Best Northern Pike Destinations by: T.J. Schwanky 1.  GREAT SLAVE LAKE, NT Each year, I hear countless tales of 20-pound-plus pike, and yet I know that, in reality, very few of these behemoths are actually taken. But if you really want to catch one, head north to Great Slave. This lake is massive—it is North America's fifth largest—and so are its northerns. It routinely produces 20-pound fish, and 40-pounders are nothing new.       Some of Great Slave's best fishing is found at the mouths of creeks. These areas are natural magnets for grayling, which the pike find absolutely delicious. The action heats up in late August and lasts well into September. Heavy spoons like the Mepps Syclops or Luhr Jensen Krocodile work well in heavy current and get down to the fish quickly. Cast the spoon across into the current and allow it to tumble downstream on a tight line.       You can drive to Great Slave Lake from Yellowknife, and there's some excellent northern pike action west of town, but to truly appreciate the quality of fish offered in this lake, a trip to any one of the numerous fly-in lodges is a must. •Contact: NWT Arctic Tourism, (800) 661-0788 or (867) 873-7200. 2.  KNEE LAKE, MB If there's one thing Manitoba has, it's plenty of quality fly-in lakes for northern pike. Choosing one is a challenge, but Knee Lake does stand out, not only for size of fish, but also for numbers. This northern lake continues to be one of the finest trophy pike fisheries in Canada. It's unusual indeed if an angler doesn't take at least one pike over 50 inches, and there are lots in the 45-inch range.       As with most pike lakes, prime time is June when the fish are still found in the shallow bays. In these slow-to-warm waters, pike are quite lethargic and not anxious to actively pursue a bait. But offer them something slow moving and it's a different story. Large minnowbaits, like the Rapala Husky Jerk or Storm Shallomac, worked slowly in three to five feet of water, are the best early-season presentation, although Knee Lake pike go for flies as well. •Contact: Manitoba Natural Resources, Fisheries Branch, (800) 214-6497. 3.  REINDEER LAKE, SK Often described as thousands of lakes in a single body of water, Reindeer Lake is huge by any standards. Encompassing more than 2,000,000 acres, Reindeer is the 10th largest lake in North America. There are over 9,000 kilometres of shoreline and 5,500 islands for the pike angler to explore. You can drive to this lake through Manitoba, but—as with Great Slave—you will find the best action at some of the lake's numerous fly-in camps.       A trip to Reindeer that does not include at least one pike in excess of 20 pounds is rare, and there are many 30-pounders taken annually. Pike action remains consistent throughout the season, but anglers should be prepared to shift their efforts a little deeper during mid-July and August. While the weed-filled bays may be hot early in the season, many of the trophy pike take up residence on the rocks during the summer months, feeding on the lake's abundant whitefish. At this time, trolling large spoons like the Williams Whitefish is usually the most productive presentation. •Contact: Environmental and Resource Management, (306) 787-2700. 4.  ANDREW LAKE, AB Unfortunately, many anglers consider a fly-in fishing trip too costly, when the truth is, there are numerous places to go in Canada that fall well within the average angler's budget. Case in point: Andrew Lake in northeastern Alberta. This remote lake gets my vote as Alberta's best pike water. Twenty-pound pike are common, and each year anglers take northerns up to 35 pounds.       June is the most popular month for big pike on Andrew, although my favourite time is September. During the fall, a strange phenomenon takes place. The normally highly territorial pike become uncharacteristically tolerant of each other and gather in sizeable schools at the mouths of incoming creeks, gorging themselves on whitefish and cisco. It is possible to hook a dozen or more 40-inch-plus pike in one spot. In these crystal-clear waters, a silver/blue Mepps Syclops wins hands down as the lure of choice. •Contact: Northern Sports Fishing, (780) 790-1191. 5. KESAGAMI LAKE, ON When I asked Ontario pike-fanatic Bill Rivers about where to go for big northerns in Ontario, he replied, "There's only one place—Kesagami." A short plane ride from Cochrane, Kesagami is rapidly gaining a reputation among trophy-pike aficionados. The only lodge on the lake has a strict catch-and-release policy, so it's no wonder anglers have little trouble finding loads of pike in excess of 40 inches, as well as some bona-fide 50s each year.       Kesagami is quite shallow, averaging about nine feet deep. Rivers says that while you can always hook pike in the back bays along the weed edge, the real action is 100 to 300 yards off the lake's major points. "These areas are overlooked by many anglers, but with the lake being so shallow, you can hook pike on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits quite a distance from shore." The lodge is only open for June and July, and fishing is consistent throughout the season. •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Cochrane, (705) 272-4365. 6.  