Icefishing 201 (Special topic: Pike)
Thanks for having me here, mates! Here's my meager contribution from Toronto as usual. A little different from sunny, summer Australia 
Last year, Italian visitor Andrea graduated from Icefishing 101.
This year, he enrolled in Icefishing 201. Prof. MuskieBait decided that today's special topic is northern pike.
The Toronto area received some cold weather last week and some smaller lakes just received safe ice. The decision was to find such a small lake and teach a lesson on pike.
The Prof. gave Andrea a refresher on using the auger to drill a hole. With only 8" of ice, it was quickly demonstrated. As Andrea proceed to create 3 other holes, The Prof. rigged up one rod and picked out an unfortunate 4" shiner to be sacrificed to the pike.
Just as The Prof. and Andrea were setting up the lecture hall (aka Clam Expedition shelter), the bell rang! The Prof. got to the rod just in time to see it full bent and going down the hole! No worry...The Prof. is very wise...he had clipped the rod with a carabiner securely tied it with rope to the crystal ball (aka Humminbird 160 portable).
Unfortunately, the line tension tipped the wily pike off and the fish let go of the bait.
After the lecture hall was prepared, Andrea received a lesson on how to respond to a pike hit. Andrea was given two rod to target pike, while Prof. MuskieBait have one rod to target pike, and one rod to target perch and crappie.
An hour later, Andrea had a chance to practice his new knowledge. However, in the excitement he forgot what he was taught. :roll:
About 15 minutes later, Andrea got another chance to practice...but again, his excitement got the better of him...
So Prof. MuskieBait repeated the lesson.
1) Pike hits - indicated by a dipping strike indicator, or ringing bell, or rod doubling over, or rod pulling toward the hole...or all of the above.
2) Open bail - the intelligent Loccio (have to speak Andrea's language to explain sometimes) is very wary of filo (line) tension. Fish must not feel tension!
3) Pick up rod, undo the carabiner clip, and remove rod holder. Meanwhile, allow the pike to take line off the reel. The fish must be allowed time to turn the bait and take the bait full in the mouth.
4) Close bail, reel the line tight...and set the hook!
Okay...so another 30 minutes later, Andrea finally got it all together!
Prof. MuskieBait congratulated Andrea on a job well done, and gave him a passing grade.
Soon, Andrea got another bite and put his new found knowledge to work again perfectly. As a result, Andrea received 100%.
As Andrea was releasing the pike, Prof. MuskieBait heard another rod signal a bite, and finally he too got to reel one in. :D
A little later, Prof. MuskieBait noticed that the shiners on his pike rod seemed to be stuck on a piece of weed. The area is very weedy with some tall strands of vegetation. Once in a while, the shiner would swim around the weeds and get tangled. Prof. MuskieBait looked down the hole...and lo and behold...it was a big pike...with the shiner completely disappeared in the pike's wide mouth! Immediately, Prof. MuskieBail opened the bail, unclipped the rod and removed the rod holder in one swift move.
"Big pike, big pike! Reel up all the other lines Andrea!" Shouted Prof. MuskieBait as the pike began to take some line. Too late...the fish swam and wrapped one rod. :( Oh...no problem, the tangled line came off. Oh no! Another tangled line! Cut it, cut it! No...came off too...phew! The fish took 2 runs, then ran into the third line! Before Andrea can reacted, the tangled line snapped. Man! What luck! The fish is still attached!
A couple more runs later, the fish were circling under the hole. With the long body and broad head, it took Prof. MuskieBait some maneuvering to get the head up the hole...then with one swift bear paw, the fish was scooped up!
Beauty pike for Prof MuskieBait's Life Accomplishment List :wink:
The proud Prof. displaying his catch...
And teaching Andrea a lesson on how to make the 6lb, 28" fish look like a trophy :lol:
After the big pike, the action continued to be great! However, most of the participants remained small...
By 12pm, the activity slowed. It allowed time for Prof. MuskieBait to take a picture of his lecture hall...
...and the condition of safe ice (8" of clear, black ice).
By 3pm, all activity had ceased. Andrea said he had enough practicum already, so Prof. MuskieBait decided to call it a class.
At end, the total result was - Andrea 4 landed, 3 missed; Prof. MuskieBait 3 landed, 2 missed.
Prof. MuskieBait hoped that next weekend he can give a special topic lecture on walleye ice fishing. :wink:
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Very Interesting LOL
With dual strikes it could get pretty frantic in that tent LOL.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
ealzee
Posts: 611
Date Joined: 14/11/11
very interesting fishing
very interesting fishing would love to give that a crack one day. Nice looking fish too
kill it??? eat it!!!!
kingdeckie
Posts: 35
Date Joined: 09/10/09
I have ice fished the lakes
I have ice fished the lakes in Alberta Canada with my brother in law a lot.......no esky required for the beer, just drill a hole in the ice, place beer in plastic bag and into the hole (don't leave too long as beer freezes)
Each year they lose a few ice fisherman fishing too late into the season when the ice is too thin.
Good fun but bloody cold!!
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
Youd expect something with a
Youd expect something with a big mouth like that to just inhale a live bait .. what are you using as bait anyway ? Little fish.?.
aalfred
Posts: 669
Date Joined: 13/06/09
Nice catch mate! the 6 puond
Nice catch mate! the 6 puond one is great!!!I have fished for freschwater pike in germany but we didnt have that much ice
. and I must say they taste great.
Well done
KenTse
Posts: 139
Date Joined: 23/11/10
@UncutTriggerInWA - Yeah, a
@UncutTriggerInWA - Yeah, a dual strike with big fish can be quite a handful in there.
Not a lot of room to move around for two, have to reel in the other lines to prevent tangles, and the two hooked fish can run into each other. But the shelter is better than sitting out in the cold. I had fished in the past when it was -20C with windchill (makes it feels like -30C) sitting outside.
@Feral - Yeah, we were using 4-inch shiners (minnow). We hook the shiner lighly in the back just under the dorsal fin. Pike usually strike the bait from the side. The smaller fish may not strike the shiner such that the hook is in the hole. So we usually wait for the fish to turn the minnow and gulp the minnow into the mouth length wise before setting the hook.
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
KenTse - What is the summer fishing like around Toronto?
Im flying into Toronto in April and will be spending about 1 mth-6 weeks in and around Ontario. Have you got any pointers on gear or spots?
Bryan
KenTse
Posts: 139
Date Joined: 23/11/10
Hey Bryan,Nice! Whereabouts
Hey Bryan,
Nice! Whereabouts will you be staying?
April is our transition month. Ice had just melted and many fish are spawning so a lot of the fishery are still closed to fishing. However, there are some open season areas near the mouth of Lake Ontario where you can find good rainbow trout and sucker fishing. After the last Saturday of April, trout season opens and there are additional opportunities for brown trout and brook trout. Unfortunately, fishing season for pike and walleye is closed until the second Saturday of May, and muskie and bass are closed until last Saturday of June.
I'll send you a PM tonight. You are more than welcome to join me fishing if you're staying around Toronto.
Ken
dkonig82
Posts: 2091
Date Joined: 06/07/10
They are good looking fish
They are good looking fish those pike
When asked by a non-fisherman 'how many fishing rods do you really need?' the correct answer is either:
n+1 (where n is the number of fishing rods you currently own); or
n-1 (where n is the number of fishing rods which would cause your significant other to dump you.