T.O Pre-Spawn Pike

[Snypa]

Was supposed to goto the credit tommorow with a buddy to chase after some bows, but it got scraped because my buddy had to goto a meeting @ 11 tommorow morning.. thinking about possibly doing some downtown piking instead this weekend !! Anyone else looking to do the same before the pike spawn officially starts ? I also need to get me one of those new Storm kickin minnows, they look deadly ;o

 

[frozenfire]

looking into starting piking for the first time this year...

i know i can take the ferry and try the islands, but where along the shoreline can be fished? I've never been to the shoreline, only the islands a couple times (not for fishing)

 

[openfire]

Hey Snypa, did you end up going downtown for pike?

Frozenfire, I've never fished the islands but I hear that it's still frozen (or at least it was a few days ago... It may be melted now with the warm weather over the last few days). In any case, I hear that the marina down at Spadina is a good spot right now. There's only a few days left before pike closes (March 31), so you better get down there ASAP.

From what I've read there are hundreds of mature pike in the 15+ pound range in that area right now.

 

[paw]

I'll most likely head down there for some pike action around the harbourfront or maybe to the island if the ice is melted or atleast most of it, I'll try to get more info on that.

anyone wanna join me?

 

[openfire]

The next few days should be good down there. I wish I could make it down this week. Only 4 days left before the season is closed.

Let us know how you did!

 

[frozenfire]

I went down to the spadina quay marina like you suggested openfire... was a beautiful day and was anxious to land my first ever pike... nothing. No bites, no follows...no nothing.
I do however know that there are fish in there cause these guys in a nice boat came...they casted around the docks, but didn't catch anything and headed west.
There are lots of signs on the docks that say no fishing. I was casting from the concrete walkway on shore, off the docks... this allowed or no?

 

[openfire]

Sorry to hear that you got skunked frozenfire.

What kind of fishing were you doing? Live bait? Lures?

From what I've read, the pike are not really chasing their food right now. That means that if you're using lures, SLOW presentation is key. Better yet, use live bait such as big minnows under a float. (a proven technique)

I haven't been down there myself, I'm simply going by what I've read online. I can tell you that some big pike have been caught from shore, but the exact whereabouts are somewhat of a mystery since people online tend to be very secretive about their spots. It was my impression that the Spadina spot was holding pike right now.

As far as the concrete walkway goes, I think you should be OK as long as you're not on private property... It would probably be best to check with the marina operators just to make sure. While you're at it, you should ask them where anglers have been catching pike!

 

[frozenfire]

Getting skunked wasn't too bad. it was great to be casting again! Plus, teh weather was awesome, got some exercise and some sun.

I was casting a mepps aglia 5 and a black fury 4. Using 30lb powerpro. First time using braided... not sure if I like it or not. Kind of want to stay away from live bait... too much hassle for me, and expensive too, especially for big minnows.

Weirdest thing happened though. While I was casting around, a coyote appeared out of nowhere from behind the bushes in the music garden part of the marina and was bolting for the docks. Then it came prancing back, running into the bushes. Definitely the oddest place to see a coyote. There were loads of people too, everyone stopped walking/talking and stared at it. There's so little green space, I don't understand how a coyote can survive there, middle of downtown toronto harbour.

 

[Snypa]

Damn, I wish I saw your post earlier this weekend, I actually ended up not going downtown last sunday because it was too cold & windy, kinda regret it now. Also lasttime I was down there, I tested out all of my pike lures (have like over 20) out of all of those, the 2 that particulary got follows from fish were my perch glass shad rap (has a nice wabble), and also like frozen-fire, my #4 mepps aglia firetiger pattern (mepps from OFN caught the majority of his pike on this color).

 

[paw]

well my friend and I got skunked all over harbourfront and the center island (Hanlan's point) oh yeah plus the Bluffs.

At one point I was so bored that I was looking for the coyote that frozenfire mention just for a quick picture but I can't even find it.

anyways, I'd used every single lure that i got from multi colour spinners (big and small), x-raps, mepps and those storm wildeye live perch. still nada.

I will try the bluffs again tomorrow or saturday since I live pretty close to it.
I'll keep you guys posted.

paw

 

[frozenfire]

This sucks

2 days left... doesn't look like it will happen. Oh well... soon enough, we'll be chatting about post-spawn TO pike.

Snypa: Is that a recent crappie in your avatar? Are they cruising the shallows already? You're getting me excited about spring crappie now! I'm just waiting on cooks bay and holland river to show some open water...then i'm gonna be gone haha.

 

[Snypa]

Snypa: Is that a recent crappie in your avatar? Are they cruising the shallows already? You're getting me excited about spring crappie now! I'm just waiting on cooks bay and holland river to show some open water...then i'm gonna be gone haha.

Naw I wish, that was from last summer Those crappies were a lot of fun to catch, cant wait to get out there again @!!

 

[MikeyMikey]

Not a Pre-Spawn anymore but after-spawn piking?

Starting 2nd saturday of May.

We~

Gonna be my first time ever targeting Pike.