Top 10 Places To Catch Giant Pike

Penny considers the upper Taltson River to be the top destination for giant pike in North America today. More pounds per inch than anywhere else in North America, he says, the pike here are the toughest he's encountered. Big walleyes, too, along with magnificent scenery. Contact: Aurora Nights Lodge, auroranights.ca, 867/394-4001.

Straw says Misaw Lake in northern Saskatchewan has some of the most consistent trophy pike fishing he's ever experienced. The Schwandt River, an excellent big-pike venue, runs out of Misaw Lake near Misaw Lake Lodge. Misaw produces pike over 50 inches long most years, and the lodge offers fly-outs and hikes to other lakes full of trophy pike that don't get fished for years. Contact: Misaw Lake Lodge, misawlakelodge.com.

Wollaston Lake, the largest lake in the world that has outflows in two different drainage basins, produces numbers of trophy pike in the mid-40- to 50-inch range every year. Sight-fishing shallow is a top tactic for early season, with an endless number of points, bays, and neckdowns that hold pike through summer. The lodge accommodations and dining are first class, and seasoned and knowledgeable guides are at the top of their game. ­Contact: Wollaston Lake Lodge, wollastonlakelodge.com.

Eleven Mile, Williams Fork, Spinney Mountain, and Stagecoach reservoirs all are top waters for big pike, says Matt Smiley, sales manager for Eagle Claw based in Denver. Last September, his friend Mike Stark caught a 46 1/2-incher just ounces shy of 30 pounds, a state-record caliber fish. All these reservoirs have 30-pound class fish that grow big on a diet of trout, he says. Guide Nathan Zelinsky specialized in trophy Colorado pike. He says peak times are May and late September and early October. Tactics include trolling with planer boards as well as casting jerkbaits, swimbaits and tubes. There's also an amazing topwater bite in July or August, he says. Contact: Guide Nathan Zelinsky, Tightline Outdoors, 720/775-7770; Colorado Parks and Wildlife, parks.state.co.us.

In-Fisherman contributor and trophy pike expert Jack Penny likes Lac La Martre for 20- to 30-pound pike. With spectacular sight-fishing, it's a fly fisherman's dream, he says. Fish remain shallow all year. Crystal clear water with bonus huge lake trout. Contact: Lac La Martre Adventures, nwtfishing.com, 810/334-9381.

Among the top spots in In-Fisherman Field Editor Matt Straw's list is Trout Rock Lodge, on the north shore of Great Slave Lake. It's located in an archipelago formed by hundreds of islands, which protect some of the most expansive far northern pike habitat on earth. Straw says you'll find lots of "kraken," as the locals call pike over 40 inches long. And he reports more 50-inch pike are caught here every year than anywhere he's been. Contact: Trout Rock Lodge, enodah.com.

This massive water, stretching over 230 miles, with large connected rivers and plentiful pike habitat, has tremendous fishing for big pike, Penny says. Mostly known for big lakers, the pike fishing is overlooked. Lots of classic weedy bays with clear water. Some of the biggest pike in Saskatchewan await anglers. Contact: Lakers Unlimited, lakersunlimited.com, 780/853-1151; Blackmur's Athabasca Fishing Lodges, athabascalake.com, 877/922-0957.

At over 180 miles long and up to 60 miles wide, Reindeer Lake is full of classic pike habitat, with thousands of islands, structural elements, and weedy bays. Last season, Lawrence Bay Lodge recorded their largest catches of big pike from 18 to 35 pounds, and some over 35. Sight-fishing is a top strategy in some areas. Fishing deeper structure and weededges also produces giant pike at certain times. Bonus lake trout, walleyes, and grayling. Contact: Lawrence Bay Lodge, lawrencebay.com.