Toronto Harbour Pike

[frozenfire]

Hey everyone!

Wow, what an upgrade to the site! Love it!
Anyways, I haven't fished since last fall and have been itching to wet a few lures. My question is: As of right now, is it possible to catch pike downtown if there is open water?

 

[toronto_angler]

Latest cold snap set it back a while. In a couple of weeks the big boys should start biting.

 

[Snypa]

Was thinking of heading down on monday it should be 8+ might rain a little, will try to get out there if I have time, it should be a nice change in weather

 

[MikeyMikey]

Hello all... very log time no see.

First of all... I'll be trying to fish for pike as soon as ice is out...

Btw... What is the exact pike season ? exact date would be nice.

I think only April is off-season?

 

[frozenfire]

Snypa, let me know how it goes. I'm getting the itch really badly.

Mike!!! Good to see you around.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the season is from Jan 1 - March 31, then from May 3 (first sat in May) - Dec 31.
This means that we have a good month to get in some decent piking before the season closes for them to spawn.

I remember last year I went after the season re-opened and did quite well, so hopefully this year I can get some in before April.

 

[MikeyMikey]

March Pike Fishing, eh ?

Which fishing line is recommanded during this time of the year/season ?

 

[openfire]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the season is from Jan 1 - March 31, then from May 3 (first sat in May) - Dec 31.
This means that we have a good month to get in some decent piking before the season closes for them to spawn.

It also means that you have a good month to win this:

http://www.ontariofishingforums.com/forum/reporter-of-the-month-for-march-2008-t298.html

 

[frozenfire]

oohhh... sexy prize!

Mikey, last year I was using around 35lb power pro with a steel leader. I was fishing with the shimano stradic 2500 spinning reel, but this year, I want to get more practice with a baitcaster... so will consider that.

 

[MikeyMikey]

oohhh... sexy prize!

Mikey, last year I was using around 35lb power pro with a steel leader. I was fishing with the shimano stradic 2500 spinning reel, but this year, I want to get more practice with a baitcaster... so will consider that.

Baitcaster eh? Which rod & reel ?

I've been playing with my $60combo last year and birdnest will make you want to throw your gear in the water instantly.
Lures getting caught around me and making it even worse.
One thing for sure... it makes you look cooler to use baitcaster

 

[Snypa]

oohhh... sexy prize!

Mikey, last year I was using around 35lb power pro with a steel leader. I was fishing with the shimano stradic 2500 spinning reel, but this year, I want to get more practice with a baitcaster... so will consider that.

IT IS NIZZZZZCEEEEEE !! lolz

mikeymikey, if you're getting birdnests all the time, its either a low quality reel, or if its a good brand reel it just might not be tuned properly, in that case, tie on a lure, then press the cast button, set the drag or friction knob more loose so the lure falls a few inches byitself, if you've done this, tighten the knob a little so your reel puts more friction on the line which equals less birdnests, if you're still getting birdnests at this point after you try casting with a bait, the lures you might be casting with might be too small. I would get that problem on my bigger gold Shimano Calcutta 201, I used to fish it with regular bass baits, now I only fish with my large pike/musky baits and I'll explain why. I would get those nests a lot with bass baits, then I tuned it a bit (played with the friction knob) and also the drag, it would birdnest way less. Then I started casting bigger (pike/musky) lures with later during fall, all of sudden, no more birdnests, in-fact the reel now screams when I cast it, it works perfectly now . I had completely forgot that certain round baitcasters (not low-profile baitcasters for bass) can only cast bigger 1 oz. lures which is why it would birdnest all the time with the bass baits that I had with me + I didn't fully tune it properly in the first place.

 

[MikeyMikey]

Yes, heavier lure makes it very easy to cast with baitcast reel. I do not get as much of a birdnest but when I do,,, it is bloody painful to untangle.

I am sure you guys remember my Toronto Island Pike fishing the first time... which i've used this baitcaster setup.
Not sure if the fish was small or weak but... drag on my reel must be really shitty. I couldn't really let the fish drag out the line... tuning between too tight and loose isn't good.

