Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    There are two conditions most likely changing Pike behavior. First, as
    the surface water chills, it becomes heavier than the bottom water and
    the lake starts to turn. This may signal the pike that unless they want
    to become a giant slimy ice-cube, it's time to relocate. Second, their
    vegetation cover is dying off. So their cover, and the coger of their
    prey fish is gone. They'll follow the food. For these reasons they are 
    probably heading to deeper water, most likely at the bottom of drop offs. 
    
    Eastern chain pickeral, close cousins, may still be very active this
    time of year, but typically in deeper water than normal. I suspect the
    same is true for Pike. Both species are readily taken throug hthe ice,
    so winter "inactivity" is not a factor.
    
    Good luck 
    
    

    
    
    
           Try fishing the dropoffs adjacent to the coves and weededges
           that ewe usually fish.These guys DO NOT tread far from the
           feeding areas they are accustomed too.A cove I fish in Lake
           Cochituate where Pike are takin all year they roam to the
           8 - 15 foot drop just outside of the cove and return constantly.
    
    
    
                                           Just one Kegs opinion

    Thanks for the info - the problem seems to be that we can't find the
    buggers or that the drop offs are too far out.We got a map of the area
    and any deep parts are way too far to cast to.But at least they will
    still be feeding so I'll keep trying.
    
    Do you have any advice on what we should be doing - ledgering?
    
    
    					stuart.

    
    
    
            Re: .3
    
    
            Try jigging spoons off the bottom with or without a dead
            minnow.Try LARGE Hopkins spoons and Daredevils.Also try
            SLOW rolling a white spinnerbait along the bottom a friend
            of mine last year at this time caught a 15lber using this
            technique.
    
    
    
                                             Ye ole Kegster

    Since you do not have a boat, you can look forward to ice fishing as
    mentioned in .1.  I do this every year in Wisconsin and it is plenty of
    fun.  Large roach minnows on a tip-up works quite well.  You probably
    won't find them in water much shallower than 10 feet.  If you are going
    to cast from shore this time of year, try a heavier weedless lure that
    can be jerked along the bottom and has some weight behind it for long
    casting.  I gave caught them this way as well.  Otherwise, i go for the
    deeper water this time of year where there are drop offs.
    
    Good Luck,
    Dave
    

    I am going this weekend and will try these methods - the thing is the
    weather has really turned - it's much warmer just now so I'm hoping
    they all come out of their lairs but if they don't I have quite a few
    of the lures mentioned - so here's hoping I'll catch  my first for 4
    trips.
    
    				stuart.

    Stuart,
    
    Where do you do your pike fishing ?
    
    I do a lot of pike fishing ,all year round, and the inactivity
    that the cooler water causes is really the only variable that I
    take into consideration.
    They don't tend to want to chase bait as much so I put all my
    effort into laying floated mackerel or herring just off the
    bottom, and wait.
    You don't get as many but you do catch.
    
    ken

    I have been consentrating on the Martinum sp?.
    
    I was up at the weekend and got a take but it only lasted seconds and
    the bait was dropped - my friend got a take also but lost it just as it
    was coming in - he was sure it was an eel though and whatever it was it
    was big.These were both at the fence at the cause way - mine was a joey
    mackarel on the bottom only about 20-25 yards out and the eel[?] took
    a dead trout about 60 yards out.We tried through the causeway at the
    jetty and at the first bit across from the house but spinning,pulling
    sprats along the bottom and deadbait on the bottom and on floats didn't
    work.
    
    I hope to get up there tommorrow morning as it's goin' to be nice and
    clear like it is now.
    
    			stuart.

    Stuart,
           Although I do mainly sea fishing now, I did fish Martnaham Loch
    for years and know exactly what you are talking about. Winter is never
    very good up there. We used to have our best fishing in May, when
    catches of more that ten fish were common.
     I know people that still fish for pike on a regular basis in Loch Awe
    and some other lochs down in Wigtonshire. The average size of fish that
    they get is about 5 times that of Martnahams and often more numerous.
    If you have a car, I would travel to get better sport. (they did and
    they would never go back to Martnaham again.
    
    cheers
    
    Dougie Brown
    

	Anyone have some tips for fishing for Pike in the spring?  Any tips
	for the East Brimfield resevior in Sturgridge, MA?

