Does anyone fish for pike through the ice. If so, where ?
We love fishing for pike through the ice up here in Maine...particularly at Sabattus Lake outside the town of Sabattus northeast of Lewiston-Auburn. Derbies have seen catches exceeding 16 pounds. The lake is about 1200 acres, freezes all the way across. Access can be difficult as cottage owners like to keep others out by posting parking areas and are in collusion with local towing companies so know where you can park and ask first. Use heavier line tests, even consider wire line at the terminal end. Larger minnows work well as do white suckers. Some guys have picked up larger pike after they have caught a yellow perch that didn’t trip the trap. Some guys modify their traps by adding a small alligator clip to hold their line so the larger baits don’t prematurely trip them. On good we days we can have >1000 anglers on the ice. License up though as wardens patrol the entire lake
Thanks for the reply. I was beginning to think I was the only one to try for them through the ice. Northeast corner of SD is where I try.
D. Fish Killer
Been out there in God's country a few times...usually chasing pheasants in and around Aberdeen and Cecilton never tried the fishing though. Flew fighters for the AF in an earlier life with a guy from Flint...his wife was from Pierre(sp?). Pike are considered an invasive species here in trout country so there is no minimum length or bag limit. Most guys don't eat them but the ones that do usually put them in chowder or can them stripping off the flesh away from major bones (backbone and ribs and the more diligent search out the "Y" bones as well. Others assume the canning process will take care of them.
I watched a video of a guy taking the Y bones out and I've been taking them out ever since. It takes a little longer to clean them, but well worth it. My grandkids can eat them with NO WORRIES. 6 fish limit here. They have changed the way we can take them now. We can take them by bow or spear year round. That would be a kick to get one with a spear.
I fish northern through the ice on a lake called "Little Rabbit" near Ironton Minnesota. Have lots of fun and great luck. I'm in 12-13 ft and it breaks to 20ft deep less than 30ft away. This lake dumps into the Mississippi a half mile from me. I fish 3ft off the bottom with 4-5 inch sucker minnows. I catch them in 12ft as well as the 20ft where I'm at and in-between. Good luck-Dan
Dan,
Thanks, do you think the northerns are there because of the drop off? Or do you find them in other areas as well? I have never caught one through the ice. I know it is done, but I guess I'm not that into the solid water fishen. It seems that everytime I want to go out the weather turns ugly or the wind is blowing too hard. All I have is a small pull-over (OLD) clam. Not very enjoyable to be in in the wind.
Two reasons I think I find them there. There is a lot of perch in and out of there. In fact I fish for those too and keep the 8-10 inchers. Because of the drop there, I think they come in and out of the deep to shallow. I can fish sunnies out in the deeper water and sometimes do. I get them a foot off the bottom using wax worms in 20-25ft. I have caught Northern there too. So far this year, I bet half the northern I've caught,kept and cleaned have had sunfish in their bellies. In my house I'm fishing in about 13ft. I put a tip-up out right where it drops to 20ft. Been having fun. I'm heading out this afternoon to get the late day bite. I'll be out all day tomorrow. Feel free to shoot me a text at 218-640-7228. I can send you some pictures. (hopefully of fish too!) Have a good one. Oh and if your fishing a lake your not familiar with, go to Lake Finder and look it up. Good info I've found on some. Dan
Thanks for the info and advice. I hope to get out after the 1st. Still have a marble run to finish for the grandkids. It's getting close, but still needs a few things to complete it.
Dave
I mainly fish Big Stone Lake by Hartford beach area. And Hurricane Lake toward Enemy Swim in SD. I have a buddy that owns a few small ponds with northerns in them. I'm hoping to try them this year.
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