The one that ALMOST got away

[Handberrydea]

I went out to a big fish lake last weekend with about thirty dollars worth of 8 inch suckers. My buddy and I got about 7 flags but could not convert on any of them for some reason. It was a weird bite and the one fish that we had on broke my friends main line. Just as we were about to pack up a flag popped. Learning from our previous mistakes we let this one eat it for a while before setting the hook. He went on a run, sat, went on another run and my buddy set the hook. We could see the fish through the black ice and we knew that it was a potential pb. As my buddy tried to grab him with his clippers the line broke right at the hole. And then this happened.....

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[ActiveTrapChecker]

Incredible battle, nice video!

[jebra]

That's a nice fish.

BUT there is plenty of information out there about the danger of a vertical hold, especially on a big pike.

Anyone fishing for the larger predators needs to read up on it.

https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/proper-hold-for-pikemuskie/

[lowaccord66]

Great save regardless of others overstated opinions on how to hold a pike. 

[shoey19663]

Nice catch and video guys

[ESOX FIX]

Great save regardless of others overstated opinions on how to hold a pike.

overstated opinion is an understatement, good fish.   

[tjb22]

Nice fish!

[lowaccord66]

overstated opinion is an understatement, good fish.

I'm being nice.  It's one thing to respect the fish, I think most do.  Its entirely different if the reaction to everyone success posted here comes with preaching...that gets old quick.

[Gunflint]

As my buddy tried to grab him with his clippers the line broke right at the hole. And then this happened.....

Do you guys buy lottery tickets?   

[Hammertime-IceCube]

I'm being nice.  It's one thing to respect the fish, I think most do.  Its entirely different if the reaction to everyone success posted here comes with preaching...that gets old quick.

Agreed.

[Handberrydea]

Haha we definitely didn’t deserve to land that fish

Do you guys buy lottery tickets?   

[Handberrydea]

I agree, they say that the vertical hold And Bogas are not the best for pike. Fish handling is important to me so I’ll work making a better example for future anglers. Thanks for watching and tight lines!

That's a nice fish.

BUT there is plenty of information out there about the danger of a vertical hold, especially on a big pike.

Anyone fishing for the larger predators needs to read up on it.

https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/proper-hold-for-pikemuskie/

[RickC]

I agree, they say that the vertical hold And Bogas are not the best for pike. Fish handling is important to me so I’ll work making a better example for future anglers. Thanks for watching and tight lines!

Just keep doing what you're doing! You are not going to do any harm to the fish for the little amount time you are holding it like that. I have yet to see one definitive scientific study that proves we hurt fish by holding like we do. Everything is a "Hypothesis" or uneducated guess. And yes, I've read many articles and watched many video's on the subject and they all basically say what they "think" is happening. I want to see a study where they take a 6 lb bass, grab it by the jaw and hold it at a 45 degree angle. Do this once a day for 5 years and show me the damage and then maybe I'll change my tune. Until then, Keep rippin those lips!

Nice fish btw!!

[V Menzone]

Nice fish but terrible execution. A hand bomb would of landed that fish much easier screw the boga grips. Almost cost a nice catch a few times guess that's why theres 20 to 30 lb pike in ct

[NorthEastFisherman]

That's a nice fish.

BUT there is plenty of information out there about the danger of a vertical hold, especially on a big pike.

Anyone fishing for the larger predators needs to read up on it.

https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/proper-hold-for-pikemuskie/

Geez you should just post that link in your signature since it seems you find the need to share it on every pike post on this website..JUST FOR YOU next time ill drill a 4ft by 4ft hole in the ice so i can fit my massive net in the water to ensure no pike is harmed next time i go ice fishing.. Hit me up next time you go out Id love to go fishing with you i want to see your method of bringing a 35'' pike thru a hole horiztonally of course, without boga grips (wouldnt want to harm their jaws, but grabbing their gills OK), and then take the hook out (i assume circle hooks def cant use trebles those are horrible for the fish). OH! and we should keep the cameras rolling all day... cause don't wanna leave the fish out of the water for too long trying to get a pic could freeze their gills/eyes and its bad for the fishs health to take them out of the water because they cant breathe the same air as us... I gotta say you pike fisherman are almost worse than the trout salmon guys.

[Fishermen]

Nice job and nice fish spite what other people have to say 😀😂

[Dieseldog]

Thanks for sharing. Nice fish. Keep the vids coming, top shelf stuff.

[BDailey]

Awesome fish man, you did what you could under the Circumstances.  It’s def tough pulling fish that size thru the ice.

[Evil Tom]

Good fish very lucky.All the criticism is why I don't post pics or videos.anymore.

[te-pe]

very cool..video..way to just say screw it and dive to the hole.i did that once almost  to my elbow but not with a pike...huge smallie

[jmedy1]

crazy save.  Those boga grips can absolutely sabotage a landing. better than a bloody hand i guess.  I found better success with the plastic plyer style grips like the "fish grip".  Strong work

[sebago2jigtima]

 

[NateD]

crazy save.  Those boga grips can absolutely sabotage a landing. better than a bloody hand i guess.  I found better success with the plastic plyer style grips like the "fish grip".  Strong work

Mouth was closed I don't think any gripper would have worked, just gotta mandhandle'em.

[Fishermen]

Worst thing you can do is go through life carein what someone else says live your own life

[lowaccord66]

Worst thing you can do is go through life carein what someone else says live your own life

I think the worst thing you can do is be the guy who feels the need to criticize how others fish.  Just sayin.

[saxmatt]

Nice one! I’m sure that pike was fine, it didn’t thrash around and it wasn’t a heavy fish. I can see where Jebra is coming from though, I’ve caught several pike and muskie with a split or broken jaw from lip grippers. I use a boga or a glove to land big fish especially though thicker ice but I haven’t heald a fish up with the boga for years because I’ve seen the damage it can do. I use a carp weigh sling now for weighing them and keeping them off the ice. I think if you are planning on releasing the fish you should try to get it back in the water with as little damage as possible.

[jelp]

Nice catch and amazing save!

[earlyrise]

Wow great video nice fish