This close to PB pike (pic)

[msgdan]

First of all, lip readers be aware that this may be a graphic picture!

Hit the river this morning for a couple of frustrating hours. I had at least 6 solid strikes without a hook up. WTF !!! It seemed like every pike would take a huge strike at the spinner bait and never really commit to it.

Then I finally hooked up with a monster! This fight was the longest ever for me with a pike. There was at least 3 times I had it near the kayak when it took a run accross the river and one time almost spooled me.

After a ten minute battle, I had him close to the kayak and tried to grab it behind the head, and there was no way my hands would reach around with one hand to land it. I tried to grab the spinner bait and lift it (which I knew was going to be a mistake) but as I grabbed the spinner bait, I saw that after the long fight, the hook was just holding on to a small piece of skin, in the mouth.

Needless to say, as I went to lift the pike, the hook came out and the fish was free before a good picture.

I am estimating this fish at close to 46 inches and about 25 lbs. A real river monster!

Here are a couple of pictures. The first one is when I had it to the kayak for the third time and it took a nasty run accross the river, with me trying to hold on.

The second picture is how close I came to a good picture of my PB. Only about 2/3rds of the fish is pictured in the water. You can see me holding the spinner bait that was in his mouth about 2 seconds before the picture was taken.

Happy fathers day to all !!!!





Danny V