First Pike of the Year!

[FishFinder17]

Hey OFF,

Last week I took Thursday and Friday off work to head up to the cottage with my buddies to do some fishing. We got there on Wednesday night and immediately hit the water. Weather was amazing upon arrival (+28 and sunny) which helped bring the water temps up to the low 70s (they were in the mid 50's just 3 days prior). We were on the water from 5-9pm and had one strike that I can only assume was a pike along with a couple OOS bass. We headed in for the night but stopped for a minute to take in this unreal sunset -

We headed back out the next morning to a bit cooler temps and overcast skies. We tried a few of my favourite spots and tried a variety of baits but weren't having much luck. We then hit a small bay that has a very shallow (3-4ft) end but also a rock face on the right side that drops to about 10-12ft. I switched to a 5" yamamoto senko worm rigged through a band with a single hook and dropped it in with a slow retrieve. After 2 casts I got a strong hit and pulled up this beauty 34" pike!

I caught that Fish on Thursday morning and we fished hard until Sunday morning but unfortunately that was our only catch worth talking about. We had a hell of a time avoiding the OOS bass as they were hitting everything in the shallower bays. It was annoying but a good sign for the bass population on my lake.

I'm heading back up tomorrow and hoping to have more pics to share.

Cheers,

FF17

 

[yush_gta]

nice catch man. a beauty. i've only been out for pike once this year and i had a similar sized one get off right while we were trying to net it.

by the way, i'm not sure what a CO would think if he saw you using a senko before bass opens. I myself have landed a couple pike while using senkos and probably a dozen chain pickrel on them while fishing in the US. so they definitely are attracted to them. but not i'm not sure if a CO would consider the use of a senko as targeting bass or not.

what does everyone else think? i don't want anyone to run afoul of the law.

and keep the pics coming. get some more of them water wolves!

 

[BearInTheWoods]

beautiful fish, congrats!

 

[instapump416]

Sweet pike FF17!

Keep the pike pics coming

 

[FishFinder17]

nice catch man. a beauty. i've only been out for pike once this year and i had a similar sized one get off right while we were trying to net it.

by the way, i'm not sure what a CO would think if he saw you using a senko before bass opens. I myself have landed a couple pike while using senkos and probably a dozen chain pickrel on them while fishing in the US. so they definitely are attracted to them. but not i'm not sure if a CO would consider the use of a senko as targeting bass or not.

what does everyone else think? i don't want anyone to run afoul of the law.

and keep the pics coming. get some more of them water wolves!

Thanks Rhymobot,

I actually had the same discussion with my buddies when I made the switch to a senko. We started out with larger hard baits and got absolutely nowhere with them. I caught a few pike on the pink senkos last summer so I figured it would be a good bet but we knew there was a possibility we would encounter some bass. My lake has plenty of bass, certainly more bass than pike. In a lot of cases we were fishing shallow bays so we could see the spawning beds and avoided those areas. We hooked into a few bass over the weekend but after reading an article (posted to the forum) about the impact of angling stress on spawning fish I've changed my approach and no longer take them out of the water.

If a CO were to challenge me on use of a senko before bass season all that I could really do is explain that I've caught pike using them before, and that I have absolutely no intention of catching bass. I've caught both bass (in season) and pike on senkos, #3 mepps, husky jerks, jointed x raps, cacklin raps, buzzplugs, and others so I would hope that my choice of bait wouldn't cost me a ticket. That's just my interpretation though so I would love to hear if anyone has had different experiences.

I'll be back on the water tomorrow. Will likely start my outing with a senko :razz:

 

[FishFinder17]

Sweet pike FF17!

Keep the pike pics coming

Thanks Pump! Always enjoy seeing your pics and vids too

 

[rich_ace_G]

Thanks Rhymobot,

I actually had the same discussion with my buddies when I made the switch to a senko. We started out with larger hard baits and got absolutely nowhere with them. I caught a few pike on the pink senkos last summer so I figured it would be a good bet but we knew there was a possibility we would encounter some bass. My lake has plenty of bass, certainly more bass than pike. In a lot of cases we were fishing shallow bays so we could see the spawning beds and avoided those areas. We hooked into a few bass over the weekend but after reading an article (posted to the forum) about the impact of angling stress on spawning fish I've changed my approach and no longer take them out of the water.

