Everyone in Minnesota knows the northern pike. This long, lean fish cruises more Minnesota lakes than just about any other fish. Thus, it has inadvertently earned the reputation of being a “second class” fish to the more glamorous walleye.

Actually the northern pike is a misunderstood fish and one that we too often take for granted. So before you distainfully curse the next “hammerhandle”, keep a few things in mind. First, think of all the times a stringer of small northern pike has turned your fishing trip from a complete washout to a success. Or, think about how tasty a northern pike really is when you fry it up at home. The taste is quite similar to a walleye, isn’t it.

But the most intriguing thing about the northern pike is their unique adaptability; they can go anywhere in just about any body of water they want to. Think about it, you’ve probably caught northern pike in rivers; small ponds; shallow, weed-filled lakes; and deep, cold lakes. Most species of fish cannot withstand such extreme temperture and environmental differences; the northern pike is truly an amazing fish.

Regardless of how the northern pike developed into such a well rounded creature, the most coloful explantion is an indian legend told by Dan Gapen in his book, RIVER FISHING. When the Great Spirit finished with the creation of the water and all fishes, he knew there must be a way to keep the small fishes in balance, or they would overpopulate and destroy themselves. With his vast wisdom, the Great Spirit created the northern pike. He gave this fish a voracious appetite and a long, lean, powerful body so it could pursue and catch any fish that swims. He also gave it a massive set of jaws lined with needle sharp teeth to grasp any unfortunate morsel that may come its way. Finally, this fish was given the ability to exist in any depth of water, environment, or circumstance it may encounter. When he was finished, the Great Spririt called the fish “Keeper of the Waters.” Today, the “Keeper” does its job in most of Minnesota lakes and rivers and actually is a great benefit to the ecological balance of fish populations.

So the next time you catch a small northern pike and curse it for being worm- riddled, good-for-nothing stunted fish, pause for a moment and think about the wonder of nature the northern pike really is.

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I get a kick out of people who think sunfish are kid’s fish. Sure, lot’s of kids catch sunfish, and it often doesn’t take a lot of skill to get some, but panfish are fun and have filled many stringers of people who’ve struck out on “adult fish.”

Right now is the best time of year to catch big sunfish because this is when they spawn. As spawning draws near, big adult sunfish move into the shallows to fan out nests where they lay their eggs. Nesting usually occurs in shallow, protected areas with one to six feet of water. They prefer to spawn on sandy bottoms with a little weed cover. In Minnesota, nesting often takes place in beds of bulrushes, near lily pads growing on sandy bottoms, and under fallen trees.

Sunfish nests are circular areas where the male sunfish has cleared away shells, sticks or debris. Often the shiny shells and discarded debris around the rim of the nest gives it a “halo-like” appearance. The nests will be from six inches to three feet in diameter. Sometimes several sunfish will fan out nests so close together that they are only a few inches apart.

Adult male sunfish aggressively defend their nest and eggs and chase away other sunfish and perch that eat their eggs. This unique prenatal care lasts until the eggs hatch and the young sunfish leave on their own.

During this protection period adult sunfish will boldly grab any small lure or bait that approaches their nest, which is why the fishing can be so good.

You can locate the sunfish nests by cruising the shallows and looking for them. Wearing polaroid sunglasses will really help you see into the water better. If you spook the sunfish off the nests, just make a mental note of where the nests are and return later.

The secret to catching the sunfish is to get your bait or lure right into the nest or just above it. This requires pinpoint casts, so use an ultralight rod designed to cast tiny lures.

If you like to use a cast and retrieve method, use small 1/64 to 1/16 ounce jigs. Cast the jig beyond the sunfish and retrieve the jig until it is just over the nest and let it fall it. Generally a good sized sunfish will engulf the jig just as it is settling toward the bottom.

When the fish are a little spooky, use a bobber and live bait. Set the bobber so it will suspend the bait just over the nests and use just enough split shot to carry the bait down. Tiny foam or very light pencil bobbers that offer little resistance to a nibbling sunfish are the best. Use a number 10 hook and bait it with a piece of worm, night crawler, cricket, or grasshopper, but the best bait is a tiny leech. Big sunfish just go crazy over leeches, and little sunfish seem to not like them. Just hook the leech once through the sucker end and it will wriggle and turn on the hook in a way that really excites keeper sunfish.

