Northern Pike

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9222.html

Posted this in show off your fish thread, but it may be close depending on the habitat, pre or post spawn etc. It was 4lbs under for the largest one I caught last year. So YMMV.

 

Finally got out and checked out some boat ramps. Waiting for the water level to come up and Ice to melt to get out and try some spring fishing

 

http://wildsocietyapp.com/post/how-to-make-a-pike-fly-fishing-wire-leader-by-stuart-smith

 

Its been a mild winter and some friends and myself went out and tried pike fishing yesterday afternoon.No luck, Didnt have much time before dark and I think the water is still too cold. It will pick up soon though.

 

We would catch them in Germany while perch fishing. Brought in many half-munched perch lol.

 

almost all the ones Ive caught had perch in their belly, one had a pike and one had a baby crappie.

 

Put together some pike spinner baits, Hope to try them out soon.

 

This one was just short of 40" and 15#. I caught it on a bass jig in a lake where I had been catching some big fall bass, so I thought it was going to be a giant bass. I never thought I'd be disappointed to see a big pike! Released successfully.

 

Released successfully? I know like are tough fish but how long did you have it out of the water?

 

Probably about 2 minutes. My truck was parked about 50 yards from where I was fishing. I walked right to the truck to measure and take a pic. I was pretty quick, hence the crummy pics. I held the fish until it swam away. Also, this was during a warm front in late fall, so the water was cold. Pike hold up much better in cold water. Had I caught it during the summer, it probably would have died. Although, if I had caught it during the summer, I might have left it in the water and just unhooked and released it.

 

I once caught a Northern Pike that was 5 inches in length. I was impressed because I had never seen one that small.

When I was a kid, I caught a 41 inch pike... It pulled the aluminum boat I was in about 50 yards by the time I netted it.

 

NICE!!

 

Just a lil one. Almost caught one that must have been close to 40 pounds a couple years back. Had no net so i tried to put it in a headlock but it snapped my 20 pound test and 40 pound leader in one head shake. It was the biggest fish ive ever seen and ive been around multiple 30 plus pound lakers.

 

not mine not me
My father took the picture when he was working at igloo lake lodge in Labrador 2 summers ago

 

What a huge head on that fish!

 

I don't think so & I have been to Canada multiple years in search of these fish. They can roll the line, Jump and do aerobatics. If that line goes anywhere near there teeth or gill rakers BYE BYE fish

 

That's true, but sometimes you get lucky. This musky was 44" and 20#. I caught on a wacky worm with a 10# fluoro leader. I use circle hooks for wacky rigs, so it was hooked in the corner of the mouth. The trick is not to try to horse it in. Also, I was lucky it didn't run into cover or jump

 

Yea sometimes you can get lucky with a Fluorocarbon Leader but I've those go too so it's all just the luck of the draw.

 

Definitely. I never target toothy fish without steel or heavy fluoro. I prefer the fluoro with live and cut bait. Either one is fine for throwing hardware