Hi, I am thinking about taking my wife and 11 year old daughter on a day trip starting from Mcfarland and going into East Pike and I was hoping to get some advice on the portages and on fishing.

Is going into east pike reasonable for a day trip? What would be the better route, the portage from Mcfarland to East Pike or going through little John and John lakes instead? My daughter loves to fish and plays a lot of basketball and soccer so she can handle a decent amount of hiking if there is the potential for good fishing at the end of it.

We will be fishing for northerns and smallies, any suggestion on what lures and tackle to bring would be appreciated. Also, can I use a steel leader or with the clear water would that put off the pike?

One last question, I was told that cutting pike into steak sections, boiling them in water, and then flaking them off the bone was a good way to prepare them. Anyone else ever try this? I don't plan on packing in gear to east pike for shore lunch, or packing any fish out. Just curious for future reference.

Thanks

Go in through little John. John has some nice bass and northerns in it itself. The portage from John to east pike is easy.

I like to bread and fry pike like walleye.

Good to hear that portage isn't too bad and we'll try our luck on John lake on the way in like you suggest. Thanks.

Worth the trip into fish, and this picture from Mocha shows how beautiful it is also.

I have had good luck fishing for smallies right at the end of the portage into EPL with leeches under a slip bobber. It is a long east/west lake so if you have a good westerly wind it can get rough on the east end. That is how I found the smallies though. Got pushed off the lake so we fished from the end of the portage.

If you are staying at McFarlane I also highly recommend the hike up the Border Route. It is about a 20-30 minute hike up to some nice vistas over John Lake.

IIRC, East Pike has muskies, too. I trolled it with big raps a few years ago on the way to West Pike, but was only rewarded with a few 5-6# northern. Very beautiful lake though. West Pike is a great weekend trip.

Thanks everyone. Can't wait wait to get in there. I will take some pics and post a trip report when we get back.

East Pike...same morning