	-kg

    Well it's all changed now - they started about two weeks ago after a
    few bright and warm days - it's definatley a lot more fun now.
    I've caught 4 or 5 now all about 3-4 pounds with a few missed including
    a biggie.They aren't putting up much of a fight though my friends drag
    on his baitrunner temporarily jammed the other day and he nearly lost
    his rod - it was funny seeing him run over to his rod as it started
    entering the water,but then the drag came on for a few seconds and it
    was gone - with the bait.
    One thing we have DEFINATLEY noticed is that most of the smaller pike
    have been attacked and have VERY large bite marks on thier backs - up
    to 5inches wide.
    
    We went up to Loch Awe from the friday night to monday lunch time - not 
    even a run.This was a month ago,there was about 12 of us with approx.30
    rods in and we also went out in rubber rings to set the bait out deep
    and to spin.We fished just opposite the castle and Hooked On Scotland
    was also there.We plan to go up soon - also Loch Lomond (of course).
    
    The pike are mostly taking sprats and herring tails and heads of the
    bottom and the odd float with herring tail.But as I say the majority is
    from the bottom - I don't think they come to the surface until the
    summer.
    I was really annoyed with two boys of 14 yrs old the other day - they
    took 5 small pike - HOME.There's no need to take them home "look mum
    see what I got" "yes son very good now put them in the bucket".
    Another boy was using Cod hooks and these came out through the poor
    fishes eye.Everyone said kill it but I put it back - I've caught pike
    with one eye before so hopefully it will survive.
    
    
    			stuart.
     

    Found out about the bite marks on the pike.
    One of us caught a 6inch pike last week and used it for livebait using
    the float - it lasted 1min30secs and bang - 17 pounder with a massive 
    head on it.
    
    			Stuart.

FYI...

Don't get caught using any spiney-back fish as bait.  It's illegal in most
states!

-HSJ-

P.S.  I agree...nice fish.

FWIW- AYOV16:: is located in Scotland....

re:  FWIW- AYOV16:: is located in Scotland....


Is that Scotland, New Jersey?? (heh...heh)

Joe is correct -- it is illegal (at least in mass) to use any gamefish as bait.
There is minimum size on pike (28"?) so a 6" on the hook as bait is illegal twice.

    I think what he meant to say was.
    
    He was reeling in a small pike, and this much larger pike came out of
    the weeds and ate the little one hook"N all. it happens.
    
    I always wanted to try fishing with gold fish, but wouldnt want
    a game warden to check the shiner bucket. the way trouble finds
    me I dont need to look for it.
    I know the local laws and just to let you know I wouldnt have done it.
    (anyone ever fish with blasting caps?)
    
    						Ronni

RE: .19
>>    (anyone ever fish with blasting caps?)

	Hand Granade NAM 67'-68'

	-< Tuna Tail >-

    The pike was taken from the Martinum sp? which is located 1/2mile
    outside the Ayr plant.I don't know what laws there are concerning live
    bait  in scotland - I wouldn't think pike would be classed as game fish
    they are looked on more as a pest.The fish was measured at 30".
    There was also a 22pounder caught last week as well as an extremley
    large Perch - things are looking up after a dreadful winter.
    In england the winter is good for pike but up here it seems they
    generally lie low in the deep water.
    
    We were up the other day and between three of us we got 10 runs with
    every one except one,3pounder,being missed - they either dropped the
    bait before being struck or dropped the bait after unsuccseful strikes!
    We were definatley well beaten.
    
    
    					Stuart
    

    
    "CAPS" ?
    
    S'matta with using the whole stick ?   Creel not big'nuff?  :^)
    
    How'd'jya like the carp in the worcester telegram last night?
    
