While the lake has yet to top this monster, big pike in the 40-inch range are caught there regularly by anglers who are willing to put plenty of time in on the water.

Northern pike are one of the most exciting game fish to catch. In this 101 guide, you'll learn the basic pike fishing tips to get started.

One-and-a-half hours north of Anchorage, and three miles of easy hiking through the woods gets you to Red Shirt Lake, where pike fishing makes for a great family adventure.

What makes these local big fish an interesting story is that northern pike are almost an unmanaged fishery in this part of Montana. I know of dozens of local fishermen that specifically fish for pike.