A true trophy pike

[Tin]

You've seen 4-5 30+lb pike and you don't fish for em?

p.s. the world record ain't from north america

Yea sorry, North American record. Germany and Scotland supposedly have the 50+ pound fish.

No, we would just pull up on a grass flats looking for smallies, throw the spinnerbaits or spooks, and a couple of the flats had those monsters. Never saw a small one, only those giants. We were fishing in just 3-4 feet and the water was down 6-8 feet. I was up there for two days and only saw those few. The boater I pulled the second day was a guide up there and he said they are definitely in there but they are non-existent until fall. Don't know where they go. :-?

[Folshen]

That definitely makes for a great fish story, congrats!

[SuperNewbie]

dang man that thing is a haaasss!!!!!

[Lynx]

NICE!

[jaystraw]

Nice work!!!  That's a beauty.

[Rebel Angler]

WOOOH thats a nice fish

congrats man!

[The one that got away]

That is one nice northern. 

I had one on a white 1/2 ounce Terminator spinnerbait on Lake Champlain in VT in early Sept this year.  Got it to about 15-20ft from the boat and lost him.  It was a good 48"+ in length (a pretty good estimate, because I landed several in the 30" range that same day), but mine didn't have quite the girth that your monster does. 

Great job on landing a GREAT fish.  Congrats. 

[RoLo]

As many times as I see that photo, I get excited all over (luv them Gators).

Dwight is the Al Lindner of the Northeast, he has boated record-class pike,

lake trout, smallmouth bass and walleyes....a remarkable angler!

Roger

[Paul Roberts]

Gotta ask:

Why a FC leader? Why not...hard mono, or any of the wires available? What does FC offer?

[Dwight Hottle]

Paul,

We started using fc leaders about three years ago.  We used to use store bought steel leaders, then titanium but had nunerous componet failures. We then started making our own with quality snaps & swivels & mostly seven strand wire which we tied rather than crimped. Eventually they all kink & need replaced. Then we tried fc leaders not so much for the stealth aspect but the durability. I often use one fc leader for 3-4 days or the whole week on a pike trip. Minimum of 8 hours per day, mostly all casting. The fc leaders are the most cost effective considering the durability aspect. They are hand tied & then crimped to keep the tag end from fouling weeds. I often replace the duo-loc snap after a few days & continue using the leader. I'm pretty anal about quality componets & retying  all knots.

[A-Jay]

Way to go DH - you're proving once again that traveling & fishing where the Trophy fish live Really improves ones chances of catching one.

btw

I'm pretty anal about quality components & retying all knots.

X2

I'm right there with ya ~ But instead anal - those of us also afflicted prefer the term

"attention to detail"

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

A-Jay your attention to detail comment reminds me of a quote from a fishing buddy "when attention to detail meets opportunity its not luck"  ;)

[basser89]

Paul,

We started using fc leaders about three years ago. We used to use store bought steel leaders, then titanium but had nunerous componet failures. We then started making our own with quality snaps & swivels & mostly seven strand wire which we tied rather than crimped. Eventually they all kink & need replaced. Then we tried fc leaders not so much for the stealth aspect but the durability. I often use one fc leader for 3-4 days or the whole week on a pike trip. Minimum of 8 hours per day, mostly all casting. The fc leaders are the most cost effective considering the durability aspect. They are hand tied & then crimped to keep the tag end from fouling weeds. I often replace the duo-loc snap after a few days & continue using the leader. I'm pretty anal about quality componets & retying all knots.

Hey Dwight,

I was just curious. What pound test FC leaders are you using? I'm using 65# test for these Potomac beasts.

[Dwight Hottle]

basser89-We have been using 120lb fc leaders. I started using 80lb but had some biteoffs. Pike often miss a lure but hit the leader in front of the bait if your retrieving fast and or erratically especially with a side to side walk the dog type bait.

[24ergast]

I started using fc leaders for pike this year, so far no problem.

What length do you use? mine are up to 2 ' long as I had problems with pike biting over a foot long leader...

[Dwight Hottle]

24ergast-We use 12" leaders for casting & 36" for trolling. Anything longer than 15" for casting can become a problem in a crowded boat.

[24ergast]

thx, i had that problem myself, i use it manly for trolling. the lake i 'm fishing is a bit difficult to read, you never know were the big ones are lurking...

[basser89]

basser89-We have been using 120lb fc leaders. I started using 80lb but had some biteoffs. Pike often miss a lure but hit the leader in front of the bait if your retrieving fast and or erratically especially with a side to side walk the dog type bait.

Wow! Thanks for the feedback Dwight! Like you, one of my good friends ties ours. Neither of us have had an issue with the 65lb fluro leaders, but I'll definitely pass that info onto him as well. He and I have both landed mid to upper 40" class muskies with the ones we use. Better safe than sorry! Speaking of length of the leaders, my friend uses 12" and I prefer 18". I've had a couple larger muskies go into a death roll and cut me off on the 12" size when I used them. Since I upgraded the length, I haven't had an issue.

[b.Lee]

That is my dream to be able to do some Nor Pike fishing

[Tokyo Tony]

Beautiful, beautiful fish there Dwight. Congratulations. All of the fish you post are very impressive, especially this one.

[Eternal Angler]

One word wow, that pice is a beaut! You just catch monster fish don't you? Jealous, lol.  I can't belive the size of that smallmouth in your pic, it looks bigger than D.L. Hayes smallmouth bass.

[hawgchaser]

What a trophy!!!! Congrats on beautiful fish!!!

[tennwalkinghorse]

Wow what a fish, nice job landing that pike on one hook

[NewKidInTown]

I just got back from our annual fishing trip to Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan. My previous personal best pike was 26lbs and my buddy and I have chased the elusive 30 lber for about 15 years. This year on the first morning in camp I got lucky. We had to break ice to get to one of our favorite bays but it paid off. I caught this 32 lber on a lc pointer 100 saltwater series. She measured 49 inches long by 21.75 inch girth. She only had one hook point of the rear treble in her upper lip so I was very nervous until we finally got her in the cradle. I love chasing big smallies but this fish really made my year.

Awesome fish,,but that Smallie in the avatar excites me even more! I  gotta ask,,what did that beast weight?

[Dwight Hottle]

The smallie weighed 7lbs-6oz.