    Fred

    Re -2
    
    Stuart,
    
              Where about on the loch do you fish,is it the end at the 
    cottages on the Dalmelington Road ?? Also what pool did you nab the 
    17 lbs pike ?
               I've fished that loch for many a year,up to around 5 years
    ago and I've never seen very much pulled out it . We used to fish on
    the east bank at the Dalmelington Road end ,near the fence, would this
    be the same area that you tried ?
    
    
           Graeme,,,,

    If you are coming out of Ayr past Digital on the Dalmelington road we
    turn left up the Coylton road,which has small cottages on the right,
    past the snipe and on about quarter of a mile.The car is parked on the
    side of the road about 500 yds before the Jelliston Farm,you can see
    Loch Fergus from this point also.We walk down to the bottom of the
    field over the fence and turn right to the loch.
    You now have a choice of the four places we normally fish.
    The best place for catching the small pike is this first
    strech of about 300yds but if you keep walking up 'till you come to 
    a fence,that goes right into the water - then this is the deepest part.
    This part is called the causeway and has a very narrow and shallow part
    between the two sections of the Martinum.If you wear waders you can
    easily cross this part and walk about 50yds through the trees,keeping
    to this side of the Loch.This brings you to an excellent little "cove?"
    and allows you to get a cast into the deeper parts - where we believe
    the large pike nest.The part at the fence is where the 17 pounder was
    caught.            
    P.S.I didn't catch it - it was me friend. 
    
    
    
    
    				Stuart

    How do you tell between a male and female pike - caught one thats tail
    had red through it - nice fish.

    Stuart,
    
    You mentioned in an earlier note that you had charts of Martnaham
    showing depths etc.Is it possible to get a look at these as I fish
    the loch on a regular basis.
    I don't fish at the part you normally go to although I was there last
    night for a couple of hours.By the way If you find a 8" black handled
    fillet knife somewhere on the causeway stretch it's mine. I must have
    dropped it there ,had a quick look but no joy.
    
    Like yourself Iam trying to identify the deeper areas of the loch and
    give them a try prior to winter coming in.
    
    You can contact me on ext.3319 if you can help.
    
    Thanks 
    
    kenny  PS only one take on Thursday and a 4lb fish .

    Sorry I haven't replied - I'm on shifts now and have had some hols -
    talking of which -
    
    Went to Loch Stroam which is near New Galloway approx. 50 miles from
    here.
    
    We had alook around the Loch and decided to the river leading into it.
    
    We split into two parties and the bit we went to got us immediate
    response,Jimmy got a loveley 8lb pike that was as fresh and strong a
    fish I'd seen.You could see a massive difference in the fish - really
    healthy ans an excellent fight.Just as we released the fish I saw my
    float go under and when I struck into the fish it came out of the
    water,tail-walking,like a bloody missile.It was guessed at 11-13lb -
    what a site!It immediatley took a really strong run and guess what -
    I hadn't adjusted my drag so it snapped me off - never mind I thought
    two more full days to go.
    Anyway plenty other fish were taken from the river between 5 and 10lbs
    all giving excellent sport - these fish were ferocious compared to the 
    Martinum - they even attacked our floats!
    
    We moved to a spot on the loch which some anglers had taken some nice
    fish from.we were there ten minutes when I struck into my first fish - 
    my first BIG fish - after about 15minutes of screaming runs - only 8lb
    line - I,with the help of a friend,brought it in - we couldn't get it
    in our net - it was minimum 25lb maybe 30.The net was too small and at
    this it went daft - and snapped me off.Also two other larger ones were 
    also caught - all for $1.50!
    
    Need to go do some work.

    
    
    Went back to Stroam the other day - not much action for an hour or so
    then got a nice 8lb pike that took my bait before it hit the bottom.
    
    Twenty minutes later got my first big one - on the float - real good
    fight this time with it jumping clean out of the water a few times -
    lovely fish that was around the 15lb mark - my biggest yet - had a
    great big grin on me face in the photo!
    
