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| Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [30 messages per page] Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Big Pike on figure 8 |
Luca Cattin |
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Posts: 66 Location: Padova - Italy | Guys, I have had some different experience when a big pike follow my baits. Since I have a strain of fish slightly different by yours and other countries fish in Europe (no problem, still be esox lucius), see attached photo of a typical Italian pike, see the marks; this fish is more elusive than others I have captured in Holland and Ireland waters, doing follows sometime but disliking a rod tip in the water. I have had some success with fig.8 or similar horizontal maneuvers but much more with vertical movements like fre falling and some jigging, depend of bait. Someone have something to show? Thanks Luca Attachments ----------------  104 release.jpg (24KB - 334 downloads) | ||
| stephendawg |
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| divani |
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 Posts: 2061 Location: Belgium | |||
| stephendawg |
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| Luca Cattin |
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Posts: 66 Location: Padova - Italy | Thanks for yours specs. This is a very interesting question for me and, I think, for a lot of European pike anglers. I’ve catch SOME pike to 35’’ doing similar figure 8 at boatside, in Italy, mainly with one particular spinnerbait (see attached file). I have had those few success (compared to the good number of fish that generally follow the lure to the boat side) doing a long run parallel to the entire boat with a half rod in the water. When I make the first turn, pike appear from my boat bottom and grab the lure. All is very critical due to the suspicious character of a good size pike. The last good pike I caught in my local river follow my spinnerbait, go out when see me and my boat, and quickly appear from under the boat and strike my lure in the first turn. The last BIG pike (40’’+ two weeks ago) follow the lure, turn with my lure, follow it for 10 feet and go out. So generally, if I don’t have a strike in this first turn I can forget this maneuver and try one or two “toss back” casts with another rod rigged with some sort of plastic bait. I have experimented different style of “figure eight” with my pike over the years and now, when a big fish follow, I really think it is better to have a lure with some action when free falling, or jigging, like a single bladed spinnerbait and grub trailer, a jig with a good tail, a spoon, a big tube bait or a rubber jerkbait, and be prepared to work my baits vertically. In this manner I can try my big circle and, in the second time, lets free fall and/or jig my baits. Or doing this with another rod. Also I have notice that big pike usually comes by deeper levels in my waters (generally clear waters) and nearly all of those fish are more difficult when are near surface. Luca (sorry for language) Edited by Luca Cattin 8/30/2003 3:02 AM Attachments ---------------- Gatorspinnerjig600.jpg (43KB - 145 downloads) | ||
| divani |
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Posts: 2061 Location: Belgium | |||
| stephendawg |
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| Yeah, I figured you both do some sort of manuver at boatside any time you have a following fish. It's hard "not" to when they aren't biting on the main retrieval path but are still following the bait. As I stated earlier, I am not a trophy class angler but through conditioning I've learned to widen my "L" turns and "8's" at boatside because it's been demonstated clearly that long bodied fish can't easily make tight turns at boatside to stike a lure. I was thrilled in July to explain this to my 10 year old daughter while on vacation on Lake Vermilion. On her very first attempt at the "L" turn manuver she hooked a hammer handle pike. BOY, was she ever excited! She performed it diligently the rest of the trip (no suprise!). Leaving about 6' of line off the rod tip she initiated the turn about 10 feet from the boat. This widened the "L" enough to let fish intersect the bait before she finally lifted it from the water. I even tend to do it when I'm bass fishing. Lord knows I've been "shortlined" by a bass or two in 40 years. Attachments ---------------- Laura's 25in. pike.jpg (93KB - 130 downloads) | |||
| MuskieMedic |
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Posts: 2091 Location: Stevens Point, WI | |||
| sworrall |
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Posts: 32958 Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | |||
| divani |
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Posts: 2061 Location: Belgium | |||
| stephendawg |
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