Need help fishing northerns in late October/November in...

[Questor]

Hello:

I usually give up fishing to go small game hunting at this time of year, so I have little experience with this period.

I'd like to fish for northern pike in my home mesotrophic and early eutrophic lakes in the Anoka/Isanti/Chisago county area of Minnesota.

Can you help me by giving me a good idea of what depths and presentations I should be using? I would really appreciate it.

Also, how can I tell if a lake has turned over?

Thank you very much.

[Questor]

..

[Morton]

Questor

It has been a while since I have targeted northerns.

When I guided in Wisconsin this time of year, my favorite tact was to lindy rig large suckers ( someplace between 1 and 2 pounds ) near any green weeds I could find.
Tie some quick strike rigs for this presentation.

I liked it best when I could drift these weed edges. Just like rigging walleyes ... feed the pick up some slack line right after the initial hit. ( hit and run, stop and turn the bait, start moving again, set hard three times, hold on tight !!! )

Large off shore plastic swim baits work some days also.

Once the weeds are gone ... troll the areas the small walleyes and perch are feeding in with "large" stick baits.

October and november always produced the biggest fish of the year.

Good Luck.

[Another option]

Berk's Power Bait Inshore Swim Shads are dynamite. Use an Owner salt water bullit head jig head in the 1/2 oz size. The only down side is that the pike tear 'em up pretty quick. Super glue will enable you to patch 'em up some so they'll last another fish or two. Great 'eye bait too. Actually, most anything will slam 'em. Can't say that I've ever had a tentative hit on 'em. They're nearly always totally engulfed and they're not a small bait. They seem to really shine in the fall, although they're an excellent year 'round, (open water), option.
The Daredevil 5 of diamonds is an old standby that is always worth a try, and naturally, they're much more durable than the shad swim baits.

[Terroreyes]

Look for dying vegetation in the shallows with larger baitfish around, like shad. I usually get some impressive northerns and muskie while trolling larger shad raps(#9) in those areas for walleye. Ripsticks work well also.


Visit DOWNRIVER TACKLE in the Walleye Central Directory
http://www.walleyecentral.com/wcdirectory/yellowresult.php?goal=Detail&ckey=47&primaryField=description&category=Bait+%26+Tackle%3A+Manufacturers&textToFind=