    The rest of the day was consistent but nothing big - until one of the
    guys punted his mackarel head way out far to where I'd got and lost a
    25lb'er.The guy is about 55 and the fish had him puffin' and pantin'
    after 20 minutes to bring it in.It jumped in front of us and then I
    got in our "big" landing net.
    
    This fish - to us - was a monster - massive head on it - full set of
    excellent teeth - very well built and extremley strong coming in at
    23-24lb.This as far as I'm concerned was our first REAL BIGGY!
    
    Also saw an otter that ran right through the middle of us and into the
    water - large otter - it resurfaced a couple of times - you get to see
    the wildlife also.
    
    
    			Excellent days fishing -
    
    						Stuart.

    ll
    
    
    
    

    I was wondering if anyone had any Info on Pike or Muskiee fishing in the
    northeastern states.  I was looking on planning a fishing trip w/a
    couple of friends this coming spring or summer.  I'm from N.J. and I
    was looking at either New York State our maybe even a little bit futher
    north. If any one has any info on special fishing packages it would be
    of great help.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Dave
       

    
    Hi Dave,
    
    In my opinion, if you're headed to upstate New York, you cannot 
    beat Lake Champlain.  There are tons of pike up there ranging
    from 5-6 lbs (very common) and up.
    
    In addition, there is every other species of fish up there you can
    imagine.  When I was up there last summer, we were fishing for bass
    and ended up catching largemouth, smallmouth, pike,  pickeral, crappie,
    bowfin and a sheepshead !  All in three days. 
    
    We launched out of Mallets Bay in Vermont, which is a fairly central
    location.  For information, there are many people around that fish
    Champlain alot who could probably give you more information.  I did
    pick up a vacation and fishing guide for Champlain at one of the
    local outdoors shows here in Boston, if I can remember, I'll bring
    it in to give you more info.
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Gus-man
    
    

    Hi Dave,
    
    I found some additional information on Lake Champlain.  The guide
    I have is called "Fishing Lake Champlain, A Sportsman's Guide to
    Lake Champlain and its Tributaries." 
    
    It's put out by the Lake Champlain International Fishing Derby
    organization (L.C.I.).  This appears to be a periodical of some
    sort, but the publishing times are not listed.  The copy I have
    is from 1988, Spring, Volume 1, Number 2.  This particular issue
    has a very nice depth chart for the entire lake (which is why I
    bought it) along with other informational articles and advertisements.
    I looked at charts up at Champlain and they were almost $20.
    
    Here's the address information, if you'd like to write.
    
    	Fishing Lake Champlain
        Lake Champlain International Fishing Derby
        PO Box 4384
        South Burlington, Vermont 05401
        (802) 862-7777
    
    Regards,
    
    Gus-man.
     

    Gus-man,
    
    Your help is greatly appreciated!  I'm going to give the Lake Champlain
    International Fishing Derby a call some time this coming week.  If you
    run into any additional information, LET ME KNOW!  Whats the largest
    Northern you ever landed?  From experience a Chain Pickeral will give a
    hell of fight, but I could only just imagine what catching one of those
    beasts would be like.
    
    Dave A. AKA (AXE-MAN)
    

    
    	Kevin -
    
    	The martinum seems to be pretty good this week,as is drumore and
    morcrum,sp?
    
    	Someone we were speaking to got a 10 and 5 lber the other night,
    as sson as he left we moved to his spot and we got quite a bit of
    action,I was onto a biggie - honest guess of 10lb minimum - but lost
    it - shit! - one of the guys with us struck into what he thought was a 
    big one also - but he lost it too.
    
    	Going up again tonight - piking is getting to be an addiction with
    me now.
    
    
    				Stuart.

    Stuart,
    
    What is the cost and fish limit of the lochs you mention?
    
    Also what is best tackle to use, as up here I am mainly fishing for
    trout with a 10ft spinning rod and 6lb line with size 12 hooks.
    
