CLEARWATER LAKE

Wright County

“The structure is extreme on this lake,” said Melstrom. “You’re one minute in 3 feet of water, the next minute you’re in 30 feet. That’s why I like this lake. It creates a challenge.”

According to Melstrom, anglers will be pleased by the size of the pike there.

“One thing they have on Clearwater is a forage base that creates big pike,” he said. “That’s the tullibees. This is a tremendous forage that has a positive effect on the growth rates of pike. There are some real pigs in this lake. It’s not at all uncommon to hook a 10- or 15-pound pike in this lake. It’s not an outstanding lake when it comes to pure numbers of pike, but it makes up for this in the size of the fish.”

Melstrom’s game plan for Clearwater is reminiscent of his Minnetonka pattern.

“On Clearwater I start shallow with bucktails or shallow-running crankbaits, and as the day progresses I work deeper,” he said. “When I work the edges I stick to a spinnerbait because with the bottom quickly going from shallow to deep to shallow it’s much easier to backtroll a spinnerbait then it is to troll a crankbait.”

Live bait is also a good option for big pike, according to Melstrom.

“Clearwater is a great option for live-bait rigging because of the sharp-dropping structure elements,” he said. “Use a sucker minnow on a wire leader and a heavy weight to get it down. It’s a large live bait and you’re putting the bait right on a breakline, so it requires patience, but big pike like a large sucker, so it’s an effective means to catch fish, especially on this lake.”

MEDICINE LAKE

Hennepin County

Sitting right in the center of the west-metro region, Medicine Lake is part of the French Regional Park, Three Rivers Park District.

“Medicine Lake not only has good numbers of pike, but the average size of the fish there is great,” said Melstrom. “I find that on this lake I’m working shallower than I do on most of the other lakes I fish. The water clarity is not real good so the weedline disappears in 8 to 10 feet, so the presentations tend to be shallower.

“Since Medicine Lake doesn’t have any deep structure or erratic weedlines you’re always in a search mode on this lake,” continued Melstrom. “This means you’re always fan-casting or trolling, never keying on one spot to find pike. You’re not using pinpoint presentations on this lake. You’re not likely to be catching a lot of fish in one spot. Instead you’re picking up one nice fish here and another nice fish there. You keep moving and searching, knowing that it’s not the actual spot you’re looking for, but the pike, and they might be 100 feet apart. You can’t just pull up to a spot and say you’re going to drop an anchor here. You keep moving, looking for that one fish.

“The lake doesn’t get a lot of serious pike pressure. It’s a popular recreational lake, but you won’t find a lot of serious pike fishermen there, even though the lake has a lot of real nice fish swimming there.”

BIG MARINE LAKE

Washington County

“Good water clarity on this lake means you tighten up the presentation,” said Melstrom. “You don’t see many people on this lake fishing for big pike, and there are plenty of fish there. It’s a lake that can produce pike in that 10-pound class.

“On a lake like this you key on the fish that are keying on the deeper, cooler water. Here you get out your stout rods and speed-troll, and work deeper,” instructed Melstrom. “Figure the pike in this lake will be well off the weedline sitting in the deeper water.”