If a CO were to challenge me on use of a senko before bass season all that I could really do is explain that I've caught pike using them before, and that I have absolutely no intention of catching bass. I've caught both bass (in season) and pike on senkos, #3 mepps, husky jerks, jointed x raps, cacklin raps, buzzplugs, and others so I would hope that my choice of bait wouldn't cost me a ticket. That's just my interpretation though so I would love to hear if anyone has had different experiences.

I'll be back on the water tomorrow. Will likely start my outing with a senko :razz:

I don't think a CO can really challenge you on using senkos...if they do, they might as well challenge you on using jerk baits because bass hit them as well. Any lure intended for pike, will also catch bass. Good gesture on not taking OOS fish out of the water. I have caught pike on senkos too. but I tend to lose my senkos or damage it...plus I don't like using leaders so I rarely use senkos. Awesome pic man. Nice looking pike.

 

[yush_gta]

ya who knows how that conversation would go. it's a grey area. same like when i'm fishing a pool of suckers in mid april with corn and a hook on the bottom and there happens to be a single bow in there. wonder if they would be suspicious.

 

[instapump416]

I wanna try some senko's when sight fishing for pike.

 

[Paul DeLuca]

Nice Pike! never tried Senko's for Pike but I'll have to now. I think you'd be ok with a CO. They know that you can target Pike with the same lures as bass. Not to mention it would be almost impossible for them to prove you were targeting bass OOS, unless they were watching you (and you really were targeting Bass).

 

[FishFinder17]

I don't think a CO can really challenge you on using senkos...if they do, they might as well challenge you on using jerk baits because bass hit them as well. Any lure intended for pike, will also catch bass. Good gesture on not taking OOS fish out of the water. I have caught pike on senkos too. but I tend to lose my senkos or damage it...plus I don't like using leaders so I rarely use senkos. Awesome pic man. Nice looking pike.

Dilli have you tried one of these?

You basically put the senko in the open and of the tube and slide the elastic down so it sits in the middle. Exposes more of the hook and I find it helps the senkos last a little longer. Have to agree with you though, even with the OWACKY tool I still burned almost a full bag of them.

 

[GearJunky]

Very Nice!

 

[rich_ace_G]

i don't have those FF...i just slide the rubber on a senko by hand. i know it damages it a lot. i have tried those from a friend. just forget to pick them up whenever i'm on a tackle store. good stuff tho.

 

[Alfiegee]

Nice.
My first Pike of the yr was about 12 inches, 2nd about 9, lol.
Could have been baby Muskies. Just kidding.

Alfie.

 

[alwayscatching]

Honestly I have been challenged by a CO before on certain baits for Pike. I like to use some of my own custom hand tied Swim Jigs and I like to use Imperium Baits Ace fluke. They really questioned me but as long as you can justify what you are using and why you chose that bait you are going to be just fine. I actually love at time to rig a 7-9 inch hand poured custom senko my friend makes for pike. Big bait and it can produce some good pike! Great pic man.

 

[FishFinder17]

Just got home from another weekend of fishing and landed another pike! Had a number of strikes throughout the day but this one came not far off the end of my own dock as I was about to end my night of fishing. Caught on a Firetiger ERC Jig-A-Beast Swim Jig in about 10 FOW just before sunset. Measured just shy of 35" and put up a great fight.

I'm away next weekend and won't be fishing but should be back on the water the following weekend to chase down a few more gators.

Cheers,

FF17

 

[instapump416]

Another great catch

 

[rich_ace_G]

beautiful fish. you have a nice spot bro. good luck on your next outing.

 

[Shawarma]

Another beauty!! That's some great fishing for sure

 

[FishFinder17]

Thanks guys, it's been a decent start to the year. Landed one two weekends ago and it was the only action we had all weekend. This past weekend was a different story with 6+ strikes, one that got off right beside the boat and the one that I landed. Still hoping my lake has some closer to the 40" mark somewhere but I have yet to find them.

Also, the bass are still hitting everything I throw in the water. First cast was into calm water with a Joe Bucher Top Raider which is an 8" 2oz top water. Within seconds of it hitting the water, I had a 18"+ largemouth on. It's becoming a real challenge to avoid them, but then again I hope they keep biting once the season opens!

Cheers,

FF17