    Mark
    
     

    
    	The only Loch I pay to fish on is Loch Stroan - and that's just
    because it's Forestry Commission - 1:50 to get into the forest.
    
    	You don't normally pay to fish for pike - they aren't game fish.
    
    If fishing for pike - you need 10-15lb line with two size 6-10 trebles
    on a wire trace with a sliding bomb of about 1/2 to 2 ounce.
    
           You can also spin for them - esp. now - but you obviously should 
    	be using pike lures - again with a wire trace.
    		
    
    
    					Stuart.
    	

    
    	Went to Loch Stroan last night -
    
    	I had arranged to meet a friend down there - he had been there 4hrs
    before me and had got 4fish - said he got a brilliant fight off of a
    12lber - he also missed three.
    
    	It was a good couple of hours before he got a 5lber - also gave a
    good fight - caught on the float.
    I had a tiddler that kept taking my float under but I missed it.
    Then I got a nice 7-8lber off of the bottom with an ancient pike tail -
    got a really good fight off this one - these fish in this loch - as
    wellas Morcrum - do NOT come in easy - different class of fish.
    
    	Had to wait an other hour before my friend got a good one - 13-15lb
    with three big jumps and 5 or 6 runs against the drag - rounded the
    night off nicely - that was at the last kick - 10:15 - just enough
    light left.
    
    
    					Stuart.

    Loch Drumore - just outside Kirkmicheal - is a very small loch - around
    400Meters - and is a stocked trout loch - have fished it for a year or
    so and generally get 3-5lbers - but I got a nice 11lber last night at
    last light on a float with a rainbow trout tail  - we also got two
    7-8lbers plus a couple of misses and a couple of jacks - all in 3 1/2
    hours -  
                                                                     
                                          Stuart.

    
    
    	Back at Loch Stroan again - not much action but lost a biggie which
    	took a sardine on the float - snapped my line though - and that was
    	25lb line!
    
    	Got a quite big eel last week - about 4lb - it's been great bait
    for the pike - never comes off the hooks - it's skin is like leather.
    
    	God I hate midgies!!!!!!!!!

    Went to Morcrum at the weekend and we had a great time - three of us
    caught 2 or 3 each - all were around the 8lb mark and fighting fit
    except for one that came in at 15lb - on the spinner.
    We also lost 5 including another I lost around the 15lb mark on the spinner
    I had a tiny knot on my line and didn't realise this drastically
    reduces the strength of your line.
    Most were caught on the spinner - all tobys.
    
                                                     Stuart.

    I have never caught a pike, so maybe someone can tell me if what
    I hook might have been a pike.   I  fish for bass, and
    I was tuning  a new 'soft' crank bait  trying to keep it
    running straight. I just got it right and was ripping it
    back with about 50 ft  of line out and as I  passed a weed bed,
    bang...
    
    The drag was set high (about 6 lb with 20 lb test) when something
    hit the line, at first I tried reeling it in but the line keep signing
    a going away song, so  I stop and waited for the fish to finish its
    run. It must have pulled over 100 ft running straight out from shore
    when the line broke.  The end of the line was all frayed as if rub
    across a rock pile... but the fish had made it run in open water,
    possible something with teeth.
    
    
    Latter I was testing out a my bait caster that had been repaired, I made
    a cast with a 10 inch rubber worm to about the same area, bang
    the worm was cut in half, I put on a second fire/ice rubber worm and
    this time I fish got the hook but my drag was so high that I felt that
    I was going to break my wrist when the line broke in the middle of
    the loop around the hook.  I line still had the knot but the hook
    had pulled threw this 30 lb test braided line.....
    
    OK the lake as a few small pickerel (about 10 inch), no trout,
    lots of SMB and LMB but I have never head of a pike caught in it.
    The average depth is about 10 ft and does not get much deeper.
    Bait fish mostly yellow perch, but golden shiners are on the
    increase.
    
