Yesterday's sunrise

[ctom]

On Lake Pepin, Mississippi River pool 4. Picture was taken at about 6:10 yesterday morning as we launched.



We did a pike specific trip and had a pretty decent outing. Brought home three for the buddy's neighbor to make pickles.



This fish was less than 20 casts into the morning. just shy of 32 inches. I would not have kept it except I was using a #13 Rapala floater and if you take a peek at the fish's mouth you can just see the head end of the rapala. We had one that was close to 35 inches but this one weighed more, much fatter fish. We had some super sized fish follow our baits yesterday but they didn't commit. By the time I got the lure back this sucker had me slimed from the chin to  my pants waist. Pike to 37" have been taken from this shallow corner.

We fished a shallow corner on shore with extensive non-emergent weeds. The pike were right at the edge of the weedline where the water depth dropped fairly fast. We'd cast over the break into shallower water and slowly bring the Rapalas back keeping the bait just under the surface. We'd just feel them tickling the weed tops and when the weed tops were deep enough to stop contact, the hits began. We thought maybe the 4" Rippers on weighted hooks would get the attention of some bass but only one smallie came out to play. Fun morning but was sultry by 9 so we pulled it.

[basscatlildave]

Nice pic and even nicer fish. I bet it stretched your string.

[ctom]

Pike are our apex predators up this way and can get seriously large. My largest pike was taken in March of 1977 near Red Wing Minnesota on the Mississippi River using a 1/8 ounce jig and a fat head minnow while walleye fishing. It measured 44 3/4" and was released as soon as the hook came out and measured. I've seen several very large pike since that day, some larger. They seem not to mind if the water is super warm [as long as it has sufficient oxygen levels that is] or very cold. The fight is always the same.....dogged. I have been using 8/30 power pro braid but just today switched to 6/20. The 8/30 is not supposed to have any stretch but I swear this fish did make the line longer  lol The heavier braid helps against bite offs but with the Rapalas those are not often and the 6/20 is easier casting. If as real pig hits the reels have souped up drag washers so no worries there. Long rods too....7 foot at least. seeing a big pike take a pass at your lure right at the boat just stops the heart. They are impressive fish to say the least and in my book blow muskies of similar size away. Like a dogfish, these guys will destroy a crankbait so balsa models are just not a prudent bait to use. I like the Husky Jerks as they're plastic. We had one fish hit that we did not get a glimpse of that hit a 4"Ripper and that was all that was felt of it, while the fish in this picture ate a #14 Husky Jerk and there was little chance of being bitten off. Chasing pike is a whole different game. It can amount to a lot of exercise.

[WALLEYE WACKER]

Awesome pike there TOM
Them pickled pike are really good .
Great weather to boot.

[Muskygary]

Tom, are you using a leader on that braid? And if so; what knot are you using - braid to leader? Been using back to back uni knots on my braid and having trouble with it hitting the rod guides. Just changed my line on a couple of rods to all floro to see how that works. Those pickled pike make good snack food in the winter! That one is a beauty.

[ctom]

For the Rippers I tie directly to the hook with braid, I poke the hook thru the nose fairly long so when the Riper is mounted the hook's eye and knot are inside the nose plastic which allows them to be fished in fairly heavy slop without grabbing weeds. For the Raps I tie a simple snap on the braid directly to the braid to clip the lure on with.

I have some weighted hooks tied onto tyable wire leader material that works really well if dink pike are biting me off but I lose lure action with it....just not the same as tying direct. Fluorocarbon is so stiff that it too screws with lure action and then on rods with the small guides the knots catch.

[Lamar]

  Nice catch Tom. They've finally opening up the boarders on Aug. 9th. We're going over Labor Day week and hope to be catching some of those.

[ctom]

I've heard the 9th and even a later date in August so who knows. Have a great time regardless but stay safe bud....Canada, all of it is wayyyy behind the US in vaccination raters.

[Muskygary]

Do you have to have proof of vacantion ?

[Muskygary]

Tom, After watching Jacob Wheeler, I bought a spool of #12 Sufix Invisible Castsble Florocarbon and have been using it to fish chatterbaits. Casts very well and the action of the chaterbaits are the same as when I used braid.





 

[ctom]

All of my braid rods have new lines as of this spring. My crappie and walleye rods get Trilene XL, 4 for the pannies and 6 for waldo. At one time I spooled my Lake Superior breakwater rods with fluor but found that just about all brands had super poor abrasion resistance and I have since gone to either 6 or 8 pound XL for those reels too. I just don't get all whooped up over fluorocarbon main lines and if I find myself really needing a leader I use tyable wire.

[Shaunm81]

Wow that is a great photo and very nice fish.  I would love to catch one of those.