LAKES MITCHELL & CADILLAC
Some top pike waters are known for winter sport, some for summer action. Some get their names on the Master Angler list year after year, while others -- like these connected lakes -- show up in almost every weekly fishing report during the long pike fishing season.

These natural lakes have rich beds of cabbage and other vegetation that are perfect for growing Esox foods and sheltering the predators when they come to call. Lake Mitchell is the largest at 2,560 acres, while Lake Cadillac covers 1,150 acres, all of them within the Cadillac city limits.

Access is a breeze, with a public access site on Lake Mitchell directly off highway M-115, and another on the northwest shoreline of Lake Cadillac. Mitchell State Park, right on the channel between the two lakes, makes a perfect fish camp.

Get your fishing information from Pilgrim Village Resort & Fishing Shop at (231) 775-5412, or online at PilgrimVillageFishing.com.

ST. MARYS RIVER
The St. Marys River in Chippewa County is a great spot to launch a big-pike search. It's produced a half-dozen fish of more than 20 pounds (kept) or 40 inches (released), four of them in the open-water months of May, September and November. Oh sure, depending on the season, the fishing headlines from the St. Marys likely shout about trout, salmon and whitefish, and focus the attention on the fast water of the rapids itself. But whatever the season, northern pike are willing to tussle, especially in Ashmun, Izaak Walton, George, Waishka, Munuscong and Raber bays.

Pike -- and muskies -- find everything they need in the river and its bays, including weedbeds, abundant forage and clean water. Start prowling the bays' shallows in spring by tossing big jerkbaits, surface plugs and in-line spinners. When summer warms the waters, work deeper weedbeds by slow-trolling with big stick baits. In the fall -- the best season for big pike -- casting again moves to the forefront.

The St. Marys River in Chippewa County is a great spot to launch a big-pike search. It's produced a half-dozen fish of more than 20 pounds (kept) or 40 inches (released), four of them in the open-water months of May, September and November.

Access the upper river at Ashmun Bay Park or at Brimley State Park. Launch for the lower river at Belleville Marina, Munuscong River, Raber Township Park or DeTour Passage.

For more information, contact the Sault Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-657-2858, or online at Saultsmarie.com.

CROTON DAM POND
Croton Dam Pond, an impoundment of the Muskegon River in Newaygo County, is just the kind of place we were talking about when we launched this discussion about big, slimy pike. It has some trophy fish, but they mostly show up when ice-anglers set stout tip-up rigs or tend spears and decoys. But those fish were there before the lake froze over, too -- they just don't make short work of the nerves and gear of summer anglers stumbling upon them. Approach them like the trophy they are, though, and who knows what could happen?