Great Day Of Fishing...some Questions!

[CC268]

** I know this isn't specifically about bass, but I wasn't really sure what I would catch out there.

 

I went out to Lake Mary here in Flagstaff, AZ for a few hours this afternoon. I wasn't really expecting to catch anything, just wanted to try out my new baitcaster and try some different bass rigs for the hell of it (I am completely new to bass fishing, but have done a decent amount of small trout fishing). 

 

The lake is mostly frozen over right now, but there was a few hundred feet not frozen over on one section of the lake. It is VERY weedy, has tons of green algae crap on the bottom, and when fishing from the shore it is very shallow (maybe 1- 2 feet). First thing I threw out was a 3/8oz spinner bait...first cast got a pike on the line (ended up losing him about 3 feet from the shore). I have never hooked a pike so that was exciting. The spinner bait was collecting too much algae and weeds, so I tried a Texas rigged worm and a small bullet weight. This was a lot more "weedless", but I still noticed stuff was hanging up on it. I was slowly retrieving like I would a spinner bait or inline spinner. 

 

After casting out a while with the Texas Rig I thought I got it stuck on a rock...but it was no rock, it was a pike! This was the first big fish I have ever caught (relatively big compared to the tiny trout I am used to catching). It really fought! He was about 2 feet long. Anyways...after I caught that one I wasn't able to catch anything else, but it was fun. Anyways...I have some questions that arose from today:

 

 

1. How do you guys bring the fish to you when your trying to unhook it? (When I caught that big pike I reeled him all the way to the tip of my pole and tried to lift him towards me, but when I did that he came unhooked and splashed down into the water...this has happened to me before)

 

2. How do you get the hook out a pike's mouth? (Since they have teeth)

 

3. What are some other weedless alternatives besides Texas Rig that would be good for a really weedy and shallow lake like Lake Mary?

 

 

Here is a pic of the pike after he splashed down into the water...looks small, but it was a decent size:

[fl_bass]

Get one of these to get the hook out:

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Squeeze-Out-Hook-Remover/product/10213376/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&om_mmc=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=17kw3123399&SST=2c314d4f-2f18-fee8-324b-000035f8640e

There is a Bill Dance version too

Practice one technique before moving to something else, other wise you will be overwhelmed.

[AR21angler]

there is pike in arizona

[CC268]

there is pike in arizona

 

 

Yes..?

[Scott F]

When reeling in the fish, and he's getting close to you, point your rod nearly straight up in the air and swing the fish to you where you can reach it. Grab the smaller pike by the back of the head squeezing the gills slightly. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the hook. If the pike has closed his mouth around your bait, you may need a pair of jaw spreaders to hold open his mouth while you remove the hook.

 

[CC268]

Alright thanks!

[Comfortably Numb]

I am guessing its not a Pike, but a pickeral. I got a 24 incher last week while crappie fishing on the ultralight that was almost four pounds. You can reach in under the gill to lift them and then use pliers to remove the hook. Never reel in all the way to the rod tip. Leave 2-3 feet of line, and be carefull lifting it or you can break the rod top

[joetomlee]

If you're gripping a pike by the gills be really careful as their mouths are full of jagged teeth which extend pretty far back. It's not hard to overextend your finger into the gill and get cut up.

[joetomlee]

Pike and pickerel are very similar and it's tough to tell from that picture alone which you caught. If I had to take a guess, I'd say that's a pike. Hard distinguish them apart sometimes seeing as how they can interbreed and create hybrids (part of the same family). I've never seen much logic in distinguishing them apart from one another.

[Crookedneck]

When reeling in the fish, and he's getting close to you, point your rod nearly straight up in the air and swing the fish to you where you can reach it. Grab the smaller pike by the back of the head squeezing the gills slightly. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the hook. If the pike has closed his mouth around your bait, you may need a pair of jaw spreaders to hold open his mouth while you remove the hook.

 

A bit of a recommendation when it comes to landing fish, pointing your fishing rod to the sky and swinging a fish in is a very good way to break a rod. Not trying to be a negative Nancy, just saying.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I don't use the rod to lift fish out of the water if I can help it.  When I get it right up close to the shore (or boat if you have one) I grab the line a couple feet above the fish and then lift it out.  If its a pike or pickerel, grab it behind the head or by the gills.  If its a bass just lip it but if its a biggun, make sure you don't hold it horizontally becuase you could break its jaw.  Broken jaw can equal dead fish.  Then ues needle nose pliers to remove the hook.  The pliers arent really neccesarry if its just a worm hook or something but they're a must for treble hooked lures.

