Numerous locations south of the Twin Cities have the capability of producing pike weighing 10 pounds or more. Photo by Billy Lindner/Windigo Images.

We had been watching the screen for nearly an hour. It was my first opportunity to view the activity in the water beneath a frozen surface and I was mesmerized by what I was seeing. As the camera focused on the edge of a 6-foot weedline, numerous perch, bass and an occasional walleye unwittingly became targets of the lens. Despite all of this activity, a spoon being deftly jigged within the same frame was often perused, but never lunged at.

Then the pike moved in.

One moment the screen was serene, the next we were staring at the face of a mighty predator. The fish appeared to idle for several seconds as it looked directly at the camera, with only the temporarily motionless spoon separating the two. From the corner of my eye, I saw my fishing partner twitch his rod tip. The spoon reacted accordingly and in the shortest of a split second, so did the northern pike. The fish coiled like a snake before baring its teeth and pouncing upon the artificial prey. The explosiveness and precision of the strike was incredible.

As the fish was hoisted to the surface, it became apparent that the close proximity of the camera had somewhat distorted the actual size of the pike. The fish appeared on the screen to be the size of an alligator. It turned out to weigh about 3 pounds. However, having seen the power exerted by this average-sized fish, I have a better understanding and renewed respect for the aggressive nature of a northern pike.

As the ice continues to thicken, we have reached the point in a Minnesota winter that I often compare to the dog days of summer. The walleye bite has slowed to a crawl, panfish are scattered and deep and the bass season has come to a close. Just as they would in July and August, many fishermen are turning their attention toward northern pike. This is a fish that resides in nearly every river and lake within our state, strikes with the speed of a rattlesnake and fights like a ferocious bulldog. Yet, northern pike spend most of their time playing second fiddle to our state's walleye population. It may only be during the dog days, either summer or winter, when they come out of the shadows and step into the spotlight.

There are numerous locations south of the Twin Cities that have the capability and history of producing fish that approach and sometimes surpass 10 pounds. Although most of the lakes down south do not have the proper foliage and forage to consistently produce large pike, many of the deeper lakes and some of the expansive prairie potholes do a pretty good job. The following is a closer look at several southern lakes that offer the opportunity to tangle with the teeth of a large northern pike. (Continued)

LAKE MAZASKA
Located in Rice County, just a few miles northwest of Faribault, Lake Mazaska is a popular destination. Accesses to this 680-acre lake are located on the southern shoreline along State Highway 21, near the town of Shieldsville. With a maximum depth of 50 feet, Lake Mazaska supports a good forage base for the growth of northern pike. This abundance of baitfish is a key to producing trophy pike.

Over the past 10 years, test net surveys conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have consistently shown that the lake maintains an excellent population of northerns. While a majority of the surveyed fish is usually in the 2- to 4-pound range, pike exceeding 30 inches also appear in the nets on a yearly basis. While there is certainly some natural reproduction that occurs here, the lake is also regularly stocked with thousands of additional fry.