rent in either place, especially early in the season like that.

[delcecchi]

When does smallie season open on Mille Lacs? Vermilion opens with walleye, being north of hiway 53.

Just checked, may 23 is general bass opener.