Now that's a pike right there!

[bigredonice]

We are jigging Lake Trout a few weeks back, and my good friend inflatable yeti yells that I need to come see this fish he just landed

[fordman]

Sweet!! Jigging?

[bigredonice]

Sweet!! Jigging?

yes

[fordman]

Sick.

[havejigwilltravel]

yeowzah!! on the jig? Great catch!!

[SSmokinn SS]

dude, why do you gotta leave us hanging on the STATS?

thats a gator. Beautiful fish.

Stats? lol

[esox_xtm]

Monster pike! Bet that was a load on a rod and reel. Tube jig?

[DR.SPECKLER]

Thats one big nothern!!

[bigredonice]

dude, why do you gotta leave us hanging on the STATS?

thats a gator. Beautiful fish.

Stats? lol

Unfortunately it was below zero, so it went back before we dug out measuring tape or a good scale.   To his credit, Yeti wanted to get it back before it got any frost damage.  My guess is 20+.   I've only ever seen one pike bigger than that in person.

Monster pike! Bet that was a load on a rod and reel. Tube jig?

it actually came in pretty easily, getting it through the hole was the tough part for him.    It was on a swimbait.

[big_guy_13021]

Nice fish

[tbern]

Wow, nice fish! Congrats!

[chevy rotbox]

nice job

[waltman]

NICE FISH GOOD JOB WITH THE RELEASE

[Fishmarket]

Thats an awesome suprise.  Great pike!!!

[Yotecatcher]

Awesome fish. I'd been yelling we're gonna need a bigger hole 😂😂 congrats to your buddy.

[zadvorney]

WOW!

[Gravel Lizzard]

Awesome pike!

[perch chacer]

Unfortunately it was below zero, so it went back before we dug out measuring tape or a good scale.   To his credit, Yeti wanted to get it back before it got any frost damage.  My guess is 20+.   I've only ever seen one pike bigger than that in person.

That's a good sportsman.  Seed for future big pike in that lake.  I applaud you.

[inflatable yeti]

Thanks for posting this Lance!  You aren't kidding about it being cold that day. 

I would have loved to get better pictures (and fix my hat), as well as take some measurements.  Even 30 seconds out of the hole and the fish was getting frosty though.  Oh well, let's just say it was huge 

In case anyone is wondering, it's back swimming around the south basin of Schroon Lake.... go catch her again!

[SSmokinn SS]

Unfortunately it was below zero, so it went back before we dug out measuring tape or a good scale.   To his credit, Yeti wanted to get it back before it got any frost damage.  My guess is 20+.   I've only ever seen one pike bigger than that in person.

it actually came in pretty easily, getting it through the hole was the tough part for him.    It was on a swimbait.

It’s hard to tell by pics, with fish of that size, but that looks like a clone of my PB... which would be 46” and 22lbs. Does that seem accurate to you? Kudos to releasing that fish so quick in the cold. 

[pikemanEd]

The scale at the time said 18-19lb i would guess it was 40-41in. I do not know how accurate the scale was tho

[bigredonice]

The scale at the time said 18-19lb i would guess it was 40-41in. I do not know how accurate the scale was tho

yeti can speak on this, but he tested that old fish grabber and it was WAY off, by many pounds.   I had my good boga scale in my shanty but we didn't want to waste any time.   I can't even begin to imagine how old she was.

[SSmokinn SS]

The scale at the time said 18-19lb i would guess it was 40-41in. I do not know how accurate the scale was tho

That fish is bigger then 41”.

[esox_xtm]

It’s hard to tell by pics, with fish of that size, but that looks like a clone of my PB... which would be 46” and 22lbs. Does that seem accurate to you? Kudos to releasing that fish so quick in the cold.

I think you're right in the ballpark...

It's a good pic and my first impression was 45 - 46" based on my experience. Really well built fish that I'd put at 22 - 23# though I don't weigh a lot of fish.

Great job on your release!  She'll make plenty of gene enabled offspring in years to come 

Catch of a lifetime for most folks. Swimbait? I am intrigued... care to elaborate?

[pikemanEd]

yeti can speak on this, but he tested that old fish grabber and it was WAY off, by many pounds.   I had my good boga scale in my shanty but we didn't want to waste any time.   I can't even begin to imagine how old she was.

Funny thing is I was standing there with my rapala boga with the 50lb digital scale ready to go even asked if u guys needed it lol

[zwiggles]

Awesome post! Nice fish and nice release!

[gitthegaff]

That was one heck of a Pike, congrats! Schroon has some real Bruiser Pike, I've seen 2 Myself over 20lbs taken there. WTG

[inflatable yeti]

Thanks for the all the kind words guys!  I tested the cabela's gripper with a 10lb dumbbell in my garage and it read just shy of 9 lbs, so take that what you will.  If I had to estimate, I'd say the fish was 41" and 21lbs.  I can also say that I was fishing out of a 8" hole and the fish's belly barely fit through, so that's 24" girth, and when it's gill plates flared out it was much bigger than the hole.

As anyone who knows me can attest, I'm not a "take tons of measurements and get weights to the ounces" kind of guy.  Sometimes to the chagrin of the people I fish with, since I always catch the big ones 

For those interested I caught it on a 3" swimbait and 1/2oz jig head, on 10lb floro leader in 60ish ft of water.  Saw it on the vex sitting around 2 feet off the bottom and not reacting, so i dropped down and jigged above it's head.  The pike just slowly swam up and sucked in the lure, kind of like a crappie.  On the hook set, it did two big head shakes and then just sat there.  Honestly, I thought it was a wrapped up laker because it was just dead weight and small pulls coming in.  Once it got to the hole, I got a good look it through the clear ice and almost fell out of my seat.  It did run a little under the ice, but nothing too crazy.  It wasn't until I tried to get it's head through the hole that it fought and spun.  Thankfully i had the grippers to reach in, clamp down and hold on, most likely would have broke me off there.

Anyway it was an awesome catch, easily my PB, and I was happy to be there with other ice fishermen (and an ice fisherwoman) to witness and enjoy it with me.  That's what it's all about after all.  You just never know what you're going to catch, which is part of what makes it so much fun!  Good luck and tight lines everyone.

[Fifield_Outf]

One hell of a water wolf my friend!!! Congrats!! A lot of big fish being taken this year and being released 😁 #CatchPhotoRelease

[pikemanEd]

Yes yeti it was a amazing fish to get on that jig and light leader. And getting it back in the water when it's that cold out is way more important then getting a tape on it. You definitely did the right thing now the fish gods will bless you with a 20lb laker  !!!!