Brian Needham Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 to the OP ......what does a leader solve here? (unless it is a steel leader) Quote
BradH Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 why do ya'll defend them Because they CAN draw blood. I get annoyed by risk-averse, boring people with no sense of adventure I meet every day. I'd hate to see fishermen get that way too. Pike fishing just suits me. Because they can get quite a bit bigger than a bass. MUCH bigger. Because they don't know what quitting is. Do an internet search for pike handling techniques. There is a ton of stuff out there. It's the little two footers that hook you with a mouth full of trebles. Give them the same respect you'd give a big one. 1 Quote
JD96 Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 Only toothed fish I have caught in the past 2 years was a 2.5 foot toothed jackfish or whatever, it ate my lure, and I was with my dad, I was instructed to kill it, killed it. Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 After reading and seeing bloody pictures about pike biting, why do ya'll defend them, I admitted I was wrong but they're pests, I don't fish for pike, and I have been taught by my dad that they don't belong in our lake, which is private, and I've always seen them being killed and heard about it, in a stocked manmade, the pike were not put in the lake, someone else did it. I will not kill anymore pike, but I guarantee if I'm at risk of getting cut up I will disregard the fish, if that means I carry a purse and tampons then so be it. This is about the most ignorant thing I've read on BR in a long time. Here's a rant... Bass aren't some superfish to be put on a pedestal above all others. Pike and related species (most likely chain pickerel where you're fishing) are an ancient freshwater fish that are found in just about all freshwater in the northern hemisphere (e.g. Russia, Mongolia, Europe, etc.) The pike and related species are crucial to the balance of the ecosystem where they exist, and are a ferocious apex predator above the bass. Don't hate the fish because it's capable of messing you up. It's a creature that should be respected and admired for what it is. Do you also think we should exterminate Orcas because they eat seals? Or all the bees because they sting? Fish are living animals and they all have a place in the world. There are already far too many threats to their habitat without people killing them for no reason. Pike are probably more important to this planet than any of us give them credit for. Show them respect please. Also, your private lake most likely has pickerel in it from natural causes (flooding, birds transporting eggs, etc.) I doubt somebody threw the fish in there. How far south are pike be found?There are pickerel as far south as Florida. 2 Quote
JD96 Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 I said I wouldn't kill anymore and I have learned something so y'all pike lovers can relax. And bass are a super fish they're the most awesome fish in the world and they don't have teeth. There is no pike pro circuit. They are pretty gnarly but I don't like catching them. Bass are the best. Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 I said I wouldn't kill anymore and I have learned something so y'all pike lovers can relax. And bass are a super fish they're the most awesome fish in the world and they don't have teeth. There is no pike pro circuit. They are pretty gnarly but I don't like catching them. Bass are the best. I'll just leave this here... http://www.promusky.com/ http://www.professionalmuskieanglercircuit.com/ It's all good man. I just get upset about people hurting fish that aren't being harvested for food. Quote
EvanT123 Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 Needham got this thread back on track. Anyone that fishes a northeastern lake may or will encounter pike and a leader 1. Will help you land that fish 2. Will save your lure. Macio proved that point. Quite nicely. JD96 I understand you feelings on bass. They are my favorite but as discussed above all species serve a purpose and should be respected and managed accordingly. Quote
JD96 Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 I'll just leave this here... http://www.promusky.com/ http://www.professionalmuskieanglercircuit.com/ It's all good man. I just get upset about people hurting fish that aren't being harvested for food. I only dislike toothy fish in my lake because I work a lot and can't afford my own bass boat being 16, I don't live on Oconee anymore so the electric only private lake and a 14 foot V hull boat is my limit. It's fun but nowhere near as fun as a big lake. And the tooth fish are just frustrating to catch, I don't kill them for fun, half is out of following what I've seen and half is for my safety. I understand some people like the tooth fish and yeah they're a good fight but I just don't like dealing with them. And if one were to take a lure I'd be so mad because I can't afford to lose frogs or shad raps due to them. Cool fish if it stays off my line. Quote
The Young Gun Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 I love and hate pike. The "hammer handle" size I'm not a fan of but catching pike 40" plus is a crazy cool thing. And they do a good job of regulating the lakes around here. And the guys always put up a great fight!! But to the pike that bite my line and took my 7$ tungsten weight today, I'm no fan of him... Quote
