Conference wahoo::fishing

      Most of the smaller lakes/ponds up in Northern Vt are frozen over.
    Saw someone on the ice with tip-ups on Lake Arrowhead (Milton Vt)
    the middle of last week. Arrowhead is fed by a large (vt standards)
    River on one end, and leaves via a dam at the other. lots of moving
    water. Can't be more than a few inches out there yet. I'll hold off 
    til after Christmas, thank-you very much....
    
      If it hadn't been so windy the last few weeks, I'm sure Champlain
    would be well on its way to frozen. Water Temp was 38 degrees on Fri-
    day. We haven't seen temps much above 10 degrees for the last week.
    Well into the single digit and below zero temps for the last 5 days.
    
    -Ron-
    

re: .2

	BTW  I would like to get opinions on what you consider safe ice for:

		Ice Fishing

			Minimally, 2" for 1-2 people.  I'll wait another
			week for it to get to 4".  

			4" for small groups (3-5), 6" generally safe for
			most larger groups.

		Snowmobiling

			I'd say 4"-5" as long as you don't stop and bunch up
			in one spot.  Otherwise, play it safe and wait for
			6".

		Driving your vehicle onto the ice
    
			I've heard that 10"-12" is supposed to be safe.  Be
			sure to periodically move your vehicle as the weight
			will slowly make the ice sag if you leave it in one
			spot.  This is true even for ice 18" thick or more.

    
    
               I've been waitin for this since I took my poles 
               out of the car last weekend!!!!!! Now I can put
               my sled and gear in and not take that out til thaw!!!!!!!
    
               I'm lookin out over the beautiful Mill pond here in
               Maynard and it is frozen now if I can get one of you
               guys out there to drill some holes for me I'll be set.
               Kinda would kill two birds with one stone if you fell
               through I'd just go back to work cause I'd know the ice
               isn't safe.
    
               All the small shallow ponds in Eastern Mass are safe I've
               seen people skating on them.Larger lakes will still take
               another two weeks cause of the high winds churning the water
               up.At least the Lakes will start with plenty of oxygen.
    
    
                       Any takers on drillin me some holes its alot of FUN!!!
    
    
                                                The Keg

    
    hey Keg was that a 50.00 bill i just saw blowing out onto the ice..
    
    
    			let us know if you retrieved

    
    
    
              re: .5
    
                 Ya I do see that 50 and it is stuck to the ice
                 wayyyyyy out in the middle of the pond.If you 
                 go get it I'll split it 50/50 with ewe!!
    
    
    
                                          The Keg

    Yo Keg, I checked out the "Rim" last night. Oh it looks beautious!
    When we get there you just start out ahead of me, I'll catch up to
    ewe, OK?

    Rich

    Does anybody know if the F & G stocked Trout in Mass yet? Where?
    Walden? Badacock?
    
    I am definetly going to get out before Xmas if the ice is safe!
     
    I'd like to try my 8 color Video depth sounder on the ice with a car
    battery.
    
                                Walt
    

    
    
    
       Re: "The Rim"
    
              Sure Rich I would do that for ewe,but,not for you!
              When we goin?? I mean to do some more perchjerkin 
              cause I know there is NO other kinda fish inhabiting
              that toxic waste dumpsite.That must be the reason 
              ewe keep bringin me there to keep me from catching
              real fish like the ones in Lake Urine,huh?
    
    
                                           The Keg
             

re:               <<< Note 1280.8 by PACKER::GIBSON "DTN225-5193" >>>

>    Does anybody know if the F & G stocked Trout in Mass yet? Where?
>    Walden? Badacock?

	I don't remember the details but I read that trout stocking this 
	fall was *severely* cut back due to budget problems.  There was only
	one stocking, and a 2nd has/will not take place at all...

	On another note, people have been fishing Quabog for a few days now.
	A friend who lives across the street from Quabog also saw a 4 wheel
	drive on it the other day.   Crazy, but evidently the ice is safe!

	/Ken 

    re .10

    Was that a 4 wheel drive pickup? Or was it a four wheel ATV? I cant 
    believe that a truck could be on the ice yet.

