|
|
| Another pike question.
So I'm at my parents on Flathead Lake (no don't go looking for it....it's in Montana) for the 4th. The have a small, shallow (3-4 feet deep) harbor (more like a big canal) that runs for 300 yards coming up to their house full of boat docks, weeds, and delicious baitfish (perch, bullheads, squawfish, suckers). As we pull out for a boat ride the first night I spot a nice pike sitting in the shallow weeds. Next morning I start chucking one of my favorite pike surface lures and within 10 casts have 3 pike (two of which were easily over 10 lbs.) chase the darn thing in but never hit it...came close but turned away within a few inches. This went on for the two days I was still there. After, I tried spinnerbaits, bucktails, rapalas and pretty much everything but the kitchen sink (my mother wouldn't let me use it[:(] ). Never saw a pike until I changed back to the surface stuff but still no takers, just lookie-lous. They are VERY fat, well fed pike but not much fishing pressure cause the locals keeping insisting they don't exist there. The weeds are almost to the surface and I am heading back over there in a week. Any suggestions for what I might try (I'm thinking about a harpoon[:devil:] )?????
From The Esox Challenged,
BrianW |
|
| |
|
| DocE,I have never known a pikis that would not inhale a texas-rigged lizard or a sluggo!I like white or silver/white and no sinker w/ a 6/0 wormhook.Twitch that in front there face and they will chew it up!I use a 6" 27# south bend light leader also lighter musky gear or heavy bass gear.I know this will entice them!Good luck Jeff |
|
| |
|
| Brian- Flathead Post Office is in middle of nowhere on western shore. That's some pretty big water- sounds like Pike w/ Muskie attitude. Try Johnson silver spoon w/4" white "Uncle Josh's" pork tail. Great for weeds & they like the snake action.
If the weeds are sub-surface, i.e., +12" or more and you're not averse to live bait. I would try a live 6" minnow 9"->12" under a bobber on quick strike rig. Use a bobber just small enough to keep the minnow from pulling it under- may be good idea to put a treble on the bobber as I've had them hit the bobber because of the minnow moving it. Sometimes I just clip the bobber to the top swivel of a 9-12" leader. Set the hook as soon as the fish hits (bobber goes under). You'll see most hits. It looks kinda goofy, i.e., snap swivel (cross lock) w/ treble & leader & bobber all attached, then minnow on quick strike at end of leader. This is also excellent for working the weed edges & pockets in the weed bed. If you want to get deeper presentation just use longer leaders. Very important to quality release of fish that hook set is almost instantaneous. Don't let them run->stop & swallow. As soon as you feel the weight- set the hook!
Have fun[:bigsmile:]
.....>.....
It's your choice to Catch'em & Let'em Go! |
|
| |
|
| Maybe they were Irish pike? Much too smart to fall for a Trojan angler?[:devil:]
Go Irish, beat Trojans.
Bill |
|
| |
|
| Gotta second that which Maniac said.... the Johnson Silver Spoon/Uncle Josh pork rind trailer should do the trick; perhaps a 5 of diamonds dardevyle w/ a single hook. Perhaps I'll fly your rizzotail to you Doc instead of mailing it![:sun:] |
|
| |
|
| Negative Pike LOVE a baby creature. next time in the area, I will show you how to work the thing... |
|
| |
|
| Hey Doc- I have relatives who live in Kalispel, beautiful area! There was a 39+ POUND pike caught a couple years ago from a slough on the Flathead River- incredible! Give those pike something erratic, a twitch/jerkbait, might trip their trigger. |
|
| |
|
| Doc,
Out of thought what was the color combo you were using and how far away from the lure was the pike when it was attracted and the clarity of the water?
Stan |
|
| |
|
| First of all let me state that I should have expected a smartarse reply from someone of Irish (ND) college heritage. If they were Irish pike (after all they looked green) then I will simple resort to dynamite since the fish would be so screwed up nothing else would work.[;)]
Stan...I was using an old Rebel Jumping Minnow...not sure if they even make them anymore but this one has caught well over a hundred pike. They lie lower in the water than a Zara but are worked "walking the dog". This particular color combo is chartruese on top and bottom with gold on the sides. The water is crystal clear and at least one of the fish came from 10-12 feet away to start chasing it. Two of them I could see follow for more than 20 to 30 feet. Both large pike got within 2 inches of the lure before turning away....both times right next to me on a dock. I''m sure one would have taken it if I''d been able to work the lure another four or five feet but I ran out of water. What''s the problem LureMeister????
BrianW [:blackeye:] |
|
| |
|
| Hi Doc,
The Flathead has some big pike - one of the best kept secrets in Montana. No real need to keep it secret though - everyone out there seems to have trout on the brain...
Sworrall's right - try a big lizard - and it should be a Berkley Power Lizard. The stink definately makes a difference on pike. Put it on a fairly light stand up jighead with a short (6-8") wire leader. If they are like pike everywhere else I've fished them (Alaska to the NW Territories) if they just follow faster moving baits, they'll slurp up a lizard.
You can cast weedlines blind, and same with open pockets, but ideally you should sight fish the things, or at the very least, use a topwater to move them so you can see them. Pitch the lizard past the thing, then drag it on the bottom till it's in front of them. Then just let it sit there. Jiggle the rodtip every once in a while (don't hop it or jig it, just jiggle it enough to make the lizard's little legs shake). Eventually they'll cruise over, turn on their side and snarf it up. Neat as can be to watch.
Lizards are ideal, but Slug-gos, craws or plain 'ol big worms work too. Better to have little legs to wiggle if you can find them though.
Cheers,
RK |
|
| |
|
| Doc,
Was hoping that an experience I had with pike which was close to yours would work, But you were using an entirely diferent color combo and not in dark furtile water like I did.
I was using a red and white daredevil with porkrine and the pike came from about 12 feet[ I'm sure it picked up the vibes] but when it got to within a few inches it would back off. The red would look black after a few feet to the pike until it got close then would see the red. I took the spoon to the shop and repainted it black were the red was. Upon returning to the water for another round, I took three pike, one coming in from about nine feet away. Still not 100% sure that my theory was totaly correct but it worked none the less. Might add that the first try was late morning and the second was early evening. Have caught several since then and the spoon is part of my main arsenal for pike. I was hoping your event would have been similar. Sorry as I'm not much help to you as I would have hoped.
Stan[:p] |
|
| |
