Author Topic: Iced my first Pike (Read 2874 times)

Fishflesh · « **on:** Jan 19, 2019, 06:53 PM »

Ice my first two Northern Pike today! I have caught them open water, only targeted them a few times in the past.

SalmonAndStriper Stalker · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 19, 2019, 06:54 PM »

Nice fish hooked deep or bleed out to eat?

Fishflesh · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 19, 2019, 06:57 PM »

Unfortunately hooked deep, I was using circle hooks too. It swam away fine after when I released it.

SalmonAndStriper Stalker · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 19, 2019, 07:01 PM »

Quote from: Fishflesh on Jan 19, 2019, 06:58 PM

Thanks by the way..

Not trying to be sarcastic or anything some people like to eat them including myself. Nothing wrong with harvesting a fish. Things happen and are out of control. Not to mention any member of the Essox family tend to bleed more than other fish species.

RickWakeman · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 19, 2019, 07:44 PM »

Nice!

THE JIGGER · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 19, 2019, 08:48 PM »

Nice fish. Congrats

SHaRPS · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 19, 2019, 09:02 PM »

Nice pike sir

Fishflesh · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 19, 2019, 09:51 PM »

Thanks everyone, this was my first Pike through the ice. And it wasn't photo shopped- for the record, lol.

Rangerboats391 · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 21, 2019, 12:46 PM »

nice racing stripes

waltman · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 21, 2019, 01:01 PM »

NICE FISH

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 21, 2019, 05:27 PM »

Congrats on your first.

They Eat Ducks !!! · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 22, 2019, 06:26 PM »

Nice job with your 1st pike, once you get the fever there is no turning back

, I don't want to kill your buzz but that fish will not live, cutting a gill is like cutting your wrist.

teamtip-up · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 10:34 AM »

Quote from: They Eat Ducks !!! on Jan 22, 2019, 06:26 PM

Nice job with your 1st pike, once you get the fever there is no turning back , I don't want to kill your buzz but that fish will not live, cutting a gill is like cutting your wrist.

I thought that too until I caught a bunch of healthy appearing pike with every sort of gill damage imaginable. This happened in Maine where they mangle them to get hooks back
Some DEFINITELY live despite serious Gill damage

Cavahbow · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 11:54 AM »

Nice pike. Congrats.

Bignass56 · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 01:23 PM »

My buddy lives in Maine and targets bass and pike. Thought he was joking when he said most of the locals only fish for trout, salmon ect. And treat bass and pike like trash fish and some of Fisherman kill as many as of them possibly because there not native to maine.

esox_xtm · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 01:50 PM »

Nice pike! I love that stuff. A quick wipe before a pic makes something more "shareable" if you know what I mean. I've seen blood on the ice and in the field and there's times when it's unavoidable and I'm used to that. You're excited about your first catch and will want to show the pic around and some folks will be turned off at the sight.

Of other concern is the deep hooking with a circle hook. I've played with 'em for pike and decided they weren't for me. Too many fish not hooked neatly in the corner even with a correctly designed hook. I think all those teeth have a way of misdirecting the line angle for a proper circle hookup. Additionally, deeply hooked fish can be more easily released if you get to the hook working through the gills.

Any fish that is released has a better chance at survival than one taken home or left for the eagles. I've seen some pretty damaged specimens come into my boat over the years. Don't know how they got that way but they were still swimmin' and hungry.

pmaloney86 · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 01:55 PM »

I've heard mixed reviews on going through the gills to get a hook out. I use it all the time bc it gives you better leverage to pop the hook out. Did it on Friday for someone on here

I'm curious what other peoples thoughts are.

manitron2 · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 02:05 PM »

Thanks again for the assist Pat. She swam off strong.

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 03:50 PM »

Completely agree circle hooks suck. They were designed for billfishing with baits, trolling fast and somehow got into the freshwater market. An octopus hook of similar size, offset is best works so much better.

NateD · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 03:56 PM »

Nice pike congrats!

Setting the hook is the best part, circle hooks indeed suck.

esox_xtm · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 05:21 PM »

Circles in freshwater aren't bad. I've done well on bass (especially), walleye, and all kinds of panfish. It's just those really toothy critters that make them inconsistent performers. Not that they don't hook up but that they get stuck in the wrong spot, often deeper than I'd like. I'll stick to my small trebles and be quick to pull the string. Most everything stays up front and... I get to set the hook!

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 05:29 PM »

Quote from: esox_xtm on Jan 23, 2019, 01:50 PM

Nice pike! I love that stuff. A quick wipe before a pic makes something more "shareable" if you know what I mean. I've seen blood on the ice and in the field and there's times when it's unavoidable and I'm used to that. You're excited about your first catch and will want to show the pic around and some folks will be turned off at the sight.

I was re-reading this and can appreciate those sentiments. We all try to release fish unharmed but it is fishing. It happens. I hope the OP sticks around and posts a larger one. The mass board used to have some amazing pike guys posting.

As for circles I don't want to derail the thread but not for me.

Rangerboats391 · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 05:40 PM »

going through the gills works 90 % of the time with minimum stress or damage to the fish

BJ · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 23, 2019, 05:45 PM »

I have taking the barbs off my hooks for years. And when fishing the softwater for bass with worms I always go thru the gills when they are gut hooked and almost 100% of the time its a quick safe release.

They Eat Ducks !!! · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 24, 2019, 01:34 PM »

Trokar is an excellent choice for offset octopus hooks, I have had great results with them.

Poncho · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 24, 2019, 02:27 PM »

Quote from: lowaccord66 on Jan 23, 2019, 05:29 PM

I was re-reading this and can appreciate those sentiments. We all try to release fish unharmed but it is fishing. It happens. I hope the OP sticks around and posts a larger one. The mass board used to have some amazing pike guys posting.

I am relatively new to this site,Why do you think pike guys are not posting pictures anymore !

As for circles I don't want to derail the thread but not for me.

NateD · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 24, 2019, 02:54 PM »

Not a big fan of offset either, sometimes I'll bend them back straight.

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 24, 2019, 03:24 PM »

Quote from: NateD on Jan 24, 2019, 02:54 PM

Not a big fan of offset either, sometimes I'll bend them back straight.

Why? You can buy non-offset octopus?

NateD · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 24, 2019, 04:06 PM »

Quote from: lowaccord66 on Jan 24, 2019, 03:24 PM

Why? You can buy non-offset octopus?

Inline makes for the strongest hook set imo. I don't buy them anymore, but at one point I had a bulk pack of gamis I needed to get through so I just straightened'em with pliers before I tied them on. It likely doesn't matter at all but makes me feel better

Knot there yet · « **Reply #29 on:** Jan 24, 2019, 04:18 PM »

When you learn to turn the hook around it becomes simple. I put line through last gill. I don’t like retrieving hook through gill. Just pull line down and lift on back of hook.
No circles, No octopus, No offset,
Treble Hooks, treble Hooks,
treble Hooks only thing better than a treble hook is 2 trebles
Yeah when you fish trebles you better know how to get them out. I find they don’t get that far down gut hooked either. Just my $.02

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Author Topic: Iced my first Pike (Read 2874 times)