LAC TREVET, QC Quebec does not enjoy the reputation that Manitoba or the Northwest Territories does for producing large quantities of big northerns, but the province has a number of quality fisheries, especially in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region. Lac Trevet, a three-hour drive from Val d'Or, is unquestionably one of the best. It routinely produces trophy-class northerns in the 20-pound range and 30-pounders are not out of the question.       June is definitely prime time on Trevet for big pike. You'll find them in the shallow bays or cruising the weed edges in search of a meal. They are the ideal quarry for the fly-fisherman armed with an eight-weight rod and an assortment of large bucktail streamers. For the hardware angler, if the pike aren't biting traditional presentations, try a Power Slug worked slowly in the weeds. •Contact: Quebec Tourism, (800) 363-7777. 7.  BADGER RESERVOIR, AB At first glance you wouldn't think this sprawling prairie reservoir, located east of Lomond, would be one of Alberta's pike hotspots, but it sure is. Each year numerous pike approaching the 30-pound mark are taken, and there are good numbers in the 15- to 20-pound range.       The best fishing is through the ice in December, and then again in June, when back bays become a buffet with monster pike gorging themselves on whitefish and smaller pike. Badger Reservoir has become a Mecca for fly-fishermen, and if you're interested, wait till the water warms up a bit and then try casting large bucktail streamers in weed-choked bays on the east side of the reservoir. While just about any colour of streamer will produce, anglers in the know are tying small pike imitations, using a combination of green, yellow, red and white. •Contact: Natural Resource Services, Vulcan, (403) 485-6971. 8.  LAKE DIEFENBAKER, SK I rarely fish Diefenbaker specifically for pike, but each year while chasing walleye, I manage to hook up with a couple of pike in the 20-pound range, and a dozen or so over 15 pounds. The majority of these come during the first couple of weeks of the season, in the extremely shallow water found at the back ends of flooded coulees.       Diminutive presentations are the rule, even though these are monster fish. Casting large spoons and crankbaits serves little purpose other than spooking the fish. Believe it or not, a jig and leech has produced the majority of my trophy pike in Diefenbaker. There is also some great action in December through the ice near Beechy and Saskatchewan Landing. Anglers suspend large herring below tip-ups on expansive sand flats in 5 to 12 feet of water, and they take pike over 30 pounds each winter. •Contact: Saskatchewan Environmental and Resource Management, Ron Jensen, (306) 778-8210. 9.  LAKE NIPIGON, ON Lake Nipigon is known as one of Ontario's top lake-trout fisheries, but this inland giant is rarely mentioned as a northern pike hotspot. Perhaps it's because the locals don't want anyone else knowing about this incredible fishery. Nipigon has not only been quietly producing big pike lately, but it's been producing decent numbers of them as well.       The best angling is right after ice-out and again late in the fall, according to local fishing expert Tim Carroll. "We get a few 20- to 25-pounders each year and the biggest I know of is 33 pounds," says Carroll. While the spring fishery is popular locally, few anglers appreciate the quality of fishing available in the fall. "When the whitefish start to think about spawning, the pike are right behind them and there is great fishing on the rock shoals," Carroll says. The hot presentations include trolling and casting large muskie-type crankbaits such as the Swim Whizz or Suick Cisco Kid. •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, (807) 887-5000. 10.  LAKE OF THE PRAIRIES, MB Lake of the Prairies, located west of Roblin, Manitoba, continues to dominate the province's Master Angler Awards list as the body of water that produces the most trophy fish and greatest diversity of species. Included in the annual list are several pike over 41 inches, the award minimum.       Manitoba conservation resource technician Ken Kansas says he knows of pike up to 50 inches being caught in the past, and claims that the fishing is continually getting better in the lake. Surprisingly, most trophy northerns are caught by shore anglers fishing large baits, like Portuguese minnows. Kansas admits, however, that there are few anglers targeting trophy pike exclusively. For the angler heading to Lake of the Prairies with trophy pike at the top of the wish list, Kansas recommends December and June. •Contact: Manitoba Natural Resources, Fisheries Branch, (800) 214-6497. 11.  OBRE LAKE, NT  •Contact: NWT Arctic Tourism, (800) 661-0788. 12.  KASBA LAKE, NT  •Contact: Doug Hill, Kasba Lake Lodge, (800) 663-8641. 13.  NUELTIN LAKE, MB  •Contact: Manitoba Natural Resources, Fisheries Branch, (800) 214-6497. 14.  COGHLAN LAKE, YK  •Contact: Peacock's Yukon Camps Ltd., (867) 667-2846. 15.  ATHABASCA RIVER, AB  •Contact: Alberta Environment, (780) 778-7112. 16.  CANIAPISCAU RESERVOIR, QC  •Contact: Tourism Quebec, (800) 363-7777. 17.  ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, ON  •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Kingston, (613) 531-5700. 18.  LAKE HURON, ON  •Contact: Bruce County Tourism, (519) 797-1602. 19.  CEDAR LAKE, MB  •Contact: Manitoba Natural Resources, Fisheries Branch, (800) 214-6497. 20.  DEASE LAKE, BC  •Contact: B.C. Fisheries Office, Skeena Region, (250) 847-7260. other species destinations