“These pike, however, have demonstrated the potential to get very large. I would go to Grindstone for a shot at a 20-pounder but not to catch a lot of pike.”

Heavier-than-normal tackle is called for to land one of these lunkers. Large spoons, crankbaits and in-line spinners are all good possibilities to tempt one of these big pike into a springtime bite.

Grindstone is a deep, clear lake in Sawyer County. It averages about 30 feet deep with a maximum depth of 60 feet.

For additional information, call the Bureau of Fisheries at (715) 634-9658.

ESCANABA LAKE
Escanaba in Vilas County yields pike year ‘round with no size limit or bag limit. The lake is part of a five-lakes research project with no closed pike season. A free permit to fish for the day is required. There is a small station located at the boat landing where a permit can be obtained.

Safe ice is generally present through early April, so ice- fishing for pike would be the method of choice and targeting vegetation in the near-shore areas is key. The northerns are moving up into the shallow, marshy areas for the rigors of spawning and can be taken with a little finesse.

“Tip-ups and large shiners seem to work best if there’s still ice,” fisheries supervisor Mike Vogelsang said. “Jigging with pimples and ice-jigging Rapalas will also work.”

There are some nice-sized pike that come out of Escanaba Lake, but anglers probably won’t catch many of them.

Escanaba Lake is eight miles east of Boulder Junction. It covers 293 acres with a maximum depth of 26 feet.

The Bureau of Fisheries Management at (715) 358-9239 can provide more information.

NELSON LAKE
“Nelson has some nice-sized pike for those who don’t mind catch-and-release under a relatively new 32-inch minimum length limit,” said Dave Neuswanger, the Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries team leader.

The management direction here is to aim for large pike with as many big fish as the lake will hold. So far, things are looking good. Northerns are the top of the food chain and are exhibiting good growth and the potential to reach some enormous sizes.

Though not a legal requirement, conservation hooks are a good idea to avoid injury to the fish. Lures without conservation hooks can easily be made barbless with a pair of needle-nosed pliers.

Many Wisconsin lakes receive enough pressure that larger pike are removed on a regular basis and trophy-class individuals are lacking entirely. The DNR is attempting to reverse the trend with special regulations on lakes like Nelson that will allow big pike to remain in the lake.

The lake isn’t the only up-and-coming trophy fishery. Largemouth bass are growing fast, and in years past, two 8-pounders were documented.

Nelson Lake is an impoundment covering 2,503 acres in Sawyer County. For more information, call the DNR in Hayward at (715) 634-9658.