Ice Pike!!

For years I’d sell out for walleyes with both lines when on the ice, but in the last couple seasons I have thoroughly enjoyed tangling with Monster Jacks too!! As you plan your next trip to Rainy Lake, or any other body of water that has a good poplulation of the Toothy critters DO NOT overlook the potential of a 20lb fish. I believe there are 3 timeframes which have BIG pike vulnerable to hook and line, and right now is one of them!! Get after them Boys!!

I noticed your right hand is covered in all the photos.

Bunch of good looking girls there old boy!

Hey Chris do you get gators like that in march mixed in with the crappies say around the 17-21

Nice to see the Pike getting a little love.

I didn’t know gators mated with fish…Dam those are big. Well done!

A couple of thode are truly beasts!!

Nice fish Chris! I have yet to get over the 10lb mark this winter here in alberta but i HAVE hooked into some solid fish. It seems up here the big ones are caught late Feb and all of March so i am looking forward to getting into some 15lb+ pike.

Im usually just setting tip-ups out with a smelt, herring, or anchovie with a treble through the center of the body.
Is this how you mainly target these toothy critters?

Dont be fooled though, i do finess them on my walleye rods using anything from 1/8oz to large summer spoons etc.

Here are some pics as of late!
The Big boy was caught last feb in a warm water exhaust from a water treatment plant in 2008. It is my biggest yet, and dont be fooled, in Feb the water was still COLD! haha

Hi D.O.

Thanks for sharing your pics!! We get a good mix of big pike on our walleye gear, and still nothing better than fighting “Giant Jacks” on Ice rods. We also utilize suckers and smelt on tip up rigs. This year I have noticed more fish coming off the bottom, and less big fish suspending. For this reason I have actually set these rigs around 5 feet of the bottom, and it has paid off big. A variety of quick set rigs have been utilized, and I’m currently leaning towards the double leader/Double Treble as the most effective. I’m cautious about single trebles or singe gap hooks as I’ve found effective hook setting often demands anglers let the fish swallow the bait, and because we catch a lot of big released fish I want to make sure they are in good shape. Most of the time Big walleyes and pike will eat a big bait head first. Thus a quick set rig hooked head, and tail SHOULD allow you to immediately lay the beans to the fish upon arrival. As you well know tip up hook sets can be frustrating still, but that is my 2 cents worth. Keep after those Pike!!

Cool pictures Chris. Good to see the crew from La Crosse, Abe and son Michael putting the smack down on some of your healthy fish up there

Thanks Bret!!

I love fishing with Michael and Rob!! Both of them had some absolute GIANT fish shake off on them. Still picture the battles. Ask Rob about a couple of the ones that got away!! Thats what happens with big fish sometimes though! We’ll get them next year!!

Chris… Thought you might like this…

I hadnt caughta pike in the winter months over 12lbs yet in my ice fishing carreer haha. But this weekend was a huge change, i realized, you CAN catch big pike in local lakes that have the “potential” BUT, to be successfull time after time with landing big fish, you must put on the miles and go to the lakes that HOLD big fish….

The last 2 weekends i targeted a lake 1.5hours away from home with my brother and dad. Dad and i didnt even have a nible last weekend but i had my redemption this weekend….

Caught 3 Northerns in the 5lb range, 3 that all weighed 12lbs and one monster 43″ 21.5″ gurth and 23lbs… These are the pics on my 23lber and i will post the rest when i get them.

But you are right, a double treble is a must, Tip up fishing means alot of missed fish but a big treble behind the head and a stinger treble at the tail is a sure way to increase hook sets. I noticed the shiniest sisco, hearing or smelt works the best. and 8ft to 15ft seems to be the key depth on any pike fishing lake or reservoir!

Keep atem boys!

Alright, here are the rest of the photos. the first 5 are all 12lbs within ounces…
Enjoy.

wowzwers that’s a big tuna!

That 23 lb fish is a tank

That is a MONSTER pike

Congrats

Those are big gators

Thanks everyone!
Tomorrow after work ill be heading to a differant lake that is supposed to hold nice pike. maybe ill get some more to throw on here!