Maddy Ogg with the record northern pike she caught Oct. 6 on Mille Lacs Lake. (Special to Forum News Service)
BRAINERD, Minn. — A 43.5-inch pike caught by a member of the Women Anglers of Minnesota on Mille Lacs Lake set the first northern pike state record in the Department of Natural Resources’ catch-and-release category.
Angler Maddy Ogg caught and released the huge pike Oct. 6 during what she described as a cold and windy day of fishing, DNR officials reported. She and companions Mike Buckingham and Jenni Buckingham got an early start that morning, soon landing two fish at the same time.
“On the way to the lake that morning, we saw eight bald eagles and shortly after we started fishing, we landed a double – I knew it was going to be a good day of fishing,” Ogg said in a news release.
Five hours later, while trolling the edges of plants in 12 feet of water, Maddy had a strike that bent her rod hard. Even though most record-fish stories include a long dramatic battle between fish and angler, fortune was going their way.
“I had to reel fast because the fish swam towards the boat, causing nearly constant slack in the line,” Ogg said in the release.
She landed the pike and now claims the first Minnesota catch-and-release state record for the species. While pike can often be lively once in a boat, in this case the cool temperatures and calm behavior of Maddy’s pike made for an outstanding catch-and-release scenario, the DNR reported.
While the 43.5-inch pike may have set the record, it likely will not be the only trophy pike pulled from the big lake, the DNR reported. Mille Lacs has a growing reputation as a trophy pike fishery, with some fish reaching the mid to high 40-inch range and exceeding 20 pounds...
https://www.twincities.com/2018/10/...-lacs-lake-in-the-catch-and-release-category/
