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Muskie Fishing -> Fishing Reports and Destinations -> Best shot at a 50......pike
 
Message Subject: Best shot at a 50......pike
dhottle
Posted 11/26/2013 5:04 PM (#675679 - in reply to #675638)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 21


Location: Erie, PA
Not a 50" but a 49" from Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan.




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Muskie_Mike II
Posted 11/26/2013 6:42 PM (#675706 - in reply to #675679)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike





Posts: 98


Location: Franklin, WI
Nice fish!

It looks just like the ones in Alaska...big and heavy! The background scenery looks similar also!
Mike D
Posted 11/30/2013 6:31 PM (#676440 - in reply to #675706)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 129


I caught a 46" northern in 2011 and another in 2012 in the Gouin Resv. in Quebec about 4-5 hours nord of Ottawa on a fly in. This beauty was released and I hope it's a 50 by now.. Look at the head on that fish. Most run 24"-32" but we always get a few 40-45"rs. Walleye...over 2,000 in a week between 5 adults and 5 teenage boys.



Edited by Mike D 11/30/2013 6:46 PM



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lennyg3
Posted 11/30/2013 6:38 PM (#676443 - in reply to #675679)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike





Posts: 483


Location: NE PA
dhottle - 11/26/2013 6:04 PM

Not a 50" but a 49" from Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan.



#*^@! that's a tank!
PIKEMASTER
Posted 12/2/2013 5:30 AM (#676660 - in reply to #674668)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike





Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160
here is a fat 46" from the Taltson River System


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J.Sloan
Posted 12/2/2013 8:12 AM (#676674 - in reply to #674668)
Subject: RE: Best shot at a 50......pike





Location: Lake Tomahawk, WI
The reservoirs on the Upper Missouri River system hold some true trophy pike. Like Sled said, it's tough to time it when the big ones are accessible, short window during late ice. We've gone and caught 20 big ones a day, the next year we are lucky to catch a couple a day. Remote access points, surface acreage that push 200k acres, fluctuating water levels, and unpredictable ice conditions make fishing there tough at best. We've taken 3 fish at 47", with a lot of fish from 42-46", and very heavy. Probably the best all around pike fishing in the Lower 48, plus big walleyes, cats, salmon, and jumbo perch.

JS


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Chasin50
Posted 12/2/2013 10:47 AM (#676692 - in reply to #674668)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 380


Location: Michigan
I have been to Wolverine and Gods lake in Manitoba as well as Kesagami in Ontario and had good trips, but nothing like this last summer when I fished Taltson. We had a great trip for numbers and size, but the true monsters still eluded us. Weather was very warm as was water, so perhaps larger fish were not moving in to rivers yet. http://trophypike.blogspot.com/2013/08/taltson-aug-3-9.html

There are 50" pike caught through the season in a lot of places throughout Canada, but most are lucky catches and it is not repeatable. The question is, where can you go (and when) to have high odds at boating a 50 with 6-7 days of hardcore piking.

The other element is cost... These trips can get pricey fast. When all is said and done, the trip I took to Taltson set me back $5500, not counting any gear, lures, etc. That is the limit for me personally, so I am on a quest to find a 50" fish for under 6K...

Through discussions, phone calls to lodges, talking to "experts", The short list in no order is:
Athabasca (Spring only) Pushes my price target
Taltson
Great Slave Lake (Yellowknife) Enodah, possibly Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures
Wollaston (Way out of my price and timing is critical)
Molson Lake - Max outpost Manitoba (looks like it may be for sale...)
Munroe Lake - Manitoba

But I think the overall best bet is the trip Muskie Mike II took to Alaska with Midnight Sun... I think it pushes past my cost target, but that looks like the real deal...

Another option is to find lesser known "guides", who are fishing off the beaten path, and not affiliated with any destination fishery. If you are willing to hire somebody like this and forgo hot showers to get in to the true "bush", you will have a much better shot at a giant. But finding somebody who really knows what they are doing, where they are going, and you feel safe with is no easy task.

Hope people continue to bat this around. Great topic.


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Muskie_Mike II
Posted 12/2/2013 7:15 PM (#676798 - in reply to #676692)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike





Posts: 98


Location: Franklin, WI
Wow, I really liked your blog on your trip! It appears that you were using some pretty big lures in comparison to what we used in Alaska. I attached a picture below. The 3 lures on the right caught most of the fisk (3" spoon, Johnson, and #5 spinner). Bait size didn't seem to matter. Maybe the forage in Alaska was smaller.

