Further North

Why are you disappointed? The only hype I've seen is from folks on the internet...HB didn't release anything... So...Garmin is much better now? Just askin'... Let's be objective. Greater range. Three modes. Interacts with other HB and MK gear. Eliminates an extra hunk of gear on deck. I'm gonna call that positive... I'd love to see a reliable source for that. I've seen the same thing, but every time I've asked about the source, it's been something like, "I read in on a FB post from some guy who said his sister's brother's Uncle Bob heard it from a guy in a bar who used to work with the guy who's third cousin Melvin bought a kitten from the guy whose uncle's son Sue (Johnny Cash reference) done said he heard it from the guy who used to service the elevators at the HB headquarters but done got fired two years ago for stealin' candy from the receptionist's drawers."

It's not as tough as one would think, once you know what you're doing. It's a lot of fun though.

Musky are fun, though often frustrating...we choose to use flies just to make them even more so... We spent three days over this last weekend chasing them: Saturday: didn't even see a fish. Not one, of any kind. Sunday: had 5 follows, 4 eats, none in the boat. Monday: 6 follows, one eat, one in the boat, and a bunch of smallies. 28 hours of time in the boat with air temps approaching 100°.

Yep. ...failing that, we have to find spring-fed water, which is tough to figure out until you're on it, and checking temperatures.

We're dealing with the same weather 90 miles to your east. The last two days were brutal, yesterday worse than today, but today's wind worse. Tomorrow looks like a compromise. I am also concerned that the heat spike will bump water temps too high to chase Esox...but if it does, we'll chase smallies. Rivers tend to be cooler than lakes, so there's that. Summer pattern for bass would be welcome. Summer pattern for Esox should be "Leave them alone until water temps get below 80°" ...unless, of course, one is planning on eating them, or doesn't care about the resource.

We hope to see a bunch of them over the next three days...we'll be after them Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Thanks. That's my old drift boat...the gentleman who bought it invited me out for a day. My new one should be here in the next few weeks, I'm really looking forward to it.

Take a look at the lighter weight Knot-2-Kinky. Tie it into the main line with an Alberto knot, then perfection loop your favorite snap or swivel snap into the business end. One thing: Do not try to pick up a fish with any Knot-2-Kinky under about 25#. It can slice you like a knife. You can guess how I know. I'm not telling anyone else to not use them, but I dislike those things intensely. I've seen people damage jaws badly, particularly on big fish they can't control. Spot WRT grippers...I don't even like the Bogas. I have a big net, and use it. I also de-barb my hooks so I can usually get them out without taking the Esox out of the water. I understand everyone's not going to do it that way, but I've found it's what works best for me. All my pike/musky fly rods are rigged with 3 ft. of 50# Maxima Ultragreen tied direct to about a foot of wire. The wire varies, depending on what kind of fly I'm tossing, but it's usually Tyger Leader (until I run out. I have a few set up with Knot-2-Kinky, but it's kind of a PITA to get tied into the Maxima well.

Depends on where you fish. I won't do it.

I have had them cut 50# braid like it wasn't there. That's what started my experimentation with tied-to-the-main-line wire like AFW Surflon, Knot-2-Kinky and others. Some of the multi-strand are much more flexible than heavy fluoro. Look at the lighter weight tieable wire leaders. A Whopper Plopper will float a pretty heavy wire - easily a 20# AFW, or Tyger Leader.

Like a hot knife through butter...but faster. Their gill rakers can cut it too. The one solution that I have found that avoids constant replacement is single strand nickel-titanium tieable leaders like Knot-2-Kinky. I have had those last over a full season.

I run 50# braid tied to 30# wire leader tied in with an FG knot.

Yeah, that was a laugh. ...but that's what passes for journalism these days.

Small teeth... ? I caught a 9" musky on a 6" bait once...

I've caught barracuda and am well aware of the difference. All I said was, "They do OK." That's not an indictment of 'cuda, or a claim that musky are better in any way... Musky are what we have, and they are an absolute blast, particularly in shallow water rivers. They are among the most difficult fish to catch in the US, and while I enjoyed 'cuda, I enjoy musky more. That's an opinion, not a statement of fact, and opinions will vary.

That's a very solid evaluation. If there's any serious numbers of pike you almost can't avoid catching them.

The Bucher leaders aren't cheap ones. ...that said, The system I use has fewer moving parts and can't run into your guides. That'll work too, but the system I use is simpler, and has fewer moving parts...and if you use the Knot-2-Kinky singel strand, you'll never have to tie on a new leader because a two footer turned your leader into a tornado twisted pigtail.

If you're targeting pike, I'd advise staying away from cheap leaders. You get what you pay for... Here's a system that's less expensive, and works better than any commercial leader: Tie in about 12" - 18" of tieable wire to your main line. Alberto of FG knots are best (FG is smaller diameter, but doesn't work on single strand like Knot-2-Kinky). That will run up into your guides without damaging them. On the "business end" use a perfection loop to tie in a Mustad Fastach clip. No moving/flexing/bending parts to fail, and they last forever. If you want a swivel in the line, use the Fastach with a swivel built in so there is only one swivel in the rig.

They do OK... ?

BTW: Leaders. Use them. I tie about a foot of wire leader (20# is plenty, but 30# is fine) directly to my 50# braid with an FG knot (an Alberto will work) so that there's no swivel at the top of the leader to bang into my tip guide. I tie in a Mustad Fastach swivel clip (best clip ever, no moving, flexing, or bending parts to open or close it, I've never seen one fail) in the business end with a Perfection Loop so there's plenty opportunity for action. ...you can use a commercial wire leader, but you're going to bang the top swivel into your rod tip, several times a day, unless you are the most patient angler, ever...and the kink and twist like crazy after just a few fish.

Good info above. I can't troll, so I stick with casting...but flash and underwater "noise" is what you want. If you're not getting bit, change your presentation, strategy, and lures. They'll eat something, they're pike. I've had huge success with Strike King Smokin' Roosters, Texas rigged on a red 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG swimbait hook...it's virtually weedless and makes about the same amount and noise as my trusty #5 Mepps, which is my other go-to. I have rods dedicated to both that are always on deck. Doctor Spoons are the 3rd leg of my pike plan, in both the 1 1/8 oz. size, and the one smaller than that. Burn 'em, work 'em like a jerk bait, steady retrieve with or without a stop-n-flutter...whatever they tell you they want. Pike are gonna be where the food is, at least until water temps drive the big girls into cooler water or semi-dormancy. They'll be back in the fall...

Pike are my favorite fish, even more than musky. Give me pike in the 24" - 45" range and I'm a happy camper. They're not overpopulated everywhere. ...we had a weird year here last year...pike, in water that's normally got plenty of them, were really hard to catch. I actually caught more musky than pike last year. It was kinda weird. Here's a decent pike from a couple years ago:

I have had walleyes, smallies, and decent sized pike attached by bigger pike and muskies. ...that said, using them intentionally as bait seems a little less than ethical...but that's me.