by Dan Small

Northern pike fishing through the ice is one of winter's great adventures. Unlike some species that pretty much shut down in winter or confine their feeding activity to a fussy hour or so after dark, northern pike eat during daylight hours and all winter long. When they're in the right mood, they feed as eagerly as puppies around the kibble pan, keeping tip-up tenders scrambling from flag to flag with ice skimmer, gaff and minnow bucket in hand. Even on a slow day, it's rare to go all morning without a flag. And with every flag that pops comes the possibility that this just may be the mega-pike to write home about.

If you still need convincing, consider these facts. Since they spawn right around ice-out, which is earlier than other species, pike start moving into shallow water while there's still plenty of good ice, making big fish more and more accessible to anglers as the winter winds down. And while fewer truly monstrous pike swim in Wisconsin waters today than a half-century ago, nearly every winter somebody pulls a 30-pounder through the ice on some unheralded lake that heretofore yielded only smaller fish. Meanwhile, thanks to lower bag limits, increased size limits and a catch-and-release ethic that have extended down even to the lowly "snake," plenty of pike in the 10- to 15-pound range await ice-anglers throughout our state.

"Mendota is without a doubt the best pike lake on the chain," says Vogelsang. "And that's due in large part to the 40-inch size limit there. They are reaching that size in just seven or eight years, which is phenomenal growth."

Mendota's pike also have a lot of forage to help them put on the beef in a short time. Deep-water ciscoes supplemented by suckers, redhorse, shiners and young panfish of all species provide the fodder to help pike and other game fish grow big.

A survey of the chain's pike population conducted in 1999 showed a fairly even distribution on Mendota through all size ranges up to about 39 inches. Vogelsang speculates that 40 inches is about tops for Mendota's pike, since most anglers keep the legal pike they catch. Just how big Mendota pike would get if no harvest were allowed is anybody's guess.

Vogelsang ranks Waubesa next for trophy pike potential, followed by Monona and Kegonsa. The statewide 26-inch size limit applies on these lakes, which produce good numbers of pike over 30 inches each winter. Pike should continue to do well on the chain thanks to work on spawning marshes to improve natural reproduction and a moderate stocking effort to supplement spawning. Some 200,000 fry are stocked each spring and 2,500 fingerlings are stocked in alternate years. DNR crews now mark stocked pike with a harmless ink as part of a study to compare the success rates of stocking and natural reproduction.

Since the chain's lakes vary in size and depth, anglers can enjoy first-ice action for several weeks by following the freeze from Cherokee Marsh and the Yahara River backwaters between Kegonsa and Waubesa to the shallow bays of Kegonsa, then to Squaw Bay on Monona and the south end of Waubesa. By the time Mendota starts to freeze, there should be good ice out beyond the deep weed edges on the rest of the chain.

"Pike concentrate in the shallow weeds on Lake Waubesa's south end early in the season," says Gene Dellinger, owner of D&S Bait on Lake Mendota. "The early-ice action here can be fantastic."

Dellinger also likes Kegonsa's Barber Bay and deep weedlines for season-long action. On Monona, try Squaw Bay, Monona Bay and the weeds off Law Park and Hudson Park early in the season. Later, follow the fish out to deeper water off Squaw Bay and Obrick Park. In late February, pike move back into the shallow bays adjacent to spawning marshes.

On Mendota, flats and deep weedlines are the ticket to finding big pike. Try Warner Bay, Mendota County Park, James Madison Park and University Bay. By midseason, pike have moved to deeper water, such as the points and bars off Governor's Island.

Live golden shiners on tip-ups have long been the traditional method for taking the chain's pike through the ice, but in recent years some anglers have been baiting tip-ups with dead smelt and taking big pike. Jigging with large spoons is also productive. Few thrills exist that are greater than a heavy pike slamming a spoon jigged on a short, sturdy ice rod. Dellinger says walleye anglers are even taking pike fairly consistently after sundown, which is an unusual pattern, since pike are reputed to be daytime sight-feeders.

Access from public parks on all the Madison lakes is good during winter. For bait, tackle and current information on fishing activity and ice conditions, stop at D&S Bait at 1411 Northport Dr. in Madison, or call the D&S hotline at (608) 244-3474. Gene Dellinger also operates an ice-fishing shuttle service on Mendota.

Delavan has a maximum depth of 56 feet and an average depth of 25 feet, but both ends of this 2,000-acre lake are shallow and weedy, and this is where to go for winter pike. Set tip-ups in the coontail and cabbage and along the deep weed edge, and try jigging flutter spoons in weedbed openings. Don't be surprised if you pick up a bonus walleye or two using these techniques.