Super User J Francho Posted August 29, 2013 Super User Posted August 29, 2013 to the OP ......what does a leader solve here? (unless it is a steel leader) Maico is generally tossing $20-30 JDM baits in waters that hold northern pike in the mid teens class - fish capable of literally taking that bait on the strike. there are also some pretty big largemouth there, too. My guess, he's using titanium leaders (if he's not, he should!). For about $11, you get two that will last you a season, or more. Another option I use, and this works incredibly well when you are losing tungsten T-rig weights, is Cortland Toothy Critter. It's a tieable, coated steel leader. Get it in the fly fishing section. Great for wacky senkos, too. Lastly, when targeting pike in clear water, I use 60-75# fluoro leader. You can go up to 100# or more, but you'll need a crimp tool and supplies, sicne it's too thick to tie a knot. Bucher sells come pre rigged leaders, and I've been planning on trying out the solid, inflexible, 4" jerkbait leaders this fall. I hate feeding my big Pointers to the lake gods. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted August 29, 2013 Super User Posted August 29, 2013 catching pike 40" plus is a crazy cool thing It's always when you are least prepared, lol. Caught on a a very valuable to me LC Flat Mini DR (discontinued, of course!) on 8# P-Line, no leader. Glad to have gotten my bait back. The fight from a kayak on a 7' medium/moderate cranking rod was something else! 3 Quote
Brian Needham Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 thanks Francho ! I figured it had to be another material type leader. good to know......I lost an $80 bait this weekend to a gar when it swiped my 20# yo-zuri like 1# mono!!!! Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted August 29, 2013 Super User Posted August 29, 2013 I'll second the Cortland toothy critter leaders... Quote
thehooligan Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 My best pickerel at 4.8lbs. Caught on a jackall flickshake on 6lb flouro, little guy was pulling my kayak around the lake I fish a private quarry quite often thats just filled with pig size pike. Definitely fun to catch when the bass arent biting. I have lost some expensive baits, but its worth it. Love the fight a nice 2lb+ pickerel puts up... Quote
Smallmouth Hunter Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 desperate times call for drastic measures use these to unhook pike lol Quote
Smallmouth Hunter Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I said I wouldn't kill anymore and I have learned something so y'all pike lovers can relax. And bass are a super fish they're the most awesome fish in the world and they don't have teeth. There is no pike pro circuit. They are pretty gnarly but I don't like catching them. Bass are the best. Next time you are doing something that may be unlawful or might offend someone else you should probably not post it on a forum. You offended someone and they are just showing their point of view... 1 Quote
Super User clayton86 Posted August 30, 2013 Super User Posted August 30, 2013 I like pike just fine. They have their place in the food chain............THE TOP. The best bass lakes I know of have lots of big pike. Plus they fight better than bass, and they will rip the rod out of your hand when they strike. It's annoying to lose lures to them, and I myself had to go to the ER this spring to get a badly chewed up thumb glued back together. But many a bad day of bass fishing has been saved by willing pike, and I, unless I am in a tournament or they just swiped my stuff, enjoy them for what they are. story of my life lately Now I like most have a love hate relationship for the toothy fish. Like farmer said they save the day a lot when fishing for bass and you are about to get skunked but a ticked pike sees something shinny and just wants to eat it. The lake I've been fishing the last week and a half I've caught over 50 pickerel and only 5 bass not one over 8" long the pickerel have been everywhere from 18" to close to 30". None have taken a bait though they have mangled a few spinner baits and tore a spro to shreds and the spro one was the one that bit me and also the smallest one. I do love how they fight hate how slimy they are but I actually have not lost a bait to them once this year and I don't use a leader ever I don't even own any. I've only been bit twice by them in my whole life and have probably caught thousands not exaggerating fish WNY for 26 years lol the two that bit me were my own carelessness when gill grabbing them and they freak a little and I pretty much put my finger in there mouth. Now I've said I don't take special care to release one which I don't really but I don't screw around either 99% the time I unhook like any other snap a quick pic and back in they go. I know of 1 last year I definitely killed on accident it was gut hooked bad and one this year that was questionable same thing I tried the threw the gills trick it worked but was bleeding bad upon release he just sat on the surface but I could see its gills and fins moving so he might have made it Quote
CravinMorehead Posted August 31, 2013 Posted August 31, 2013 Should try salt water fishing. They have bigger teeth Quote
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