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....