Pierre angler Karl Palmer puts the measuring tape on a fine northern that he caught at Lake Oahe. The 21 1/2-pound fish stretched the tape to 42 inches. Photo courtesy of Karl Palmer

March is a funny month on the northern plains: You want to get outside and do something -- you just don't know what. The month is somewhat limited in terms of its offerings in the great outdoors, yet it affords most of us the year's first glimpse of open water.

Fishing opportunities are certainly limited, and when it comes to the Top 10 list, March hardly registers -- unless that is, you're a trophy pike angler. For decades, the last week of safe ice and the first few weeks following ice-out have been synonymous with the hunt for giant pike along South Dakota's Missouri River system. A trophy pike (generally considered to be one 20 pounds or larger) is a fish of a lifetime for most anglers -- and there's no better time than right now to try tangling with one of these bruisers.

According to John Lott, fisheries biologist with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, many of the larger lakes and reservoirs in the state can produce trophy-class pike. "We are blessed with some truly fantastic pike fisheries, especially along the river system and a host of lakes in the northeast part of the state," noted Lott. "But it takes more than just luck to produce a pike around that 30-pound plateau and beyond."

Lott listed several factors necessary for a pike to grow beyond trophy dimensions. They include age, a year-round food source, and coldwater habitat. While many fisheries in the state can supply protection and forage, they do not have the final factor -- lacking true depths and the coldwater habitat that is crucial to growing giant pike.

"Warm water is tough on older fish and the stress takes its toll," Lott explained. "Big pike need to be able to retreat from the heat of summer where they can relax and feed without pressure from prospecting anglers."

Basically, big pike need Lake Oahe, the crown jewel of South Dakota's pike fishing. It's established itself as one of the nation's premier lakes when it comes to taking trophy pike. The lake produces more trophy-class pike than all other fisheries in the state combined. And when it comes to hosting those true giants in the 30-pound-plus range, the big reservoir virtually stands alone. Even the other Missouri river reservoirs can't compete with the big lake when it comes to giant pike, basically because they lack the coldwater habitat that the massive depths of Oahe provide.

"Ice-out is undoubtedly the best time of year to catch one of these trophies," noted Lott. "Big pike regularly cruise the shallows and back bays this time of year looking for warm water to feed and spawn in. They are pretty vulnerable this time of year and there will be plenty of big pike taken over the next few weeks."

Veteran pike angler Karl Palmer, who guides out of the Sunset Lodge near Pierre, agreed. "We had a great bite last year and the system produced some real heavyweights," he offered. "There are good numbers of big fish in Oahe, and everything looks good for this year as well. We saw solid numbers of fish in the 22-to-26-pound range -- and those are trophy fish in anyone's book."

Palmer looks at the first week after ice-out as the time of year to catch the biggest pike. "The biggest fish of the year always come the first few days after ice-out," he said. "Weather is the key to the whole game. If you can put three or four days of bluebird weather together, the bite gets pretty good. Some years that's not easy to do, but when the right conditions occur, get ready."