Catching sunfish off their nests may seem unsporting to some, or even unethical, but do not worry about the sunfish populations. Too many of our lakes are filled with schools of tiny stunted sunfish that are a result of over population. Catching sunfish off the nest is not only fun, but contributes to healthy sunfish numbers and bigger fish. So what are you waiting for? Somewhere within a short drive there are sunfish just waiting to bite.

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Sometimes, in my line of work, I have to fish for a certain kind of fish. Like yesterday, I had to catch a northern for some photographs. As I worked along a steep drop off I could see fish swirling up in the shallows, likely bass or crappies. But I couldn’t find out because I had to catch a pike. If I was lucky I would catch one quickly, take my photos, and then fish for fun. But work comes first, if you want to call it that.

The gear I was using was pike ammo all the way-a stout graphite rod, 17-pound test line, and a “tooth proof” steel leader. The drop off was steep, dropping from 8-feet to 40-feet in no time at all. To cover a depth range like that I tied on a heavy jig tipped with a piece of pork rind, the old “jig-and-pig.”

I didn’t need to catch a big pike. In fact, a five-pound fish would have sufficed. Sometimes even a northern over two-pounds doesn’t come easy, and I was afraid this was going to be one of those days.

The bluegills were definitely active. Many times a parade of the little guys would follow my jig as I reeled it toward the boat. They would peck at the rubber skirt and nibble at the pork legs, and I had fun watching them. At times there were so many of them I was curious how many there really were. So I held the jig about three feet below the surface and let them come to it. In no time there must have been ten or fifteen.

Suddenly little sunfish were scurrying everywhere, and there he was. A long, lean pike with a baleful look in his eyes shot in and had my lure in his mouth before I could blink. He didn’t run with it, he just sat there four-feet from the boat. I could see tiny little jig legs sticking out between his jaws.

In the fraction of a second all this happened I calculated he was six or seven pounds, big enough to satisfy my photo needs. I struck hard. The heavy rod and line did their job as the hook set turned the fish over on it’s side. Most pike would have been as good as boated about then, but not this one. He must have been part cat, nine lives and all.

Quickly the fish righted itself and shook it’s head a few times, almost like the hook was nothing more than an inconvenience. It was almost as if the pike was showing his defiance. Just what I needed, a northern with an attitude problem.

I knew I had better set the hook again, so I reeled down to drive the hook again. For a split second I let the line go slack. I watched as the pike flared it’s gills and blew the jig right out of it’s mouth. My jig-and-pig settled toward the bottom and little globules of fish slime floated about the pike’s head. He snapped his jaws a few times just to show he wasn’t hurt and shot for the depths.

I couldn’t help but admire that pike. If he is that pugnacious now, what will he be like when he weighs twenty-pounds. With his luck he will get that size and bigger. Good for him, but I still don’t have my photos.

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The first sight we had of Isle Royale was typical of this wilderness park we had heard so much about. The surrounding waters of lake Superior sparkled in the bright sunlight, but long fingers of clouds reached down and clutched the island, obscuring it with fog and mist. Isle Royale was already showing it was a magical, yet foreboding place.

Since it was established as a national park in 1940, Isle Royale has been popular Read More of the Story…

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Jarvis was getting old and, oh, how he hated it. He really didn’t mind getting into his golden years, it’s just that it was cutting into his grouse hunting. The legs still worked OK and he was quick enough with the gun to get birds, it’s just that he couldn’t see very well the past few years.

For some odd reason, Jarvis could see birds fine as long as they were in the air, but as soon as they hit the ground he just couldn’t find them. It seemed he would spend most of the day bent over looking through Read More of the Story…

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It was one of those hot, muggy Minnesota nights, when the air was so heavy it was stifling. I was returning from a fishing trip to Pickle Lake, Ontario and was sailing through the darkness on a remote north country road. I hadn’t seen another car for many miles, and the next town was still forty minutes away. It was late at night, my shirt was clinging to my sweaty back, and I was ready to stop. Up ahead a lonely light glimmered through the trees; no doubt a late night oasis for the thirsty traveler. Being a devout teetotaler, I pulled in, thirsting for an icy soft drink. Read More of the Story…

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Outdoorsman love to join clubs. They must because there seems to be a club for everything these days. Trout lovers have Trout Unlimited, northern aficionados have Northern Pike Association, duck hunters have Ducks Unlimited, the list goes on and on.

Many clubs name their organization after a specific specie of fish or mammal. A good example is Muskies, Inc. This is a great help when an individual is a member of several clubs. Read More of the Story…

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