As we all know Lake Ontario pike is best right after ice out. So after a long winter my friend and I had some time to try our luck for some lake front pike. It was March 23rd, 2008 and it was a nice and sunny day. A bit windy so hands were freezing, high for the day was –2c. This was going to be our second pike excursion this year as we had try Ontario Place after we had spend the day at the sportsman show. The park we decided to try was Samuel Smith Park it’s located on Lake Shore west at the bottom of Kipling St.
We arrived at the park at 1pm and stayed till 4pm. I have had moderate success in the summer for bullhead at the pond located in the park. Upon arrival the pond was still frozen and we decided to move to the rocky shorelines. Pikes are predatory fish and like to ambush there prey, so I was looking for weed beds but there wasn’t any substantial growth to count on. Next was drop off and points of land, the part of the shoreline we fished was rocky and 6ft from shore the water drop dramatically (red dot on the map). I felt that this was a good spot since it had a drop off where pike can pick off prey and move into deeper water. Points of land were good because I read that when the wind blows towards shore it pushes baitfish towards the point based on wind directions.
So I started with my lucky go to lure for pike the red and yellow five diamond spoon.
After awhile I switched to a jointed minnow, xrap and husky jerk with no follows or anything. My friend meanwhile was using a storm swim shad with no success either. Eventually we both went back to spoons since the weight of them allowed us to cast further. This was my friend’s second time fishing for pike so he was using my lures. So we tried different retrieves and slow seem to be they key. Finally my friend felt some weight on his line and after giving it a good hookset the fight was on. The lure he was using was this orange lucky strike lure, it has a lot of weight to it.
The pike wasn’t fighting as hard, I assume due to the cold weather. The pike made maybe 5 shorts runs and once we felt he was tired we brought him near the rocks. The rod was a medium fast action and reel was spooled up with 10lb test spider wire original (garbage line) with a 6 inch leader at the end. We didn’t have a net or anything so I had to dip my hands into the frigid waters to land the pike, it was a bit dangerous since we were casting from rocks on shore. He was a healthy snotrocket with a lot of girth to him, I assume he was maybe 4lb-6lb max. After a quick snapshot with my cellphone we unhooked him and let him go.
We continued casting for maybe another hour or so before we decided to call it a day. Can’t wait till the season opens again, I’ll be heading to the islands. This is my first report, hopefully you guys enjoyed reading it.
We arrived at the park at 1pm and stayed till 4pm. I have had moderate success in the summer for bullhead at the pond located in the park. Upon arrival the pond was still frozen and we decided to move to the rocky shorelines. Pikes are predatory fish and like to ambush there prey, so I was looking for weed beds but there wasn’t any substantial growth to count on. Next was drop off and points of land, the part of the shoreline we fished was rocky and 6ft from shore the water drop dramatically (red dot on the map). I felt that this was a good spot since it had a drop off where pike can pick off prey and move into deeper water. Points of land were good because I read that when the wind blows towards shore it pushes baitfish towards the point based on wind directions.
So I started with my lucky go to lure for pike the red and yellow five diamond spoon.
After awhile I switched to a jointed minnow, xrap and husky jerk with no follows or anything. My friend meanwhile was using a storm swim shad with no success either. Eventually we both went back to spoons since the weight of them allowed us to cast further. This was my friend’s second time fishing for pike so he was using my lures. So we tried different retrieves and slow seem to be they key. Finally my friend felt some weight on his line and after giving it a good hookset the fight was on. The lure he was using was this orange lucky strike lure, it has a lot of weight to it.
The pike wasn’t fighting as hard, I assume due to the cold weather. The pike made maybe 5 shorts runs and once we felt he was tired we brought him near the rocks. The rod was a medium fast action and reel was spooled up with 10lb test spider wire original (garbage line) with a 6 inch leader at the end. We didn’t have a net or anything so I had to dip my hands into the frigid waters to land the pike, it was a bit dangerous since we were casting from rocks on shore. He was a healthy snotrocket with a lot of girth to him, I assume he was maybe 4lb-6lb max. After a quick snapshot with my cellphone we unhooked him and let him go.
We continued casting for maybe another hour or so before we decided to call it a day. Can’t wait till the season opens again, I’ll be heading to the islands. This is my first report, hopefully you guys enjoyed reading it.