    Rich

re:                      <<< Note 1280.11 by JUPITR::NEAL >>>

>    Was that a 4 wheel drive pickup? Or was it a four wheel ATV? I cant 
>    believe that a truck could be on the ice yet.

	I asked myself the same question... after I got off the phone
	with the guy.   So I don't know.   I find it hard to believe too,
	but I assume that it was a 4WD truck.

	/Ken

    Hay Keg!!
    
    	Thats why lots of people still use the old chisel.  As You
    walk you plant it hard into the ice in front of you.  When it goes
    into water with one swing !!  time to make a turn :^)
    
    Bassin' bob

    
    
        Re: B.B.
    
              Thats why I go with Rich (reads; chiseler) if he goes through
              I know I won't make it so I get back in the car and go home!
    
    
    
                                         The Keg (with legs)

      Well, the cold snap in Vermont has continued. Not only are the
    smaller lakes and ponds frozen over, but most of the bays on Lake
    Champlain are too. St Albans bay has about 8-10" in some places.
    On Sunday, there were about 50 people out there fishing. No vehicles
    out there yet, but quite a few portable shanties. The West/North side
    of the bay has the most ice. Some open water on the East/South side
    (Georgia Shore side).
    
      Informal snow mobile races were held on Arrowhead Lake this past 
    weekend. They had a track plowed out on the North end, near the ramp.
    
    -Ron-

My #2 son and I went to Stumpfield yesterday for our first excursion of the 
season.  It was a beautiful day...no wind and lot's of flags to keep us 
busy.  In all, we picked up 8 bass, all about 12", and about 10-12 pickeral. 
All the bass went back in....and m-o-s-t of the pickeral.

Ice was about 8" thick!  Some jerk, however, decided to drive his 4x4 Bronco 
out across the ice, under the bridge towards the stumps.  I don't know why 
he didn't go through as the ice cracked and groaned under him as he drove.

It was a great time, but I still don't like stiff water!

-HSJ-

	Well, I talked with my friend who lives across from Quabog and
	asked him about that 4 WD that he saw on the ice last week...
	it was a small ATV, not a pick-up....

	/Ken

    I was on Baboosic for a couple hours on Saturday and Melendy Pond for
    a couple hours on Sunday, both had about 6 inches.  Few bass and
    perch at each (all went back in).
    
    How about the smelt rivers???????  Rayj, any news from up that way?
    
    donmac

    	This year's going to be tough. I went back to school and the
    combination of that with 3 little ones is tough. Also, my wife is
    working a seasonal job nights on the days I don't go to school. I'm
    also going to Va. for the week in between Christmas/New Years to
    visit with the out-laws (wife's family ;-).
    
    	I probably won't get a chance to get up there until after the
    first of the year.

    	RAYJ

    Rayj, sounds like you need a vacation!  Why don't you Febuary off 
    and head south for some fishing... tell your mgr I said it was OK...
    8^)
    
    As posted in note 1284, it appears that they're fishing already.  If
    you can sneak out on Friday night, you know where to find us.
    
    good luck,
    
    donmac

-->    How about the smelt rivers???????  Rayj, any news from up that way?


	Well one of my retired fishing buddies rented a smelt shack on Great
Bay last Sunday with 6"+ of ice (only 4 fish caught).  He's also fished the
Exeter River every day this week (I think he said there was > 7" of ice).

Dave "Harpoonist"

    	Those that made it up for smelt fishing are treading on new
    ground (er, ice that is). The earliest I can remember going up there
    in the last 5 years or so is the first week of January. 
    
    	Sounds like it's been kind of slow but you never can tell. Might
    of just had bad timing on the tides. You may go up this week and
    kill em.
    
    	RAYJ
    
    BTW - What were the tides at Exeter/Newmarket this past weekend ???

Ray,

The ice on the Lamprey just below the dam was at least 4-5" thick and 
rock-solid hard!  In fact, folks had been out ice skating on the ice just to 
give you an idea.  We brought an ice chisel with us figuring it would be 
easy to chop through, but we really should have brought the ice auger.  

I don't know what the ice was like on the Oyster River or a little further 
downstream on the lamprey (where you first took us a couple of years ago), 
but I suspect it was more than safe.

Low tide on Friday in Portsmouth was about 7:22 P.M.  We fished from about 
6:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. without much success.

