Northern Pike can be found across Canada and the northern half of the United States. The native range of Esox Lucius spans across the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, Asia and Siberia north of the 40th latitude.

In North America, native populations of pike can be found from Alaska across Canada to the upper Midwest and Northeastern regions of the United States. Pike have also been introduced far beyond, sometimes to the detriment of native fish populations. Northern pike can be described as a perfect predator. A streamlined body with an extended long jaw full of teeth, pike rank near the top of the food chain on most fisheries.

What amazes me about pike is how adaptable they can be. Big pike, however, occupy much different environments than small pike. Large pike need time to grow, so most of the biggest pike are relatively old. Beyond the obvious age requirement is a specific habitat that is necessary to grow the big ones. They need plenty of forage to grow and they also need cold water habitat. Without the cold water component in an ecosystem, pike can be numerous but often don’t reach the top-end size. For many pike anglers, a 40-inch pike is considered a benchmark — and the holy grail is a 50-inch fish.

Since pike are so aggressive and need some time to reach large sizes, most of the fisheries capable of growing the largest fish are either remote, large or have an extremely stringent catch-and-release ethos that protects the top-end fish. There are exceptions, of course, where we have seen shallow lakes or lakes without a thermocline produce very high-quality pike. But if you could build the perfect big pike fishery — most of the very best trophy pike fisheries have those components.

In the United States, there are several key pike fisheries that stand out or give ice anglers a viable chance at catching a trophy-class northern pike. The Great Lakes produce some quality fish. Green Bay, Chequamegon Bay and Saginaw Bay all have the potential, but big pike can be a very low-density fish in this type of water. Mille Lacs, Upper Red Lake and Devils Lake also produce a fair amount of fish that flirt with or surpass the 40-inch range. There are also several small lakes and flowages or river systems across Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas that produce the occasional trophy-class pike. The Nebraska Sandhill lakes occasionally produce a big pike. The Finger Lakes in upstate New York produce some good-size pike, as well.

In the Lower 48, however, there are two systems in my opinion that simply stand out from the rest — Lake of the Woods and the Missouri River system. More specifically, the Missouri River reservoirs of Lake Oahe, Lake Sakakawea and Fort Peck.

When we look north of the border, the number of ice fishing destinations across Canada that can also produce giant northern pike are numerous. Tobin Lake Reservoir in northern Saskatchewan is one of the very best big pike fisheries. Across northern Manitoba, the number of accessible trophy pike fisheries include Reed Lake, Wekusko Lake, Bakers Narrows and the Winnipeg River. There are countless trophy-class pike fisheries across northern Canada, but we will just highlight some of the more easily accessible locations that can be reached by traveling ice anglers.   

Here is our list containing the best of the best, along with a few honorable mentions. We didn’t include every state but used this space to highlight the cream of the crop regions for ice anglers specifically looking to target the biggest pike around.

Minnesota

Very Best: Lake of the Woods

Honorable Mention: Upper Red Lake and Mille Lacs

Lake of the Woods might be the very best turnkey ice fishing destination for catching trophy-size pike in the Lower 48 because there are several resorts that cater to ice anglers all winter long. The infrastructure is in place with resorts, guides, ice transportation and fish house rentals. Many resorts can host anglers looking to specifically target northerns where you can rent out ice houses. You can get transportation out to these houses set up on monster pike locations and use the houses as base camps. You can also simply use the resort for lodging and meals and do your own exploration.

Some of the better pike fishing occurs during the late-ice period of late March and into April. Prespawn pike often push up into shallow bays. Incoming feeder creeks and shallow bays attract northerns during that time period and fish are often shallow in less than 10 feet of water. There are times when we find fish in as little as 2 or 3 feet of water. Productive areas include Four Mile Bay, Bostic Creek, Zipple Bay, Muskeg Bay and the Swift Ditch area. Much of the south shore of Lake of the Woods offers large, expansive shallow flats of sand. Any location where there is a bay or a spot that has an incoming stream or tributary is a location that can produce huge pike. Anytime you fish these Lake of the Woods locations during late ice, you’ll have a very good opportunity at catching a giant. Ice anglers can use two tip-ups per licensed angler.

Check out: Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort, www.arnesens.com 

North Dakota

Very Best: Lake Sakakawea

Honorable Mention: Devils Lake

The program on the Missouri River reservoirs like Lake Sakakawea mirrors the time frame and strategies found on Lake of the Woods, although ice-out typically occurs earlier, so an average prime time might be early to mid-March depending on the winter. On Lake Sakakawea, look at Hazen Bay, Steinke Bay, Wolf Creek, Douglas Bay and Parshall Bay, or Shell Creek. Frozen, dead baits below tip-ups are the program.

