Ice out fatties

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by zhitoman

Skunk city, your fish handling is terrible as well. I give you C+ and it would be very generous of me. You should watch some English fishing channels and learn how to properly handle a pike. Make yourself or order an unhooking mat and stop grabbing them by the gills. I know you mean well, and I value that but seeing you lifting them by the gill plate is no good. I don't mean to sound like an ass, but its for the sake of our fishery. Best regards and be safe.

I've been preaching on here for years for guys to do simple things as easy as using the proper leader line as opposed to whatever mono they have on their bass rod, you honestly think I can convince guys to bust out money for an unhooking mat?? Your intentions are good, but given the average NJ fisherman, I think what I'm suggesting is more than feasible here.

Is it stressful for a 40lb European Pike to be held vertically? You're damn right it is. But these aren't trophies were talking about here, just some average NJ Pike that weight 1/8th of that.