    Is this the way that a pike would strike?  I caught pickerel
    and they seem to see the bait got from 0 to 40 mph in 2 sec
    run about 20 ft and stop... but  never with the force like this
    or as far.  (largest pickerel was about 26 inch and only from the
    ice).  

    IF so tips for keeping one, I guess I will need a steel leader..
    
    thanks john
    
    

    John
    
    I have thinking about this one, do you think it might have been a huge
    snapping turtle?
    
    oats
    

    Hi John,
    
    Another line-line-snapping-monster-fish huh??  Jeesh, I wish
    I'd have this problem once in a while.  I guess those 2-lb
    LM that I seem to hook aren't quite up to the challenge ;^) !!!
    
    I don't really have a definite answer for you, but here are a
    couple thoughts:
    
     1) If you're fishing in New Hampshire, there are only a couple 
        of bodies of water that have pike in them.  I know of only
        two: Bow Lake and the Connecticut River.  This was true as
        of a couple years ago, not sure if it still applies.
    
     2) A snapping turtle would not strip line off at a high rate
        of speed.
    
     3) Most toothly critters I lose due to their teeth cutting 
        through line leave a clean cut at the end of the line,
        as opposed to a frayed end.  I only use mono line, so the
        braided stuff might be different.
    
    Interesting....
    
    Gus-man
    
    

    Bow? You sure about that? Spofford Pond has been the main Pike source
    in NH, besides the Conn. River.  Haven't heard of Pike in Bow.
    
    John, must have been Wanda's big sister... 
    
    -donmac

    Gus, your forgeting one other option: Fish Story! :-)

    
    
    donmac,
    
    You're right, it is Spofford that I was thinking of....
    
    Gus
    

    No this is not a fish story nor could the first one be a turtle.
    
    Northwood lake (NH) does not have any know pike in it.
    However, this year I have caugth what I think are walleyes in it.
    They were small 6 to 12 inch  or so... Is it possible that a big 
    walley is in the lake... How does a big Walleye fight?
    
    My neighbor got Wandas big sister... it was just under 8 lbs.
    I got a LBM same spot at Wanda's home at 7.5 lb and two SMB at 4 
    and 5 lbs this year. This run was nothing like that of a SMB or
    a LMB even a big one, the only think I have caugth that ran the
    same was in the ocean (kingfish).
    
    The new braided lines will fray before breaking,  you have to use 
    special harden steel blades to make a clean even cut. That is why I was
    very suprise that the line broke before the knot spliped or let go.
    
    I agree that the second/third  could have been a snapping 
    turtle but not the first one, the turtle would need the help
    of  a 150 hp motor mounted on its tail. Plus a 2/0 hook would
    not have done much to the turtle mouth.
    
    If I go up this weekend I will be using a 5/0 and a steel leader.
    
    thanks john
    
    
    
                         

    NH is doing a trial walleye stocking, but I don't recall Northwood
    being on the list - and I'm sure there would not be any BIG walleye,
    they stocked fingerlings in a few spots a couple years ago, will
    be a few more years before they evaluate the waters for the possibility
    of sustaining walleye. 
    
    It was probably just a big pickeral...
    
    -donmac

    Were any of the bigger lakes included in the walleye trial program? I
    could really enjoy being able to do some walleye fishing in Sunapee or
    Winni!

    I called the NH Game last year when I thought I had caugth my 
    first 'walleye' In Northwood Lake but they said that Northwood 
    had not stocked with walleyes. There  are feeder creeks but
    I am not sure where they all go, one goes to the Suncook ? sp river.
    Two come from the north (got a  trout next to one and northwood
    dont have trout).
    
    Yes It runs like a pickeral but I have never had one that
    could run that far with that much drag .. it must be a good size one.
    Most pickeral that I catch in the summer are under 12 inchs long.
    
    I never caugth a pike and wonder if it or a walleye ran like
    a pickeral.  The run is just like that of the pickeral but it  is 
    a lot longer and I have not see the typical v shape image on the surface.
    My next door neighbor did  have  one that pulled his jon boat
    utill he ran out of line, this one did have a v shape
    image on the surface however.  Just wanted to know how a
    pike waged its battle.
    
    thanks john
    
    
    

    re: any of the big lakes included...
    