[Crestliner2008]

First off, always carry a pair of pliers on your belt when fishing, regardless of the species you are after. Landing pike or pickeral is not difficult. Bring them in close to shore, grab them on top of the head, close to where the gill covers are and grip down tight. Lift your fish. With your rod hand, put the rod down and retrieve your pliers. From that point on, it's pretty simple. Not a good idea to bring the fish to your rod tip. A good way to break that tip. Bring him in close and leave a few feet between the rod tip and the fish.

[tommiller76]

I always grab pike just behind the eyes firmly but the important part is that you make sure that you have tired him out enough that he isn't going to make another mad dash for deeper water or even worse come at you when you reach for him. Once he is calmed down try to keep tension on him with either the rod or by grabbing the line but be extremely careful when holding the line because it can cut you pretty bad especially braid. Once you have him to the shore or side of the boat grab him just behind the eyes and hold him tightly. As far as removing the hook I always have an 8" pair of needlenose pliers for removing treble hooks or when de-hooking pike.  

Good luck out there this year and welcome to the most addicting sport I've ever been a part of.

[HeavyDluxe]

I am guessing its not a Pike, but a pickeral.

 

Based on the picture that was posted, I think you'd be wrong... That sure looks like a northern.  The back markings, side fins, and head shape seem distinctive to me.

 

Anyway, there are plenty of good replies in this thread re: landing toothy critters.  You definitely *do* need a set of pliers when you're out for critters toothy and non-toothy.  They are a must-have.

[Comfortably Numb]

Btw, as far as lure for your shallow weedy lake. A Zoom Super fluke would be a great choice. Rig it weedless and twitch and pause.

[Peacocknight303]

I find it hard to believe bass fisherman sometimes , with all those helpful replies you got  NO ONE mentioned the fact a landing net is an essential part of your tackle . Helps you land safely anything you might catch whatever its size and species , and prevents you damaging your rod  by trying to lift the fish ashore or on deck , this is bad practice and damaging to the fish which usually ends up bouncing around on the deck or shore.  Perhaps they never catch anything but small fish LOL.

[HeavyDluxe]

I'll reply to that... Being in VT, a lot of places I stand to fish are surrounded by woods and growth.  In fact, I sometimes try to find these spots as it gives me access to cover/fish that are not being hit by most bank fisherman.

 

Trying to maneuver my rod while bringing a fish in without getting snarled in a tree or bush is bad enough.  Add a net to that, and I'm sure I'd be hosed.  Perhaps I'm wrong, but handling bigger fish quickly at the water's edge seemed the more humane thing (even when they have teeth).  Now, when I'm out in my new kayak this summer, whole different discussion.  A net *will* be part of the arsenal, then.

[jhoffman]

A musky in that climate would make the most sense. Without seeing the sides its anyones guess.

[HookSetDon]

Looks like a pike to me

[Curtie A]

bud i dont know about in arizona but in alaska  we fished weeds so thick u could barely get a canoe thru n we used frogs good luck

[CC268]

Thanks for all the help guys! I have a pair of smaller pliers, but I am going to pick up a longer set, maybe one of those jaw openers and maybe a few other things. I am almost 100% positive that is a pike...that is the main fish at Lake Mary and looking at AZ Game and Fish's website Pike, Bass, and Trout are the main fish in that lake

 

Any suggestions on really weedless rigs besides the Texas Rig or Split Shot Rig?

Should I be using a steel leader for pike?

Set my drag to about 30 %?

[Packard]

Thanks for all the help guys! I have a pair of smaller pliers, but I am going to pick up a longer set, maybe one of those jaw openers and maybe a few other things. I am almost 100% positive that is a pike...that is the main fish at Lake Mary and looking at AZ Game and Fish's website Pike, Bass, and Trout are the main fish in that lake

 

Any suggestions on really weedless rigs besides the Texas Rig or Split Shot Rig?

Should I be using a steel leader for pike?

Set my drag to about 30 %?

That is a pike for sure. I would try top water frogs, lipless crankbaits, soft jerkbaits, weedless soft swimbaits, and a johnson silver minnow. The swimbaits and the silver minnow are great for pike. You can use a leader such as the Cortland Toothy Critter leader, which is tie-able, but is not necessary. If you have a medium or medium light rod I would set your drag low but if you have a medium-heavy or heavy baitcast rod, you can probably just horse the fish in at that size.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Thats cool!   I really like catching those even though alot of people dont.  Congrats

[CC268]

Thanks for all the tips guys