There are good public access sites near pike water at both ends of the lake. The public landing on South Shore Drive just off Highway 50 has plenty of parking. There's a public access with limited parking on the south shore off Bluegill Lane and another public access on North Shore Drive off Highway 50 at the Turtle Creek outlet.

For local bait, tackle and fishing information, try Brahm's Service Station in Delavan at (262) 245-6150. Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle, located at the intersection of highways 50 and 67, has a large selection and can also provide fishing information on Delavan Lake. For information on other area facilities, contact the Delavan Chamber of Commerce at (262) 728-5095.

A town park on the west shore and a county park on the north shore provide good winter access. For bait, tackle and information, talk to Brian Gates at Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle.

Get a lake map and study it before you venture out, or seek local help. This is big water and you can waste a lot of time looking for weeds and pike. Williams Bay and the flats east of the narrows on the south shore are two good spots. Geneva Bay and the weed edge off The Abbey are also worth fishing. Live golden shiners on tip-ups or flashy jigging spoons should do the trick.

Brian Gates of Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle is arguably the most knowledgeable angler on the lake. A stop at his store at the intersection of highways 50 and 67 in Williams Bay is a smart prelude to an outing on Geneva, regardless of the season.

Access and parking are available at the public launch sites located in Fontana, Williams Bay, Lake Geneva and the town of Linn. For more information on area services, contact the Geneva Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 345-1020 or (262) 248-4416.

Scattered weedbeds off the Summerfest Grounds, the South Shore Yacht Club and Pieces of Eight restaurant provide pike-holding cover. Set tip-ups baited with dead smelt or golden shiners around the edges of weedbeds and near rock riprap. Brown trout will take both smelt and shiners, and rainbows and walleyes will take shiners, so you may end up with a mixed bag.

Good access points include McKinley Park, the south end of Summerfest Grounds off Erie Street, Sheridan Park and Grant Park. For bait and tackle, try Ski Brothers Bait, 5334 S. Packard Ave. at (414) 744-1996.

In addition to the usual forage base of perch, suckers and minnows, Big Cedar has both ciscoes and rainbow smelt that help put pounds on pike and other game fish.

The north basin of this 1,000-acre lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Extensive weedbeds here provide shelter for pike. Tip-ups set along weed edges usually produce action. The southern basin is much deeper, with a deep hole that drops to 105 feet and two shallow bars, one off the yacht club on the west shore and another off the Cedar Creek outlet on the east shore. These spots will produce fewer but larger pike for the patient angler. As on other waters, tip-ups baited with live shiners will also take the occasional walleye during daylight hours.

Public access is at the northwest end of the lake on Gonring Drive. For information on other area services, contact the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce at (262) 338-2666.

Set in the rolling glacial hills of the Kettle Moraine, Pike Lake covers 450 acres just south of Highway 60 between Slinger and Hartford. The western half of the lakeshore is in private ownership, while the eastern half fronts Pike Lake State Park.

The weedbeds along the north shore and in the southwest bay, and along the state park shoreline, are all good spots for winter pike. Ice-anglers use both live minnows and dead smelt with success.

You can get on the lake off Lakeshore Drive at Johnny's Landing or Reef Point Resort. Reef Point also sells bait and tackle at (262) 673-9952. For more information on the lake, contact Pike Lake State Park at (262) 644-5248.

Use tip-ups baited with only smelt or shiners in shallow water because it is illegal to fish with minnows (alive, dead or as cut bait) through the ice here in water over 50 feet deep.

Big Green is our state's deepest lake and the last to freeze, so always check locally before heading out. Last winter, ice conditions were hazardous until late January. For bait, tackle and fishing information, try North Bay Sport and Liquor in the village of Green Lake at (920) 294-6462. Mike Norton operates Norton's Charter Service on Big Green year 'round. In winter, he caters mainly to deep-water anglers after lake trout and ciscoes, but he can put you on pike spots as well. Call him at (920) 295-3617. For more information, contact the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at (920) 294-3231.

Many other lakes in the state's southeastern quadrant offer good fishing for northerns. In Waukesha County alone, for instance, Pewaukee, Okauchee, Nagawicka and Moose lakes are perennial favorites. Racine County has Wind Lake and Browns Lake. In Walworth County, Whitewater and Como lakes; in Jefferson County, sprawling Lake Koshkonong; in Green Lake County, Lake Puckaway; and in Dodge County, Fox and Beaver Dam lakes are well worth fishing for pike. Just outside our arbitrary quadrant of counties, lakes Winnebago, Butte des Morts and Poygan to the north and Buffalo to the west are equal to any of those already mentioned.