"Anywhere up along the river along any of the weedbeds is a good location. But once the water warms up, try to get up on the rock reefs. But be prepared to catch them in a variety of depths," Kinsella said.

"In the summer, try trolling up and down the river along the ends of the docks, which is in 18 to 20 of water and provides a great hideout for some big ones," he added.

To learn more, contact the Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com, or call 1-800-382-FISH. To contact Kinsella at Border View Lodge, call 1-800-PRO-FISH.

LAKE KABETOGAMA
Huge Lake Kabetogama, in Voyageurs National Park along the Canadian border, has perhaps one of the best pike populations both for quality and quantity. Phil Hart of the Gateway Store on Highway 53 should know, because his store is a stopping point for most of the guides and anglers who spend time on "Kabe."

Hart said the routine for most visitors to Kabetogama is to troll spoons near the surface where they catch an abundance of 2- to 4-pound northerns. Those fish are fun to catch, but there are much bigger ones lurking about. For pike in the 7- to 8-pound range, live bait is the way to go, specifically light northern sucker minnows. For pike in the 8- to 12-pound range, big artificials are best.

"The biggest ones come in the spring on opening weekend while they are walleye fishing, but both are in the same areas, feeding on small baitfish," Hart said.

Once the midsummer season sets in, the northerns settle into their deep-water sanctuaries adjacent to shallow weedy bays.

"Find the 12-foot mark nearby a 30- to 45-foot hole and you have found one of these sanctuaries," said Hart. "There are seven holes on the lake like that."

Timing it so that you are on the water just as a storm is closing in can be the best time here. Even when the weather is perfect, using electronics to monitor the movement of these pike can prove helpful.

"If you see them begin migrating in from 30 feet, hang on, because the bite is about to begin," said Hart.

For more info, contact the Kabetogama Lake Association at 1-800-524-9085 or go to www.kabetogama.com. Hart can be reached at the Gateway Store on U.S. Hwy 53 and County Road 122, about 30 miles south of the Canadian border.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Lake Winnibigoshish is a tough lake to fish for big pike, but it's worth an attempt because there are still some giants lurking the depths.

Boser guides clients here, and said a 30-inch-plus pike on Winnie is a big fish these days, though there are bigger ones around.

Targeting lunker pike in the spring can be tough because they are mixed in with the walleyes and perch, chasing shiners on the flats. Once the seasons change and midsummer is in high gear, Boser said the weedbeds and the deep humps in the middle of the lake become great locations. "The big ones hang out there and along the mudflats down deep," he said.

A lot of these huge pike are accidentally hooked -- and often lost -- by walleye anglers dragging live bait along the humps. But tie on a large jig-and-minnow rig, and a big pike will most likely bite.

The best time to target the big pike is when the tullibees move into the weeds around late July and early August. These areas, Boser said, are very accessible for casting spoons and large crankbaits.

For more information, contact Boser at (218) 327-2191 or online at www.mnfishingpros.com. Lodging information can be found on the Lake Winnie Resort Area's Web site at www.lakewinnie.net.