Do you know where to go on the Exeter River?  How far is it from where we 
usually go on the Lamprey?

-joe-

Pike Alert.... Lake Chauncy (2) 7.75 lb and (1) 15.6 lb

Ask Jack or Cindy to see the photo's at Fishing Tackle Annex.


Johnny Roach

    
    
          holy cow !!!  nice job johnny. i'm heading there tomorrow
       any pointers at all would be great!!!?? if not i understand
       good luck fishing.
    
                                                    kiver
    
      p.s.  were the shinners alive?

>          holy cow !!!  nice job johnny. i'm heading there tomorrow
>       any pointers at all would be great!!!?? if not i understand
>       good luck fishing.
    
                                                    kiver
    
>      p.s.  were the shinners alive?



	I guess I was'nt too clear.... I did'nt catch them ..just saw the 
pictures and talked to the person who did and wanted to pass along some 
info...


As for what I have caught....

	December 9th was my first day out, on the ice at 7:30 am
and had 15 flags by noon with 5 Bass, 1 Pickrel and 3 trout 2 Browns
and 1 rainbow. My fishing partner joined me at noon and we fished til 3:30pm
with another 15 flags, 3 Bass, 1 Pickrel and 3 Trout 2 more browns and a 
Rainbow. One Brown was a 16" with nice girth. It was probally the most active 
day I have ever had ice fishing and my first Trout through the ice.  I could 
not move the next day cause I ran for so many flags.

	December 16th I only set up 2 tilts and got 4 flags and one Trout a
12" Brown. It was cold and I only fished for 3 hours in the pm.

	December 23 I set up 3 traps  for about an hour the another 2 for 
another hour without a flag.

	December 26th I got to try out my Christmas present a new auger
"power" and set 5 tilts from 12 to 3 and got 10 flags and 5 fish, 1 Bass,
1 Rainbow, and 2 Pickrel one was 22".

	I will "NOT" see you at the Tourny...

	Johnny Roach
	

    
    re:  big pike....
    
    	Spoke to the fish and game about Chauncey...they say that they
    	only put pike in there last year....!
    
    	Better check those photos of big pike to see if they are for
    	real...:-)
    
    	Gitzit'
    
    
    

    RE: Pike Alert.....
    
    Did you hear about the Tiger Musky taken out of Lake Chauncy last
    Thursday a.m. - it was over 16 lbs.
    
    The photo of this can be seen at Lake Quinsigamond Bait & Tackle
    
    
    
    Kelly
    (The FisherPERSON)
    
    

>    re:  big pike....
>    
>    	Spoke to the fish and game about Chauncey...they say that they
>    	only put pike in there last year....!
>    
>    	Better check those photos of big pike to see if they are for
>    	real...:-)
    
>    	Gitzit'
    
 
Hey gitzit, Stay home then.....

Actually I made a mistake in the entry the 15.6 lb fish was a Tiger Muskie

and the (2) 7.75 lb were Pike.  I don't know who you spoke to at F&G Gitzit

but Chauncy has had a long history of stocking including Muskellenge (sp)

in the 50's and I am pretty sure some Pike and Tiger Muskie in years other 

than 89. I think it even says that on the back of the pond map for Chauncy.   
    
I spoke with the guy who caught these he was using large shiners with 

floursent bead attracters on the leader. 


	Johnny Roach

    
        just to clear the air a tad. 7.5lb for a pike is about right
       for the time thay have been in there....aprox 1.5years. tigers were
       introduced back in 85 to chauncey. 
    
    
                                                   sooo thay say "f&g"
     
                                                           kiver

    
    
    
    
    	Howdy,
    
    	Anyone catchin' any fish out there lately??  This cold snap
    has kept me indoors since winter got here but some of you lads must
    have been out there cuttin' holes.
    
    	::Larry::

    
    
    	Yo!  Johnny R......just making sure......along with the "Kiv"
    	I understood the 7 lbers.....
    
    	If there is the possibility of BIG PIKE...the 'ol Gitzit' is
    	have tip-ups will travel.
    