These large bays and creek arms offer a lot of structure. Secondary points located within the bays are top locations. Also look for shallow flats that run along the channel edges. Moving water fires up these late-ice bites for pike and the first indicator that water is starting to move is the color of the water. The water stains up or gets dirty when the water starts to move and that often coincides with northerns moving into the backs of the bays in shallow water. An average depth might be 12 to 6 feet of water, but again, don’t be afraid to look shallower toward the end of the ice season. Ice anglers can use four tip-ups per licensed angler.

Check out: Garrison Motel, www.garrisonmotel.com 

South Dakota

Very Best: Lake Oahe

Honorable Mention: Pactola Reservoir

Lake Oahe has long had a stellar reputation for producing giant pike. Target the large bays or tributaries like Beaver Bay, the Grand River, Indian Creek and Spring Creek at late ice. Tip-ups with frozen, dead baits account for most of the big ones caught by ice anglers each winter. Secondary points and shallow flats along channel edges are top locations to target within these bays or creek arms. Depending on the water levels, flooded trees or bushes can also hold fish, but look for most of them in less than 12 feet of water at late ice. Ice anglers can use four tip-ups per licensed angler.

Check out: Mo-Rest Motel, www.oahewalleyes.com 

Outrageous Adventures, www.outrageousadventures.net

Montana

Very Best: Fort Peck Reservoir

Honorable Mention: Flathead Lake

Duck Creek, Little Duck Creek and the numerous bays in the Dry Arm are all trophy pike producers during late ice. This remote fishery sees little ice fishing pressure, but anglers must heed ice conditions. Most of the late-ice pike fishing occurs around Duck and Little Duck Creek, but there is so much unpressured water in the Dry Arm. All the major tributaries coming into the Dry Arm like Box Creek, Rock Creek and Bug Creek produce gigantic northerns. Fort Peck is also a tremendous lake trout fishery and produces some huge walleyes, too. Dead baits below tip-ups produce many of the largest pike. Ice anglers can use six tip-ups per licensed angler but each tip up must have the angler’s name, phone number and ALS number.

Check out: Lakeridge Baitshop and Motel, 406-526-3597

Saskatchewan

Very Best: Tobin Lake

Honorable Mention: Last Mountain Lake and Lake Diefenbaker

Tobin Lake is renowned as a trophy walleye fishery, but the giant pike are equally impressive. A reservoir on the Saskatchewan River, Tobin ranks near the very top for trophy-class pike on any list. The fact that you can reach this fishery from a blacktop highway makes this destination very accessible. Top pike locations include the Wall Flats area and Petaigan Bay. Good northerns can often be found relating to the sunken timber. There are many more premier trophy pike fisheries in this Canadian province, but we highlighted Tobin Lake because of the accessibility and the proximity of nearby communities like Nipawin. Ice anglers can use two tip-ups per licensed angler.

Check out: Tobin Lake Resort, www.tobinlakeresort.com 

Manitoba

Very Best: Reed Lake

Honorable Mentions: Wekusko Lake, Winnipeg River, Bakers Narrows

Like Saskatchewan, Manitoba is blessed with many trophy-pike fisheries, but we narrowed our list down to destinations that are easily accessible on paved highways during the winter. We have headquartered out of Wekusko Falls Lodge on several occasions to target trophy northerns and have spent time on Reeds Lake, Tramping Lake and Wekusko Lake. All of this water has serious giant pike potential. Pick any large, shallow bay with an incoming creek or tributary on just about any of these large lakes in northern Manitoba and you have a really good chance at a world-class pike. Many of these large, shallow bays are very featureless sand flats, but some of the them do have an incoming channel. Tip-ups with dead bait like ciscoes in 4 to 7 feet of water is the general program during late ice. Ice anglers can use two tip-ups per licensed angler.

Check out: Weksusko Falls Lodge, www.wekuskofallslodge.com

Across the board, regardless of where you fish — tip-ups and dead bait like anchovies, smelt, herring or ciscoes account for many of the largest northern pike caught every winter. The late-ice period is perhaps the very best time for catching a massive pike. Most of these fish are caught in less than 12 feet of water and as the late-ice period progresses, don’t be afraid to fish in as little as a foot or 2 of water under the ice. When targeting huge pike, make sure that your terminal tackle is up for the task. Heavy 40- to 60-pound-test dacron line is a minimum. Use heavy-duty quick-strike rigs made from 40- to 80-pound-test fluorocarbon. Dead baits often range from 6 to 15 inches. Northern pike are one of the first fish to spawn and often spawn under the ice. So, late-ice periods see these fish push up into shallow bays or creek arms where they will eventually spawn.

For finding the biggest concentrations of giant pike each winter and for the best possible chance at catching a behemoth, focus on these premier big-pike fisheries at prime time. Your odds of landing the fish of a lifetime will go up dramatically.

— Jason Mitchell is a fishing and hunting guide on North Dakota’s Devils Lake. Check out his website, JasonMitchellOutdoors.com, and his television show, “Jason Mitchell Outdoors” on Fox Sports North and Midwest.