Five pike in 60 minutes

[msgdan]

I didn't plan on heading out this morning, but after waking up and seeing the nice morning I had to give the river a try with the great conditions now. With the heavy rain expected in the next couple of days, the water level will rise and the conditions will get worse.

I had about an hour to kill before heading to work, so I launched and made my way to one spot that I wanted to try. It's a slow deep water spot about 100 yards long with a log jam in front.

I landed 3 pike in my first 10 casts and missed a couple strikes too. I then stayed in the same area and landed 2 more within the next 30 minutes. I had one huge blow up that I made about 100 casts near, but it never came back. Nothing huge, but all were about this size.



Danny V

[antgogz]

Dan,
Wow thats great......I have seen your youtube clips and my guess is you usually use spinner baits??? Very impressive.

[msgdan]

When I started fishing for pike about 7 years ago, I used plenty of different lures with treble hooks. It's no fun in a kayak with a pike going crazy a few hooks hanging around. I also deep hooked a couple back then and I swore I would never use a lure with a treble hook again for pike.

Now it's all spinner baits and jig heads with soft plastics. I may not get as many pike, but I feel much better with the quick and easy unhooking with the single hook.

I also used to use a lip gripper for pike, and after a few starting spinning like crazy which did some damage to their jaw, I stopped using them too.

Danny V

[antgogz]

I can understand that. I always wonder if certain fish end up dying after releasing them. What is the biggest pike you ever pulled out of the river dan? Did you ever get a pike on a topwater lure?

[msgdan]

I have caught at least 5 just over 40 inches and plenty just under the 40 inch mark. Everyone of the big ones looked all beat up like they were in a fight, with parts of fins and tail missing and cuts all over them.

In Aug. and Sept. I love getting them with buzz baits around the weed beds. Nothing like a big splash before the hookup.

Danny V

[wolf man]

nice pike!

[antgogz]

I agree dan. I saw my buddy get a 42 incher and it had cuts on it. Maybe from the rough floods in the past? Who knows i am just glad to see the river thriving with them.

I will have to give buzz baits a try.