When it comes to big fish, pike can be tough to catch in areas with a lot of fishing pressure. Michigan anglers average about 19 million days of fishing a year, which is strong evidence our northerns get plenty of pressure.

Fortunately, Michigan boasts a lot of water and some great pike habitat that disperses angling efforts and provides protection for big northerns. The most consistent trophy systems are big waters connected to the Great Lakes, where fish can reproduce in shallow water and grow unmolested in the deep green void far from shore. But there also are smaller producers: quiet bays and flowages endowed with the habitat, forage and lack of angling pressure -- or religious practice of catch-and-release -- to support sizeable Esox.

Here's an overview of eight of the most dependable trophy-pike systems Michigan has to offer.

ST. MARYS RIVER
Local pike and muskie guide Bert Rimer feels strongly about the quality of fishing on the St. Marys.

"The St. Marys River holds what is in my opinion the best pike fishing in the state of Michigan," said Rimer. "Good pike fishing for big northerns can be found in many areas, including Raber, Eller, Fowler and Munuscong bays. And because of the size of this water, I recommend a 16-foot boat minimum, with 18-foot or longer boats being even better."

When asked why the St. Marys River consistently produces such big northern pike, Department of Natural Resources management unit supervisor Dave Borgeson points to the sheer size of the system.

"A lot of it has to do with the St. Marys being such a huge body of water," he said. "Northerns are susceptible to angling, particularly on Michigan's small lakes. But the larger systems hold better fish because these predators have better opportunities to find optimal prey items like perch, smelt, lake herring and, surprisingly, crayfish. Here, pike generally survive longer, so they get bigger."

According to Rimer, rocks, reeds and weeds make up the majority of pike cover in the St. Marys, and 8 to 12 feet of water produces the most fish. Look specifically for those areas where the reddish clay-stained water mixes with the green water of the St. Marys River. For big pike, he works the edge of the red water by casting a red-and-white or a five-of-diamonds Dardevle. Or else he'll slow-roll white spinnerbaits. Rimer locates scattered fish by trolling Bomber Long A's or the Long A Magnums at 2 to 2.5 mph.

Good launches to access the river are located in Raber, De Tour Village and at the mouth of the Little Munuscong River. For general news on fishing conditions or lodging, contact Bert Rimer at the Little Munuscong River Resort, just northeast of Pickford, at (906) 647-2024, or check out his Web site at www.musky-guide-resort.com. For more tourism info, call the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce at (906) 632-3301.