Wisconsin's general inland fishing season closes on March 6, 2006, and ice-out usually comes soon after that. However, anglers who want to attack open water for big pike don't have to wait until the first Saturday in May on inland lakes, because fishing for northerns is open all year on some Badger State waters. This includes selected rivers and their backwater lakes, as well as lakes Superior and Michigan and some of their tributaries. Then, after the general inland season opens in May, pike are fair game throughout our state.

Northerns are not wary fish. This observation is supported by the pike's small brain, which accounts for less than one-thousandth of its body weight. Pike are also known to be active all year -- more so than other fish -- which means they are often the only game fish willing to bite, especially in frigid water. Northerns are less affected by cold fronts than are bass, muskies and walleyes. They feed by sight almost exclusively during daylight hours, and thus they grow large on a voracious appetite. These qualities are enough to make many folks to seek northerns, but you can throw in the fact that they're found in just about every water you go fishing on in America's Dairyland.

So if you're one of those people addicted to pike fishing, you can get your fix on these Wisconsin waters this open-water season.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Old Man River is famous for catfishing and walleye fishing, but this big stream has northerns, too. Pike fishing is open all year on the Mississippi, both where it is the boundary with Iowa and with Minnesota. The daily bag limit is five, with no minimum length limit.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, a long-term resource-monitoring program shows an increase in northern pike in the Mississippi River's Pool No. 8 during the period 1995-2004. You can learn more at www.umesc.usgs.gov/data_library/fisheries/graphical/fish_front.html.

The La Crosse area is an excellent location to hunt for pike after ice-out or all year. There are plenty of boat ramps in the area to access the Mississippi. By the way, when you study your fishing regulations pamphlet, be sure to look in the county section for the county where you'll be fishing. Special regulations are listed there, such as size and bag limits. In addition, immediately after the name of some bodies of water, you will find a fish symbol, which indicates that water is open all year to hook-and-line fishing, except for the species listed.

Fishing for pike just after ice-out is often a bone-chilling experience. Some claim it's the coldest fishing of the year, so don't forget to pack warm clothing. Local bait dealers will be able to advise you what baits are working. When the water is cold, shiners and suckers are good live bait, but don't neglect to try dead smelt.

If you choose to fish with artificials, start with spinners and crankbaits in red, white and chartreuse, and fish them slowly. In many cases, a simple jig-and-minnow will take spring pike better than anything else. It's like walleye fishing, but you use bigger jigs and minnows. After summer arrives, stick with artificial lures, especially the big spinners.

Contact the La Crosse Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for lodging and travel information at 1-800-658-9424 or (608) 782-2366, or you can log on to their Web site at www.explorelacrosse.com.