We also caught about 40 Sheefish (up to 44"; the guides say that they've seen Sheefish up to 53"). We fished for the Sheefish with bass sized chatterbaits. We lost quite a few, but boated some big ones.


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J_mich
Posted 12/3/2013 2:34 PM (#676997 - in reply to #676692)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 58


Location: South Elgin
Taltson


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DonPursch
Posted 12/3/2013 6:29 PM (#677043 - in reply to #675679)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 540


Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN
The Anoko river in Alaska midnight sun trophy pike adventures
tolle141
Posted 12/3/2013 10:57 PM (#677089 - in reply to #676798)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike





Posts: 1000


Muskie_Mike II - 12/2/2013 7:15 PM

We also caught about 40 Sheefish (up to 44"; the guides say that they've seen Sheefish up to 53"). We fished for the Sheefish with bass sized chatterbaits. We lost quite a few, but boated some big ones.


Holy crap! Never heard of a sheefish before! Basically an epic whitefish. Those would get a muskie up to 100lbs....
J_mich
Posted 12/4/2013 4:05 PM (#677214 - in reply to #674668)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 58


Location: South Elgin
A JACK PENNY POST FROM THE NEXT BITE MESSAGE BOARD ABOUT 50" PIKE. INTERESTING.


Jack Penny

Offline

Last seen: 3 months 9 min ago

Joined: 01/18/2005 - 12:13pm

Thanks for having such confidence in me guys. Mr Sandy emailed me about this and I gave him my thoughts. Andy's right, he had a great trip. One thing Chad mentioned to me was that the folks he talked to said that for the last decade, the numbers of 50" pike caught at the Taltson has declined. I know the camp he was in and likely know the guys he was talking to. But as I explained to him, a 50" pike is a rare beast anywhere on the planet. Yes, there have been some that size caught there, but never very many. Not even one per yer. I've spent quite a bit of time on that river for the last 22 years and feel confident in what I say.

Mark mentioned Lac La Martre. An excellent choice. Crystal clear water and the sight fishing is tremendous. They've had a banner year this year for numbers of big pike.



Athabasca. Another great choice, especially at their Spring Bay camp in spring. I've fished a total of 10 weeks there over the years, between the Spring Bay and the Johnson Island camps. Never saw a 50"er, but caught plenty up to 48". No doubt they are there though. As a bonus, some huge walleyes showed up at Spring Bay this year. I've never seen walleyes there. Most likely the reason for this is because the natives have always netted the walleyes. Now those same natives are employed in the oil fields where they are making huge money and the walleyes have rebounded. They caught a 36" walleye there this spring!

Alaska. If you're after the biggest pike in North America, this is definitely worth a long look. You probably won't see the numbers you'll see elsewhere, but the top end will be a bit higher. I just recieved word on a new outfitter there and am investigating it now. I know a fellow who will return from there this coming Friday. If his word is good, I'll likely try to hit it next year. And when I know, you'll know.

Not sure on the future of Neultin. They were closed last year and are now being sold. Wollaston is very nice with classic bays. Very nice camp boats (Pro V's) and a lux lodge. They even have 2 of John Wayne's custom made fly rods on display! The week I was there a tornado went through Saskatchewan the day before I arrived and fishing suffered. But I saw and caught enough to know this is prime water.

I need to get a job with a travel agency!


Edited by J_mich 12/4/2013 4:07 PM
Chasin50
Posted 12/4/2013 5:49 PM (#677229 - in reply to #674668)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 380


Location: Michigan
LOL… Thanks John. Which is why I am going back to Taltson next year.. Numbers, size, and with my experience not a lot of people. And, it fits in my budget. I like variety, so I will likely try other places in years to come, but it will be on the list of lakes listed in this post. Weight is actually more important to me than just length. If I caught a 30 pound 47/48 vs a 25 lb 50, I would take the 30 pounder. Hopefully before i croak, I will hit the mark...
Chasin50
Posted 12/5/2013 12:55 PM (#677391 - in reply to #674668)
Subject: Re: Best shot at a 50......pike




Posts: 380


Location: Michigan
Perhaps a long shot, but... As noted, I am going to Taltson in August of 2104. I am going with two other friends who I have taken many pike fishing trips with over the last 15 years. We/I am looking for a boat partner for the week. As it stands right now, I am fishing alone, but would appreciate sharing a boat if i can find the person. If interested shoot me a PM and we can talk. Need to be in Yellowknife on Aug 1, fly out Aug 2, return Aug 9, fly home Aug 9 or 10.
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