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How do you catch a big northern?

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Last Visit: 06/19/2013 11:37AM
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snoggdogg

05/20/2009 05:16PM

I have been going for five or so years and want to catch a big northern any helpful hints?

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chadwick

05/20/2009 05:27PM

a whole whitefish with a quick strike. 12-16 inches long fished on a good pike water.

"hey, take a look at this pikes teeth." You know your fingers are kind of close to its mouth. "In keeping its mouth open, Ill be fine." CHOMP. AAAHHH

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dannion

05/20/2009 06:16PM

How big/deep is the lake you will be fishing on?

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urbanflyguy

05/20/2009 07:02PM

my bigest pike have come off the fly
9wt rod with a huge streamer i came up with
got 3 under the belt over 40 inches so far
many in the 30-38 inch range too boot

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lundojam

05/20/2009 07:14PM

Fish a lake that has a lot of big northerns. Dead bait. OR else, drag around giant stuff fast as you can late summer and in the fall.

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crutch5

05/20/2009 07:14PM

When you fish is as important as where you fish. When will you be going in and where would be helpful in answering your question.

CRUTCH 5

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izzy

05/20/2009 07:37PM

Dead smelt on the bottom. Izzy

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thlipsis29

05/20/2009 09:11PM

Dead cisco on a slip bobber at about 6' near a wind swept point or drop off. I just got back from a five day trip where we landed at least 10 northern over 32" right from our camp fishing this way. Biggest was 36". Not trophies, but a lot of fun while your cooking breakfast or dinner.

I can't change the world, but I can change the world in me if I rejoice

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gutmon

05/20/2009 10:33PM

Put your time in. Sorry- wow, a triple!

"The trouble with the world isn't that people know too little, but that they know so much that just ain't so." Mark Twain

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gutmon

05/20/2009 10:33PM

Put your time in. Read a book about Pike habits during different times of the year, different lake types and locations. The InFishermen used to have some good books on the subject.

"The trouble with the world isn't that people know too little, but that they know so much that just ain't so." Mark Twain

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gutmon

05/20/2009 10:33PM

Put your time in.

"The trouble with the world isn't that people know too little, but that they know so much that just ain't so." Mark Twain

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Outdoorsfan69

05/21/2009 12:26PM

Some of the biggest pike I have seen are caught using a red/white spoon. Or you could fish for smallmouth and wait for the big pike to try and take your catch!

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wcummin1

05/21/2009 04:32PM

Second the quick strike method.

Just came back Monday from the Vermilion River area (close to b dub) and did very well with a quick strike rig, chartruse spinners above the trebles, and a big slip. I was using baby pike minnows. I was easily catching as many as the guys that were trolling and casting. We found the northerns a little deeper than usual.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep - Robert Frost

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TLAC5748

05/22/2009 03:46PM

Northern's 'hit' almost anything if it's casted near them. 3 years ago in late May, my daughter had a nice one on in North Bay of Basswood (Quetico). She was using a Rappela -green/yellow- natural looking about 4" long. We were drifting and casting by a 'water portage' with the island we set camp on 30 ft away. I got a pix of it next to the canoe because I knew we would probably lose it. I forgot the net, I forgot to put a long leader on her 8 lbs line, so when I grabbed what I thought was the leader - I grabbed the line and then SNAP- the biggest fish she had ever seen (only 8 to 10 lbs) was gone. She didn't talk to me for 4 hrs after that. She only agreed to portage/move so many times just for the 'big one'. I blew it.

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richard tucker

05/22/2009 04:42PM

The longest northern I ever landed 43", I was pulling a 9 inch rapala, the largest northern I ever had on my line, I was using a 1/16th ounce jig and a 14 inch smallmouth with four pound line. No sir I was not fishing for northerns or smallmouth, I lost the northern after he grabbed my smally three times. I released the smally, I figured he had a rough enough day.

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