    Don't recall any being on there, read it in NH Fish and Game Highlights
    a couple years ago.  Reccommend the magazine, keeps you up to data on
    F&G activioties.  Contoocook River was one of the major stocking sites.
    
    -donmac

    I spent the first week of August in Ontario fishing mostly pike.  I did
    not catch any large ones, but they were strong and I had to go to 10 lb
    line to control them - every one would break off on 6lb test mono. 
    Their fight was less spectacular then SM bass of similar weight, but they
    were more effective at breaking off.  
    
    The fish we caught deeper and farther from the boat often came in easy
    until they saw the boat, then fought hard - though not as hard as a
    striper or bluefish.  But the ones I caught on the surface and a few of
    the others did fight hard away from the boat, and did make runs.
    
    Also, when they got their teeth on the line it was quickly frayed.
    
    We caught many dozen pike up to 27 inches (average size for that country).
    All were controllable with 10 lb test and a good drag.  
    
    If it was a Pike, it was a big fish!
    
    
    Side note - 
    
    Made this trip with my father (72 yrs).  We had a great time.
    Gogama Wilderness Camps, Gogama, Ontario.  Nice people, great food,
    very accomodating.  We spent two days each on three different fly-in 
    lakes.  Each time we were the only party on the lake.  Most interesting
    catch was an 18" brook trout.
    
    Jack  
    

    
    	Clatteringshaws a couple of weeks ago produced a cracking 17lb'er
    and a 12lb'er for a mate I was fishing with - both on the float.
    
    	Martinum seems lively enough at dusk just now - esp. spinning.
        Nothing over 5lb but good fun.
    
    	Caught a nice fat 11-12lb'er on the spinner at Drumore last night -
    gave a very good fight.That's a 9 and 11lb pike in a loch that's no
    more than 500yd's long and 200 yds wide, plus there's supposed to be a 
    22lb'er in there as well. 
    
    
    	Had a good day at Stroam the other week - 4 fish in an hour,after a
    three hour wait though, 3,7,8 and 9 lb'ers - busy hour.Couldn't wait
    'till dusk for the biggie though - he always comes out at dusk!
    
    
    
    	Haven't had any luck at loch Ken though - a few nice fish caught
    next to me though.
    
    
    
    					Stuart

    Got a phone call from my br in law last night - got a 32lb'er -
    verified ect after a 30min fight - he's putting it in for fish of the
    week in the Record.
    He got snapped off 6 times and landed a 12b'er.
    He was using 2 3/4 test curve with 20lb line and one fish just stripped
    off 250yds of it against the drag in a matter of 30seconds and snapped
    off at the end of it.
    
    		

    Excitement is battling a 25" northern at boatside on an ultralight rig
    and........
    
    
    
    having a 40"+ muskie take three repeted swipes at your fish. Right at
    the gunwale.
    
    The big boy didn't get the pike, but he stripped a 2"x2" patch of
    scales and skin.
    
    Lac Coute Oreilles, WI., in Musky bay.
    

    Kinda late but...
    
    Re:.41
    
    If your fishing in weeds, and you catch a pike, they will dive down
    into the weeds for cover rather take off straight.
    
    You can catch pike almost any depth of water.  Idealy you want to fish
    earliy in the morning, before the sun warms the shallow water 3-5 feet.
    
    From my personal experience ( Pike have been my facination fish for the
    past 11 years ) Any MEPPS #3 spinner is really effective.
    
    Red Devils have a tendency to be too popular and the fish become immune
    to it.  
    
    Use a meduim action rod and 10-12 pound line, with a 20 pound leader.
    All a pike has to do is bring the line over to the opposite side of his
    mouth he's hooked on and he's gone!   their teeth are razor sharp.
    
    Keep the line tight and keep adjusting your drag and MUSCLE!!!