Surprise Passaic Pike and a big Thanks to 3 strangers is a boat

[flyboy1]

This evening I hit the Passaic from 6 - 8pm at 2 Bridges going for smallies on top water popper.... caught a few solid 1 - 1.5 lbers and then the surprise.. Casted out and started poppin when a huge swell started rolling up to the popper with a big smack and miss, followed by another big smack and miss... I immediately re-casted and popped my ass off with nothing for about the next 20 minutes.. So I casted off to the left side of where I was casting into a weedy area, I started poppin when all of sudden kaboom!!!!!!! big fricken splash and popper was gone and line was running.... took about 5 minutes to get this beast and it was about a solid 9-10lb, 36-38" pike.. pretty fat.... only problem was this beast swallowed the popper and I didnt have my jaw spreaders with me as I was only targeting smallies plus it got dark and I couldnt see as i also did not have my flash light... I tried like hell several times to get the lure out of the Pike but to no avail so I put the Pike back in the water and revived until I could figure out another plan or idea.... after about 10 minutes 3 guys in a boat passed by and I asked for assistance which they did help me, they had pinchers and spreaders and was able to get this beast off quickly and we got him back in the water safely... they offered to hold the Pike for a Pic but my phone was in my bag and this pike was already stressed enough so I just told them to let him go.... I dont know what would of happened or what I would of done if these guys hadnt passed by.. I dont know if any one of these guys are members of this forum or know someone who is a member but if so I just wanna say a "Big Big thank you" to these guys..

PS... I was targeting smallie so I didnt have a leader on but I was using 30lb power pro and this line saved me because there is no way any other line would of survived this attack.. The teeth on this monster was sick.. Power Pro gets a big thumbs up from me....

[lunkertaker]

Hey Flyboy1

It wasn't me that helped, but I trust that most everyone on this site or not would help a brother in need. Thankfully you had help available.

Had a giant bluefish two years ago and reached down to try and unhook, fish jumped, treble hook entered my arm and exited...pierced...in and out...Crap

Saw a guy fishing ~ 100 yds from me and asked for help. He was a godsend and helped with the fish and getting attention to my arm.

Bottom line...you see a fellow fishermen in need, reach out and lend a hand, ya just never know when you will need it next.

Nice catch there flyboy1

[Skunk City]

I was out there with a buddy in the kayaks last night at the same time. Pretty sure I saw the 3 younger guys in the boat that helped you out, talked to them for a quick minute at around sunset. I would have helped ya out too but due to my under-30 Alheimerzs kicking in, I forgot my net, boga grips and camera last night . I did have jaw spreaders though, didn't need them for the one short I caught though lol. Was that you fishing from that rocky poison ivy mecca on the western shoreline?

[tycomps]

great story! swallowed as in gut hooked or swallowed as in no f#%$king way I'm putting my fingers any closer to that mouth? Being a fan of spoons I deal with trebles often but between the quick retrieve and ferocity of the strike rarely do they get more than one hook. in the rare times that they have I lay them down on a wet towel and do a gentle "spock" grip from above. this allows me to keep their head still while I use the leverage of the hook to remove it, I've never been bitten. then again I've been handling snakes, snappers, and other toothy critters all my life so I'm probably used to it

[flyboy1]

Originally Posted by tycomps

great story! swallowed as in gut hooked or swallowed as in no f#%$king way I'm putting my fingers any closer to that mouth? Being a fan of spoons I deal with trebles often but between the quick retrieve and ferocity of the strike rarely do they get more than one hook. in the rare times that they have I lay them down on a wet towel and do a gentle "spock" grip from above. this allows me to keep their head still while I use the leverage of the hook to remove it, I've never been bitten. then again I've been handling snakes, snappers, and other toothy critters all my life so I'm probably used to it

Swallowed as in "No F'n way Im putting my hand in that mouth"... Lmao It was a good hook set but it was just deep in the back of the throat and the Pike was huge so you can imagine how far deep back a small popper would in this beasts mouth... Normally Im quick retrieving spoons, spinners and cranks as you have said so that when the Pike hit its usually hooked in the lip or front of the mouth.. the fact that this beast crushed and inhaled a popper which was on the stop explains why it was in the back of his throat... Im gonna have to get bigger poppers... lol cant wait to get back out there...

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great story, great report. we all would have loved to see a pic of that RIVER MONSTER! At the same time we all understand that you had to let the fish swim in order for him to heal and grow to be over 40 inches.

[tycomps]

Originally Posted by flyboy1

Swallowed as in "No F'n way Im putting my hand in that mouth"... Lmao It was a good hook set but it was just deep in the back of the throat and the Pike was huge so you can imagine how far deep back a small popper would in this beasts mouth... Normally Im quick retrieving spoons, spinners and cranks as you have said so that when the Pike hit its usually hooked in the lip or front of the mouth.. the fact that this beast crushed and inhaled a popper which was on the stop explains why it was in the back of his throat... Im gonna have to get bigger poppers... lol cant wait to get back out there...

I've only gotten one topwater and that was on a frog, must have been one helluva eruption!

[flyboy1]

Originally Posted by Skunk City

I was out there with a buddy in the kayaks last night at the same time. Pretty sure I saw the 3 younger guys in the boat that helped you out, talked to them for a quick minute at around sunset. I would have helped ya out too but due to my under-30 Alheimerzs kicking in, I forgot my net, boga grips and camera last night . I did have jaw spreaders though, didn't need them for the one short I caught though lol. Was that you fishing from that rocky poison ivy mecca on the western shoreline?

Yup, I was on the shoreline right under the joining 2 bridges by the gravel parking lot above... I saw 2 kayaks paddling turning in toward the Peace Meadows area of the Passaic around sunset; I take it that was you Skunk? Shortly after I saw you then the 3 dudes in the flat bottom Jonny came by and gave a hand...

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by flyboy1

Yup, I was on the shoreline right under the joining 2 bridges by the gravel parking lot above... I saw 2 kayaks paddling turning in toward the Peace Meadows area of the Passaic around sunset; I take it that was you Skunk? Shortly after I saw you then the 3 dudes in the flat bottom Jonny came by and gave a hand...

That was us. Decided to make a paddle upstream to hit some of the weedbeds before the "merge". Killer Smallie spot where you were though!

Surprised that big of a beast came from that spot, I've only caught 1 there. The rest have been upstream on the Pompton a bit where the laydowns start.

[flyboy1]

Originally Posted by Skunk City

That was us. Decided to make a paddle upstream to hit some of the weedbeds before the "merge". Killer Smallie spot where you were though!

Surprised that big of a beast came from that spot, I've only caught 1 there. The rest have been upstream on the Pompton a bit where the laydowns start.

Bro, thats exactly why I was throwing a small popper in that area... I always had great smallie success there... no F"in way was I expecting anything like what I caught.. but we've all been saying it all along about what a tremendous fishery the Passaic is.. Never know what you are gonna catch.. Lovin it... I hope one of the bro's in the boat that helped me out know someone on this board or are a member themselves and chime in..

Funny thing, when the guys were helping me out with the Pike we were small talking and I had asked them where they launched at and they said way the hell down the river into the Pomptons in the boony area.. I told them they couldve launched right across from me in the wide open area with offstreet parking and they were upset cuz they didnt know but they thanked me so now they have somewhere closer to launch next time... Before they left I was tempted to ask if they were members of NJfishing but I didnt wanna seem like a weenie... I should of asked