Anyways,,, since I am hot a hardcore fishmen like you guys... this will probably my last baitcast setup.

 

[Snypa]

I think your drag was set too high when you were bringing in that fish maybe ? What kind of baitcaster is it ? btw, a lot baitcasters drag's are kinda like the way you described. A lot of low-end baitcasters drags aren't too good, but if you're using a good brand name reel, it might not just be tuned properly or the lures you are using with aren't the proper weight for the reel you're trying to cast them with. The same Calcutta 201 of mine that mentioned in the post above, I've noticed too is somewhat sensitive when it comes to it's drag setting, like when i adjust it a little bit, from barely any drag it will goto full drag within half a turn of drag setting knob which is quite a lot.

 

[openfire]

MMM Calcutta... I used to have that reel a few years ago. What a sweet baitcaster.

Also, you can loosen it up a bit and just use your thumb to help prevent birds nests. I usually keep my thumb very lightly pressed on the spool during the cast, and apply more pressure right before the lure hits the water. And it does really help to have heavier lures as Snypa pointed out.

 

[frozenfire]

Hey Mike, I also had a cheapy combo I got from le Baron's last year. I was just trying it out for fun mostly. Always wanted to learn. I found it to be pretty effective with heavier lures for sure. I'm going to head in to BPS tomorrow hopefully and will do a reel trade in and try to get the shimano curado 200DHSV.

Snypa, did you end up trying to harbour for some pike?

 

[MikeyMikey]

i think i'll wait till near closing of the season.

Frozenfire... buy that uber expensive reel... you know the one with that computer chip thing?

I've seen a video of Real Fishing Show (free online view) and Bob was showing off for few seconds. He was saying how he can cast the lure far without thumbin' the reel & he shown

 

[MikeyMikey]

Noticed that we are going to get few days of better weather coming up...

Should be a good time to get out? before season is closed for a WHOLE month !


What type of lures should I be using? I only want to carry few lures.
Deep or shallow lures? Slower? Faster? Color (colour) ?


Well, let's just hope I can actually get out.

 

[Snypa]

Actually I ended up not going that particular day, was worried it might rain earlier in the day tho it was fairly nice out that day ! mikeymikey, u planning on going to the downtown on thursday ? If you are, are you heading to the harborfront or islands ? I'll try to get out if I can, I might be tied down with work.

Good pike lure colors: florescent yellow, firetiger, perch, black & silver minnow, blue & silver, even pink deep or shallow lures ? well that depends, are you fishing the deep blue water in the harbor, or you planning on fishing the more shallow greenish-blue water in the canals @ the islands. If you're fishing deep, go with deep diving jerkbaits or heavy spinnerbaits & bucktails. If you're fishing shallow, go with a regular HJ in 1 of those colors & go with a very slow presentation, if you're using a regular x-rap, try doing slow presentations but also try doing a fast slash-jerk retrieve once in a while & you may get some hits.

 

[frozenfire]

Mike,

I learned from last year that the pike are very sluggish in the morning hours and don't tend to be as active or in an eating mood. Because of this, you have to slow your presentation down. Either slow reeling, or jerks with long pauses. Once the afternoon sun comes out, they start slamming your lures, so now you can really rip those lures through the water.

In my opinion, it doesn't really matter what colour, as I've gone with 4 people including myself, all using different colours and all catch pike.

 

[MikeyMikey]

Mike,

I learned from last year that the pike are very sluggish in the morning hours and don't tend to be as active or in an eating mood. Because of this, you have to slow your presentation down. Either slow reeling, or jerks with long pauses. Once the afternoon sun comes out, they start slamming your lures, so now you can really rip those lures through the water.

In my opinion, it doesn't really matter what colour, as I've gone with 4 people including myself, all using different colours and all catch pike.

Thanks for the tip. Are you talking about month of March last year? @ Harbour or Island?

 

[sharper]

I've had success with the rapala jointed minnows doing a fast retrieve and pausing in between.