Fall northerns

[salmotrutta]

Finally made time for some esox this evening. I caught two in a half hour of fishing.

Saw a pike acting funny on its side in fairly shallow water. I was wondering if it was possibly digging something up from the muddy bottom, hibernating frogs perhaps?

A hatch was happening on the water today. Very cool to see flies suddenly appearing on the surface in a frenzy, the ensuing water trail and the grand finale splash as they got gobbled up by fish. Incidentally, my first fish came from a spot very active with flies, as I imagine the fly activity got the attention of the small fish which in turn got the attention of the larger fish.

I used a dollarama spoon with a medium to fast retrieve, connected to a dollarama snap swivel. I can't remember if the reel I was using today has 6lb trilene or my left over 8lb trilene, but one of those two for sure. I put my new Rapala Magnum 7' Medium Action to the test today, and I happy to own a two piece rod again which makes for much easier storage. Picked it up at Walmart for $40, my recommendation to any newbs looking for new rods is to pick the one you see with the most guides. This rod as 9 or 10 guides, which is a lot if you compare it to the cheaper rods at Walmart.

For those wondering, the Dollarama in St. Jacobs still has fishing supplies on its shelves, but no hooks and no spoons. Just spinners, softbaits, jerkbaits and perhaps some other items but those are the ones I saw. Nothing there that I like buying though, I already bought my favourite spinners from there in the summer.

A nice little pike to kick things off:

A (baby?) weasel put on a show for me for the intermission. This is the first weasel I've seen this close up, anyone know if it's fully grown or if this was a baby:

And a good sized, hard fighting fish for the finish:

I then heard an awful squeaking noise, I looked over and couldn't believe my eyes:

Seriously though that pic is not fake: Ravenous cormorant

 

[grubman]

Nice going, nice pike too. I knew they were going to hit today, just had a feeling.

I couldn't make it out, I was working on my car. Wish I had gone tho. I really want pike and steel but seems pike might be easier to get.

That's a awesome story of the cormorant, Dam what a Deep Throat.....lol.

Thanks for the report and story.

 

[salmotrutta]

Grubman,

Today was no more or less active than mid summer as far as I could tell at this spot. This spot is just full of fish, so there isn't really a bad day to go there. I haven't fished for a while other than a very shot outing on the Notty last week, and the warm weather today coupled with the looming rain prompted me to carpe diem and get out there if only for the evening.

I do love clear days for pike, as they are primarily sight feeders so clear skies, clear water and low wind make for excellent conditions.

Could have went for steel too I suppose but chose to only go for pike.

 

[FishingNoob]

WOW. Those are some nice looking pike. You love that spoon alot... (I see it in your photos often).

Pretty cool how that bird swallowed the pike, I didn't think it would fit. lol.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[grubman]

It was that exact reason, sunny day and approaching rain, that gave me the idea to get out. Glad you got some. This Thurs is looking clear and warm too. So I'll have to plan and prepare for that one in the Kawarthas. For sure I'll have and use my dollarama spoon too. I'll have everything with me and my fly. I think it'll be awesome to get it to hit a fly, but I just don't have very big flys. I'll try anyways.

Congrats on the pike and that weasle what ever it was....lol.

 

[salmotrutta]

You love that spoon alot... (I see it in your photos often).

Indeed..lately I feel like spinners are just cheating for pike, so I like the added challenge of using a spoon instead (not much harder) or topwater when I'm really in the mood for a challenge. With a spoon they won't always stay on, because of the size sometimes they just grab it by the side and let loose. With a spinner, 99% of strikes are hookups, and you rarely lose a fish on a spinner. With topwater, depending on what you're using, I find only about 25% of strikes result in hook ups.

 

[rich_ace_G]

Indeed..lately I feel like spinners are just cheating for pike, so I like the added challenge of using a spoon instead (not much harder) or topwater when I'm really in the mood for a challenge. With a spoon they won't always stay on, because of the size sometimes they just grab it by the side and let loose. With a spinner, 99% of strikes are hookups, and you rarely lose a fish on a spinner. With topwater, depending on what you're using, I find only about 25% of strikes result in hook ups.

i find that pike will hit just about any presentation it can out-swim. on clear water you can see them chase a spoon or a spinner but will hit as soon as you slow the retrieve or stop. the same with husky jerks. usually spoons have bigger trebles than spinners. i land more pike on smaller spinners than the bigger ones. the same with the spoons. but i got a lot of hits on johnson weedless minnows but can't seem to land any pike.

 

[salmotrutta]

I've had bass hit after I've finished retrieving my spoon, when it's motionless and I'm about to lift it up the bank.

