Big Northern Pike trip suggestions.

Planning a trophy pike excursion for next year. I know that March/April in the Muskeg,Buffalo Bay areas of LOTW are prime time for big pike but would like to plan my trip around the week of Christmas as my company closes for 10 days and I wouldn’t have to use my vacation time.
Are these areas of LOTW any good for big pike earlier in the ice season (late December)?
Are there any other areas of the LOTW I should look at? Sioux Narrows,Nestor Falls….
It would have to be a full service lodge that offers guides and ice transportation or offers snowmobile rentals. This will most likely be a solo trip a’s most of my ice fishing buddies would find it difficult to get away Christmas week.
The other watershed that interests me is Upper Red Lake if anyone has any input.
I know about Tobin, Last Mountain….but really don’t want to drive any further West than Northwest Ontario a’s I’ll be driving from southern Michigan.
Thanks,
Jay

I have a similar trip on my bucket list. But mine would be to Rainy Lake with RainyDaze Guide service in April/May, but I’d bet they could get you on them on the ice. Otherwise I think Clam did a show on tip-up fishing Muskeg Bay with JP Tressier, so that would be an option too. Upper Red is a good option, although you don’t hear about monster pike up there as much anymore and I’m not sure why.

Thanks BigWerm.
Forgot about Rainy!

Big W has good suggestions. I know you said you wanted full service but you could easily do it your self on LOW if you fished the Swift ditch area or 4 Mile bay. I would also recommend the northwest angle on LOW,great multi species area and pig northern as well. Quite a few resorts up there that would be full service. Lots of options on Rainy and LOW for ya.

I’ve heard Kesagami in Ontario can produce some big fish, and probably isn’t real far from Michigan. Menona and Mendota in Wisconsin are some others in that neighborhood that I’ve heard of in the past.

Not sure if Basswood is an option in the winter but I would look at that lake any other time of the year-GOOd Luck

SW Eyes wrote:

I’ve heard Kesagami in Ontario can produce some big fish, and probably isn’t real far from Michigan. Menona and Mendota in Wisconsin are some others in that neighborhood that I’ve heard of in the past.

Thanks but you can’t drive to Kesagami.
I know menona and mendota throw big pike out as do some lakes here in Michigan but have pretty much decided on Northern Minnesota/Northwest Ontario for my trip.
Thank you appreciate the feedback.

tim hurley wrote:

Not sure if Basswood is an option in the winter but I would look at that lake any other time of the year-GOOd Luck

Yes Basswood and bwca is an option in the winter that I have researched. It would most likely be a dogsled ice fishing adventure that would be very expensive. From the guides I have talked to that offer these trips I would have to pay double being a solo client.
Thanks

weedis wrote:

Big W has good suggestions. I know you said you wanted full service but you could easily do it your self on LOW if you fished the Swift ditch area or 4 Mile bay. I would also recommend the northwest angle on LOW,great multi species area and pig northern as well. Quite a few resorts up there that would be full service. Lots of options on Rainy and LOW for ya.

Thanks Weedis, I’ll look into those areas.