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At least one Wisconsin lake does grow trophy northern pike

Dave Zeug has caught northern pike longer than 40 inches, but only in Canada. Zeug ran into a fisherman who has found one nondescript lake in Wisconsin where he regularly catches pike longer than 40 inches and some pushing unbelievable sizes. (Photo courtesy of Dave Zeug)

Wisconsin Outdoor News Editor Dean Bortz has had a 40-inch Wisconsin pike on his bucket list for years – his biggest so far is a 39 1⁄2-incher. To the best of my knowledge he hasn’t caught that 40-incher yet (Editor’s note: No, he has not), but he’s not alone.
That’s why I was surprised to hear stories – and even more surprised to see the pictures – of several fish that came from an unlikely lake somewhere between Wausau and Bayfield (sorry, that’s the only clue readers will get) that holds a population of big pike.

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