For pike, I usually get strikes while my lure is moving. They are bizarre sometimes though, I once had one wait until I was finished retrieving my dead minnow and as I was lifting it out of the water, it jumped for it.

Small spinners are deadly for pike, like a size 3 Mepps. They can't strike it without getting hooked.

 

[Blair]

SALMO...



I used WORMS TODAY on a JIG and HIT into (4) Pike!

Not any of a big size, but real strong fall scrapers.




*SMILES*



Downtown Toronto was beautiful this afternoon. Everyone friendly, the fish cooperating.

Was pleasantly surprised at how CLEAR the Water was.

Scouted em out in the weeds, made the worm on a jig presentaion ... and VOILA!

 

[salmotrutta]

Nice, glad I wasn't the only one out there enjoying the beautiful conditions, albeit I made it out a bit late due to daytime errands.

These Indian summer days, are some of the best days of the year for being outdoors.

Were you targeting bass, and got the pike incidentally, or did you have a feeling that the worm/jig combo may work for the pike too?

The water was very clear where I was fishing too. Less weeds means less coverage, and I think live bait is an excellent choice right now, not to say that artificials aren't also productive.

Went and got some grilled halibut at a local Fish 'n Chips shop after fishing today, seeing as I wasn't fishing the cleanest of waters, I couldn't keep any of my catch.

 

[Blair]

I went out for Bass and Pike.

Brought all my artificials (Tubes etc) and when I got downtown, didnt find ANY BASS bigger than 2``. lol

Saw the PIKE immediately in the weeds..... and since i have caught them on worms with a jig before, didnt even bother changing up.


Wham, they hit right away.





I have caught Many a PIKE (And of SIZE) using a dew worm.

More so for :Sight fishing`rather than attracting and covering water like a spoon or spinner.



*FREAKIN ANY FISH will hit a WORM.

WORLDS GREATESS BAIT..... PERIOD!



ps; it was a beautiful day, wasnt it.... *SMILES* Got home to post a report and then had to DISCUSS some issues.

Back to Peace and Calm.



Nice Pics by the way! The little Weasel is cute. They are hard to get in focus before they scamper away. Last year I thought I had a great pic of a Martin with a Chipmunk in his mouth ... but the pic turned out blurred. Was an amazing thing to observe while out doors.

 

[salmotrutta]

That is something I have yet to do, is get a pike on a worm. But I've seen people do it, and with really big pike to boot.

I also didn't see any bass today, but then again I didn't fish for very long.

The weasel was very cute, and extremely hard to photograph as it kept appearing and disappearing in a flash. Cute they are, but I bet they'd make excellent pike bait at that size :lol: Just kidding around, but I can definitely imagine, the "Live Target Weasel", and I'm sure it'd work like a charm.

 

[Blair]

*Worms not `stagnate`.

On a jig ... you move it and that is what truly provokes the stike as well as the natural scent and appearance.



We all know pike are a MOVEMENT PREDATOR

 

[salmotrutta]

I was amazed, because one time in St. Jacobs, a kid was just using a bobber and worm, and caught a 3 ft pike in the middle of the day in a heavily pressured location.

I can see what you mean though, the movement with a jig triggers their predatory instincts.

 

[manitoubass2]

Nice catches Salmo!!!!

You guys really wanna have fun catching those pike?

3 or 4" Berkley Chigger Craw, rigged on a weighted wide gap hook. Black and red flake is my go to color.

Fish it fast as a surface bait, then when the bite slows down, slow down the presentation. Make it swim just like a crawfish with little jerks on the retrieve before letting the bait rest briefly.

You can thank me later, lol

And if there is bass in the area, you'll get a bunch of those as well!

 

[Dozer]

Nice catches my man. Very nice looking fish and that weasel is cute... curious little buggers. To me, it looks like really good pike bait :twisted:

 

[rocheleauc]

I then heard an awful squeaking noise, I looked over and couldn't believe my eyes:

Seriously though that pic is not fake: Ravenous cormorant

lol ouch. Nice fish/pics.

 

[dockmuskie]

very nice fish! nice weasel too hah... did that bird actually eat that fish or was it just trying to eat it and failed? that would have been amazing to see.

 

[float^drifter]

If u click in the link he posted it shows in the article that it did

 

[FishingNoob]

SALMO...



I used WORMS TODAY on a JIG and HIT into (4) Pike!

Not any of a big size, but real strong fall scrapers.




*SMILES*



Downtown Toronto was beautiful this afternoon. Everyone friendly, the fish cooperating.

Was pleasantly surprised at how CLEAR the Water was.

Scouted em out in the weeds, made the worm on a jig presentaion ... and VOILA!

Dam you get tons of nice pike. I think I'll be heading down to the harbourfront this weekend... I'll make a report if all goes well.