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#1 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: JANESVILLE,WI. 53545
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I was fishing the river today. Water down more so working the banks was challenging at best. Caught a couple of two foot Northerns though in about 10-12 inches on a self painted fluke. Ok I took a blue sharpie and put a line down a white fluke's back. To US artists though that's self painted.
![]() Now the fluke is right at surface right at the front of a piling and a MASSIVE swirl and the fluke gets popped air born by a good 7+ lb Northern. WOW I'm very impressed and alittle excited. The Northern literally came 3/4 of it's body above the water line. Now the decision time..... It's 7:45 getting dusk working on dark. I have no leaders tied on any of the half a dozen rods in the car or along and do I really have time to walk to shore and mess with tieable leader which I did have along. ![]() ![]() Now times a wasting so I hurriedly get out of the river to the car make the same fatal decision (no time to mess with wire) plus that pikes got a hook and plastic in it. It probably left. Take another hand painted fluke (this one I blued the tail instead of back) and 10-15 minutes I'm back at the piling. Believe it or not my very first cast, right in front of the piling and a big swirl and this time a massive drag pulling strike and run. Now all I'm thinking is that I need to make sure the pikes head is coming towards me before I do a hard set or else the line WILL cross teeth and who can afford to lose two flukes to one fish? ![]() I didn't see this fish but I definitly felt it and my monies on it was the same pike. Now for the question. Ya I know, finally! Would you have done the same knowing that even if you get a BIG pike bite with no leader and 10lb. test line the chances of landing it are slim. Would you have tied a leader or always have a leader with. I'm not in a boat so supplies aren't within arms reach. I'm wading in the river a good 30 yards from shore. Would you have casted elsewhere avoiding a bite off. And lastly, should I or would you have set the second bite sooner. Remember with the pull after the bite it should have at least slightly self set itself and I kept the line with NO slack at all, again if a pike turns it's head and slashes your probably going to get a bite off. So anglers what do you think?
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#2 |
BassFishin.Com Veteran Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 714
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You bet! It was fun wasn't it, fish or no fish? I, however, usually have the needed supplies, and would have taken the time to tie on a leader. I was in the OBX fishing 3/4 oz. Jigs on 30# powerpro with 15# fluoro leader from a pier and a massive ray swam in range. You bet I went for it. Hook up, thirty second run snap...it was worth it!
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#3 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: rock hill, sc
Posts: 2,315
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Joe Of course my plan on every cast is to be prepared and in position to LAND a fish that might bite on that cast. However I can't count the times that I have thrown on a breaking fish or to a very fishy lookin spot that I knew that short of some miracle I had little chance of landing the fish. Why? Cause I believe in miracles (I've seen um) and at the very least it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all
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#4 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Buchanan,Tn
Posts: 2,685
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Dont think they are miracles to intervene in normal life,as know what will happen,and still do it.
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#5 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NW Iowa
Posts: 270
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I'd have tied on a spinnerbait
oe |
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#6 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: IN
Posts: 8,308
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I may have done the same thing you did if caught without a leader on hand. If the trip to the truck was short, I'd go get me a leader. Better yet, stick one in your pocket and keep it with you. As far as setting the hook, I would have set that hook hard as soon as he hit. Pike have such a hard bony mouth and I doubt the pull of the pike would set a hook much if any at all. Plus pike will swallow a bait deeply if given time. Next time, I would take a couple rods, one having a line more suitable for pike. IMO 10 pound line in a river is risky when pike are present. Between the sharp teeth and rivere bottom debris such as logs, rocks, and human dbreis, light lines don't stand much of a chance. I also like Eagles suggestion for a spinnerbait. Spinnerbaits are like candy to a kid when it comes to pike, plus they won't swallow a spinnerbait like other lures. The line will remain outside the pikes mouth.
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#7 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: JANESVILLE,WI. 53545
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Thanks everyone!
The reasoning for not setting earlier was because it was kind a running away from me and I was afraid the set before I had him facing my direction would bring the line across the teeth. Had plenty of spinners though and even had one tied on another pole. Never crossed my mind. The fact that they don't swallow a spinner is a REAL good point!
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"Fishing isn't life or death... it's more important than that." |
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#8 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 406
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Sometimes it’s all about the chase……isn’t it?!?
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