“Fletcher Floodwaters is our best bet for density and quality pike for the Northern Lake Huron Management Area,” said Tim Cwalinski, a fisheries biologist.

The floodwater was impounded by the Alpena Power Company in 1931. Anglers soon became spoiled with both good sizes and numbers of pike until the late 1940s. Numbers declined, and after a drastic drawdown in 1982, the Department of Natural Resources and Alpena Power Company joined forces to manage the fishery. The last pike survey on Fletcher Pond was excellent. A new angler survey to be conducted in 2005 will provide updated information on the size, structure and dynamics of the lake, and the excellent population of pike found there.

Fletcher is shallow, generally being only 6 or 7 feet deep. The deepest water is in the old river channel, which is located pretty much in the middle of the lake until it reaches the eastern section. Here it runs close to the north shoreline. When the impoundment first froze over, lumber was cut off at ice level, thus leaving large stumpfields whose tops barely reach the water’s surface. Anglers visiting Fletcher will find a lot of aluminum boats with plenty of dents from trips across the lake.

Access is from the state-owned ramp on the north end of the lake off Fishing Site Road midway between the east and west sections. Additional information can be obtained from the Northern Lake Huron Management Unit at (989) 732-3541.

GULL LAKE

“For trophy-sized pike, you can’t beat Gull Lake,” said Jay Wesley, the Southern Lake Michigan Unit manager. “This lake is very deep and has been managed for trout by the DNR. The pike population has started to increase in recent years, and anglers report very large pike. The deep water offers temperature refuge for these monsters, and is one of the reasons that they get so large in this lake.”

The maximum depth of this 2,050-acre lake north of Kalamazoo is 110 feet. Pike frequent shallower weedbeds in the clear water. The outside weed edges near deeper water serve as warm-weather haunts, as do the underwater humps and ridges. Trolling is probably the best bet to cover the water and locate pike on the various types of structure.

“Southwest Michigan is at the southern edge of the range of good northern pike populations,” said Wesley. “Northern pike are limited in this area by the warmer climate and loss of habitat. Due to the development around lakes, much of the wetland and emergent vegetation needed for good pike reproduction has been lost.

“Another thing that has limited northern pike in recent years is that we were in a five- to seven-year drought,” Wesley added. “The wet spring and summer last year has created some rebound in lake levels, which should result in better northern pike recruitment.”

Access is on the township-owned ramp on the northeast shore in the Prairieville Township Park off Highway 43. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Southern Lake Michigan Unit at (269) 685-6851.

TAWAS BAY

“Tawas Bay by Tawas City is the best area of Saginaw Bay for northern pike fishing,” said Jim Baker, a fisheries biologist with the Southern Lake Huron Management Area. “Tawas Lake is connected by a channel to Tawas Bay. The lake is shallow and weedy but produces lots of northerns. The pike find their way out into the bay.”

This eastern coastline area on Lake Huron produces big pike, according to Rick Spencer of Kirby’s All Season. The good fishing is located near the cities of Tawas and East Tawas in Iosco County.

“Out in the bay, there are some huge pike around Jerry’s Marine,” said Spencer. “A 40-inch pike is not uncommon. You may not catch a lot of them but the pike are there. There are a lot of weedbeds in the cove around Jerry’s Marina. There aren’t a lot of pike fishermen, and you can cast Dardevles and big spinners.”