This angler's day on the ice paid off in a huge northern. Photo by Billy Lindner/Windigo Images.

When you think of ice-fishing for northern pike, you probably think about keeping warm while chasing tip-ups. While I share some of those same memories, I, unfortunately, remember one of my most embarrassing moments.

Back in my college days, I went ice-fishing with my dad and brother on one of our favorite northern lakes. In fact, all we did that day was go after northerns. We had tip-ups set along the deep river channel while we jigged with rods along the edge. So, there I am jigging my brother's rod and reel because I had yet to discover the joys of jigging for myself, when what happens? I get bored. Who doesn't? Sometimes holding a rod with a minnow at the other end gets really old, really fast. So, I put my rod on the ice, with the minnow still down the hole, with the intention of walking 20 feet to the sled for a drink and coming back. I'm sure you know what comes next.

As soon as I am 10 feet away, the rod goes skidding across the ice and down the hole. I dive back toward the hole only to see the butt of the rod swimming past. I think briefly of plunging my arm down into the icy water, but alas, I change my mind as my rod is gone in a flash. I get up, slam my hat to the ground, start stomping my feet and uttering some choice words. The whole time my dad and brother are looking down their holes, pretending to fish while their shoulders are bouncing up and down as they try to hide their laughter. I have yet to live that day down.

So when safe ice finally comes, fishing for bluegills in an ice shack can be fun and productive, yet, sometimes you just want that blood-pumping feeling of a heavy thump, thump, thump of something larger on the other end of the line. Sometimes you want to catch something with teeth -- big teeth. Luckily, there are many lakes in Wisconsin with northerns in them.

Those of you who have fished northerns more than once in your life know the traditional approach of using a minnow and a tip-up. All three of the guides in this article recommend fishing for pike along weed edges, in the weeds, and in open pockets within the weeds. And while this is the standard operating procedure, there are other creative ways to catch pike. Here are some ideas, and some lakes, where you can get started.

SOUTHERN WISCONSIN
Eric Haataja of Big Fish Guide Service likes Browns Lake in Racine County.

"This lake can produce all-day action," he said. "It is primarily a shallow lake. When I'm going for pike, I look for large weedbeds or where thick weeds meet thin weeds. I'll try the traditional large or medium golden shiner on a tip-up around the weed edges.

"I also like Big Muskego and Bass Bay. This system doesn't really have deep holes; it is more like a big flat. Still, there are plenty of weed pockets to try.

"Lake Delevan has a few expansive weedbeds on the north and south ends of the lake inside the big bays. This lake has good numbers of northerns, and some pretty big ones mixed in because of the 32-inch, one-fish limit."

Haataja said when fishing Lake Mendota, look for the big weed edges like University Bay and Dunns Bar and fish 20 feet down in 20 to 25 feet of water.

For some trophy pike, he recommends trying the Lake Michigan harbors.