BRAINERD LAKES AREA
Most likely, you've heard of the Brainerd Lakes Area, and more often than not, the best pike waters listed are Pelican, Gull and Whitefish. These are great pike fisheries, with Whitefish offering the best opportunity for a high-quality northern simply because of its size and reduced pressure compared with the other two lakes. But there are other options.

For a more "off-the-beaten-path" fishing experience for Brainerd Lakes Area pike, Jason Erlandson of Dave's Sportland Bait & Tackle recommended fishing Upper and Lower South Long Lakes. Located just southeast of Brainerd off Highway 18, these lakes are home to some trophy northerns.

"We run into a lot of pike on both Upper and Lower, and usually fish it during the early part of the season along the cabbage beds and deep weedlines," Erlandson said.

Tim Brastrup, DNR fisheries manager for the Brainerd area, said multiple 20-pound fish are taken from the lake each year by spear-anglers, but the lake keeps producing them because of a magnificent forage base of tullibees.

Brastrup also recommended fishing on Thunder Lake, which is located north of Outing on Highway 6. Thunder also has a healthy population of tullibees for growing big pike, along with plenty of islands and points in front of bays providing excellent ambush spots.

For more information on the Brainerd Lakes Area, contact the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-450-2838, or go online to ExploreBrainardLakes.com. Dave's Sportland Bait & Tackle can be reached at (218) 963-2401.

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Quality big-pike fishing won't return to the days of yesteryear without your assistance, so be sure to practice CPR -- catch, photo and release. Pay special attention to the rulebook as well because there are many lakes with special pike regulations these days. That list is also a great place to look for more suggestions on top Esox lakes to fish in Minnesota. And be sure to take Grandpa along to see what he thinks about our state's awesome northern pike fishing nowadays!