I always hear people talking of catching pike in the “Mississippi backwaters” but as someone who has only fished lakes in the west metro and the pools sporadically during the summer, I have no idea what that means or where to even start my exploration.
Does anyone have any tips on places to start or what kinds of areas I should be looking for?
(Obviously I will be taking any and all safety precautions when going on the river)
I’m not sure exactly where you are located but I’m betting it’s all very similar in technique !!
Any back water bay out of the main current 2 foot to 10 foot of water… (mainly 3-5 fow where I’m at) SW Wisconsin
Tip ups just outside of weed line edges.. locate your preferred bait from just under the ice to just off the bottom..
It’s really that easy !!!
Good luck and be safe! !
I know this sounds like a dumb question, but I generally only carry a 6 inch hand auger everywhere- that should be okay for most “eater” sized pike, right? What’s your favorite bait to use?
I’ll assume that you are rom the Cities with your reference to the metro fishing in open water? If you want to stay on the Minnesota side of things, there’s some backwaters upstream from the Red Wing dam I believe…Black Bird Slough possibly? Your best backwaters will be found from Wabasha to Winona but even down as far as La Crosse will offer some great fishing.
Some of the marinas along the way will offer up some northern fishing along with panfish. Baypoint harbor in Red Wing will offer panfish and crappies in and around the docks while the more open bay area there will give up an occasional pike and even a stray walleye. Wabasha Marina has a great early crappie, panfish and northern bite as soon as four or five inches of ice can be found. This marina will also have some serious perch in the mix too. Across the high bridge towards Wisconsin from Wabasha there are several areas to stop and fish on the right hand side of the road. There’s a lot of current on the left side so best avoid ice there. If you feel venturesome you can run down to Alma, drive straight thru town and go about a mile or so where you’ll see cars pulled over and parked. You’ll see the people on the ice on the other side of the railroad tracks and will be legal with your Minnesota license there. The name of the area is Moseman. Back on the MN side below Wabasha there is extensive backwaters to be found and fish will be everywhere really.
For help with locations below Wabasha and into the Kellogg area print of a Google map of the area. The dike to the Alma dam beginning near Pioneer Campground has a series of pools called the Finger Lakes, all of which will hold nice crappies and sunfish, maybe a northern at times. Be careful of the ice on the pool with the incoming culvert as the current there can make is iffy in some spots. Further down the coast from there is West Newton. Sunfish, crappies, bass, northern, even walleyes are on the slate there with the most emphasis on the pannies….but you just never know what will show up in this place.
A person could go on and on with spots to fish but I can’t hardly imagine getting much further than Wabasha and being in fish of some sort. Honestly the best tool you can have to get started down there is a good map of the area. Simple tackle, waxies and/or minnows and just have a ball. Good luck! Fun area. Lots of eagles.
I always hear people talking of catching pike in the “Mississippi backwaters” but as someone who has only fished lakes in the west metro and the pools sporadically during the summer, I have no idea what that means or where to even start my exploration.
Does anyone have any tips on places to start or what kinds of areas I should be looking for?
(Obviously I will be taking any and all safety precautions when going on the river)
Come on down to good old Wabasha.The spots that were talked about are great spots I live on the finger lakes.Hell I got stuck in the mud once it’s worth a trip.If I could do a full weekend id hit Wabasha marina then Wilcox also Peterson lake then finger lakes and west Neuton that’s all I know in my 2 years of ice fishing but hopefully get more insight.A great tip I can give is ask around to we may be the home of Grumpy old Men but they are super nice about advice
I’ve never caught a pike big enough that I couldn’t fit it through a 6″ hole. Use 5″ most of the time.
I’ve never caught a pike big enough that I couldn’t fit it through a 6″ hole. Use 5″ most of the time.
…SORRY about that. Lol SO how big is the biggest pike you have pulled up a 6 inch hole.? … rrr
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