LAKE SUPERIOR
Duluth is a beautiful town nestled on the westernmost edge of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. The big lake's cold waters are not very productive for pike fishing, but where they meet with the St. Louis River, the fishing is outstanding. Known to some people as "The Harbor," the map name for these waters is St. Louis Bay.

"Pike are native to the area, and it might have declined a bit after we stocked muskies, but large northerns have always been common," said John Lindgren, a fisheries specialist for the DNR's Duluth office.

Lindgren said in the last three or four years, the DNR has seen more northern pike than normal, meaning the fishing this year could be better than ever. The St. Louis River is typically full of warm, dark water that doesn't meet most pike criteria for ideal habitat. Lake Superior is cold and clear, making it good for pike, but the lack of forage throughout the basin results in tough fishing. But where the St. Louis River meets Lake Superior, you have a pike dream come true.

Fishing St. Louis Bay and mouth of the river means combining lake-fishing tactics with river-fishing techniques. Northerns have been known to hang out along deep weed edges, as well as around bridge pylons and below wing dams.

Should the big waters of Lake Superior call you out into them, don't be afraid to try it -- as long as the waves aren't crashing in. Just be sure to take along a weather radio and a cell phone. Lindgren said muskies are caught all the time in the waters immediately outside the shipping canal, and it would make sense that some pike are swimming there as well.

For more information on the Duluth area, go to VisitDuluth.com, or call 1-800-4-DULUTH.

CHISAGO CITY AREA
Just northeast of the Twin Cities metro area in the Chisago City Lakes are some of the best fishing opportunities around. Bass and panfish tend to get most of the attention around these parts, thus leaving thin competition for big northerns. Luckily for pike fans, most of the Esox here are anything but thin.

Brad Pusenka gives out fishing advice at Frankie's Live Bait & Marine in Chisago City, and he tells his customers they should try North Center and South Center lakes.

"Those are probably the two best lakes in the area for big pike throughout the year," Pusenka said.

Roger Hugill is the DNR fisheries manager for the area, and he said North Center and South Center have quality-sized northerns. "There's a 20- to 36-inch protected slot to help protect that quality size," he said. The quantity of quality pike is not super high, but Hugill said he works to keep the northerns in balance with the rest of the fishery so that the perch population remains stable.

Pusenka's favorite spots to fish are on South Center around Pancake Island and in front of Whispering Bay.

"I like to fish the bays and stay on the weed edges, just sitting back with a big sucker minnow and bobber," Pusenka said.

Another high-quality lake in the area that Pusenka fishes is Sunrise, which is located just north of Chisago City and close to Center City. Pusenka said Sunrise boasts a great early spring and fall bite. "This is a good lake as soon as the ice goes off for the biggest pike in the area," he said. Sitting along the edge of the cabbage weeds is a great way to find fish, as is throwing spinnerbaits and in-line spinners.

For additional information, contact Frankie's Live Bait & Marine in Chisago City at (651) 257-6334, or the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at (651) 257-1177, or or ChisagoLakesChamber.com