crittermo Loc: rocky mount mo

hello everyone! I'm chris from rocky mount mo.
i stumbled onto this website while searching the internet for a possible spring drive-to trip for northern pike with my wife in 2023.
i would love some help and advice if anyone is willing to do that. i live in missouri and for the past 28 years my wife, myself and my kids have driven up to canada for an annual pike fishing trip, up until covid hit. when the kids were very young the pike were so easy to catch that even as they got older we stuck to keeping our trips for just pike (sometimes musky if they were in the same water system). now the kids are all grown up and have families and different priorities and that leaves me and my wife. since covid we quit going to canada and this will be our first trip in a few years. we have decided to stay in the US for our trip this spring and we always do a drive-to so that we can bring our boat. we started putting together information on different pike lakes and wow! now we are overwhelmed with information. minnesota was high on our list, also wisconsin because of the shorter drive, now i have been reading about north dakota & south dakota. there is tons of information out there but what we are hoping to find is a lake with a large population and with the opportunity to possibly catch a 40 incher. easy right! it seems that most of the articles that i find on these lakes are years old, nothing recent. i know i'm asking a lot but any help would be wonderful. sorry for the long introduction and Merry Christmas!!!

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

Merry Christmas, Chris and welcome to the stage. We love pictures, so be prepared.
I have fished several of the Wisconsin lakes, but not too many in Minnesota. Only fished for trout in South Dakota and never wet a line in North Dakota.
I’ve had great luck in Trempealeau, Onalaska, and the LaCrosse area of Wisconsin. They are just off of the Mississippi River. Rhinelander, Spooner, and Hayward have been good to me also.
I haven’t fished those areas in about 6 years, so I can’t give you current information, but there are plenty of stagers who will probably update you.
Merry Christmas.🎣🎣🎣

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Welcome to FS, Chris! Sorry I can’t help you with pike fishing locations, but someone will be along that can.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
🎅🏻

crittermo Loc: rocky mount mo

hi jer, thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly. lake onalska was on my list so thank you
very much and have a Blessed Christmas! maybe some one has more info on the wisconsin lakes

crittermo Loc: rocky mount mo

thank you randy, have a Blessed Christmas

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Welcome Chris,
I am certain you can’t go wrong in any of those locations from the Dakotas across to the Upper Peninsula of MI. There are spots across MN, WI and MI that you would think you’re in Canada, anyway.
You may even want to consider the Green Bay portion of Lake Michigan as there are some monster sized Northern Pike, Muskies, Smallies and Walleyes out there!
Good luck and I hope you find what you’re looking for!

crittermo Loc: rocky mount mo

thank you and ojdiddoit :-) i was looking at green bay and sturgeon bay so that is good information for me.
have a Blessed Christmas!

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Merry Christmas, and good luck wherever you choose to go!

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Good morning, Merry Christmas, and welcome to the Stage, crittermo. I live in SE MN., 14 miles from the Miss. River. I try not to catch those slime dogs, but to each his own. I won't let them in my boat. They are all over the place around here. I can't tell you exactly where to fish them, because I try to avoid their environment. Lawrence Lake, by Brownsville, MN., I have heard is good for slime dogs, but I can't tell you that, because I don't fish it. I would say that if you wound stay someplace around the LaCrosse, WI. you should be good. I wouldn't fish the Miss. in the immediate LaCrosse area, because of the pressure and the recreational boating. I would go somewhere above or below LaCrosse. If you need more help, let me know.

Omaryam2 Loc: Wi

Merry Christmas. If you like the feel of a Canada style lake I’d recommend Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota. Huge lake, hundreds of islands, wilderness feel, lots of resorts for places to stay.

Drcatfish Loc: Cherry Valley Ca.

Mille lac lake Minnesota

marshatasa

Sacandaga Lake, central NY. beautiful lake, record pike lake, gorgeous scenery. Good luck, Happy Holidays to you and your family
Marsh

crittermo Loc: rocky mount mo

Thank you Marsh, that sounds interesting in New York I will check it out and I hope you had a wonderful and Blessed holiday.
Chris

marshatasa

Thank you Chris ...happy holidays and a very happy/ healthy New Year.
It is a truly beautiful lake known for N/pike catches. Also a very beautiful area
Good luck and be well
Marsh

Betts Loc: Finger Lakes NY

Marsh, I’m gonna jump in and thank you for that tip, too. Are you from upstate NY?