Baptiste
Lake, Alberta
Catch your body weight in huge pike in a day by setting
up a tip-up in late December when the tullibee congregate
on the sandy structures adjacent to main-lake drop-offs.
Large sardines or herring, 12 inches or longer, set on
a quick-strike rig right on the bottom are deadly. Or,
with some friends, set a trapline along the drops leading
to the flats. —B.F.
Fawcett Lake, Alberta
An abundance of structure makes this lake hot for big
pike. There are lots of smaller fish, but 10- to 25-pounders
are taken regularly. From late January until season’s
end, focus on inside turns, points and islands, and stay
mobile. Use tip-ups with bait, and actively jig a Krocodile
Spoon, Power Grub or the largest minnows you can find.
—B.F.
Gull Lake, Alberta
It’s hard to beat shallow-water action for big northern
pike. Set your tip-ups and jig a series of holes, or watch
the bottom from the comforts of a portable shelter. Fishing
six to 18 feet of water throughout the season consistently
produces thick-shouldered fish weighing between five and
22 pounds. Storm WildEye jigs, Len Thompson spoons and
herring-tipped jigs are local favourites. —B.F.
Deschambault Lake, Sask.
Dechambault is one of those destinations where you can
catch loads of good-sized northern pike and there’s
always the chance of hooking a 15-pounder or heavier.
The best fishing is typically in March, north of Willow
Island on the points in depths of 10 feet or less. Anglers
report excellent results with large bucktail jigs tipped
with smelt, and tip-ups with herring. —T.J.S.
Lake Diefenbaker, Sask.
While monster northern pike are found throughout this
huge reservoir, the action really heats up near Saskatchewan
Landing and Beechy at last ice. During late March, anglers
routinely score 20-pound-plus pike on the large shallow
flats near the marinas using huge smelt or herring below
a tip-up. Don’t expect to catch tons of fish in
a day, but be prepared for some leviathans. —T.J.S.
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Last Mountain Lake, Sask.
Thick-bodied pike weighing up to 20 pounds attract anglers
to the south end of this huge waterbody in late winter.
The shallow, rocky bottom is ideal habitat for these big
predators that increase their feeding activity before
ice-out and spawning. Tip-ups with smelts are the local
favourite, but don’t be afraid to use bigger baits
such as herring and sardines. —B.F.
Tobin Lake, Saskatchewan
While famous for its huge walleye, Tobin is a real sleeper
for giant northerns during the winter. The action’s
best at first and last ice near Tobin Lake Resort, when
the pike are found on the shallow weed flats. As with
fishing for big pike anywhere, the favourite way of hooking
them is by suspending a large smelt or herring beneath
a tip-up. —T.J.S.
Reed Lake, Manitoba
While a bit off the beaten track, Reed is definitely worth
the trip for ice anglers in search of trophy pike. This
massive lake is best accessed through the Grass River
campground in winter, and the hot locations require a
snowmobile ride to Labelles Bay. First and last ice are
prime, and you won’t go wrong dangling a huge herring
beneath a tip-up. —T.J.S.
English River, Ontario
At last ice, catch 20- to 30-pound pike in any of the
numerous large, shallow back bays with creeks, streams
or small rivers flowing in. Drill several 10- to 12-inch-wide
holes, then attach a foot-long dead sucker, ciscoe or
mackerel to a quick-strike rig and hang it two feet off
the bottom using a tip-up. —G.P.
Rainy Lake, Ontario
Rainy’s northerns typically average eight to 15
pounds, with the odd 20-pound-plus gator lurking about.
For the best results, during late March and April rip
a flashy Williams spoon, Storm WildEye Jigging Swim Shad
or ½-ounce lead-headed jig dressed with a five-inch
Berkley Saltwater Swim Shad off one of the points, bars
or shoals along the lake’s weedy west shore. —G.P.
Lake Saint-Pierre, Quebec
The Ile de Grâce Bay is well known for its pike
fishing. Catches average in size from two to five pounds,
but every day someone ices a 10- to 15-pound monster (the
local record is 29 pounds). Use a six-inch live minnow
on a tip-up in depths of seven to eight feet and the results
will be magical, especially in January. —P.C.
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