    	Certainly wouldn't mind wrestling with a tiger muskie of that
    	size however....
    
    	tight ones....[lines]
    
    	Gitzit'
    
    

    The first reply of 1990!  Happy New Year and tight line.  Got my first
    flag-style fish through the ice.  Was setting a trap on a nearby local
    pond.  While mucking with the flag, I get a nice tug on the line. 14"
    pickerel.  My first (barring smelt/tommys/white perch) fish through the
    ice.  Didn't get anymore, but I'll be trying again next weekend.  I
    hope the warm spell and the rain left Newmarket & the Lamprey
    unaffected.
    
    Tim
    

      I'm fairly new to Ice fishin', so I would appreciate it if you
    folks could give me some pointers. What do you use for bait??? We
    can jig for Perch all day up here (in VT). Last year we used tip-ups
    (a new experience for me), but didn't catch much besides Perch. We were
    using small minnows (2-3 inches, shinners) and the Perch wouldn't leave
    them alone.
    
      I would be most interested in fishing for Walleye, Northern, and 
    Trout. What types of bait are best (live or dead??)??? Best times of 
    day??? How do you rig the bait (where do you hook it, What size
    hook)???
    
      All tips and comments are welcome.
    
    -Ron-

>      All tips and comments are welcome.
    
>    -Ron-


	Ron check out note 1290 it also has pointers to others.

Hey Gitzit, Sorry if I got pissed, guess I should double check what I type
before entering.

	If your still interested in half right info..... Some Pike
in the 7 -15 lb range have been reported taken out of Brimfield Res and 
Holland pond, also reports of 1.5 to 2 lb Calico from these same waters.
I havent seen pictures of these so for what it's worth.

Johnny Roach

    
      Got my first fish of the decade yesterday,  5 lb, 13 oz PIKE 29".
    took it out of Quaboag. It hit a dace and ran like heck. Otherwise it
    ws a slow day for everyone on Quaboag.  But he weather was great, sunny
    and in the low 40's.  The Gitzit' and I set up in a cove on the back
    side and did not have to deal with the wind at all.  Look for the
    picture in next months FISH FINDER.
    
    Les

RE:                    -< How about some tips for the rookies >-

    -Ron-

	One is to use bigger bait, 4-6 inch minnows and fish them about
1-2 feet off the bottom...Another, look for a creek inlet and fish in 5-8 ft
of water...We had great luck this weekend on a local pond near me (Burlington)
Mass that is,  6 bass, 1 that went 4 1/2lbs and the rest were in the 1-2 lb
class, 4 pickerel not much size....Boy the ice sure is thick  18-20 inches.
Tough going with a hand auger..

Hope this helps,

Bruce (Bigbird)

P.S. Going back to Onedia lake in Upstate NY on Jan 20-21, looking for walleye
and perch, all we use there is a Swedish pimple and a perch eye or minnow 
attached.

<Flame on>

	I had a bad experience this weekend. New Years eve morning I was 
having breakfast and saw some people ice fishing out front of the house.
I wanted to join them but have a 350' driveway that had been plowed early the 
day before and had a 1" covering of ice over snow just right to get off easy.
As I am shoveling I find that there are tracks over the ice making it very 
difficult to get the ice off in those areas. 2 and 3/4 hours later I finish 
shoveling. I go in and we decide we will go out on the ice and meet some 
neighbors. As I walk out the yard i notice lots of tracks from the end of my 
driveway through the front yard to the ice. Turns out these aren't neighbors 
but someone who drove down my driveway to unload and fish in in front of my 
house. I went out trying to be friendly and was griven an explanation by 
that they used to do this all the time when the previous owner lived there and
 they didn't know someobne elese was there. Sure New mailbox and Large real 
estate sign with sold out front. There are 3 public access points to the lake 
and one is only 500' away but a 150' walk from the road is involved.
I guess he figured the easiest route to take to fish in front of my house was 
to drive everyone right down the driveway and walk through the front yard.
I guess what pissed me off the most was that he did this without even 
considering asking me. And this was 2 trucks and 5 people. I went back out to 
him and told him this and asked him not to do it again. I don't think I want 
to go posting , but this did not sit well with me. Of couse the lazy#$^$^
drove right down the driveway again to pack up the gear to go and managed to
hit the shoveled snow on the edge of the driveway and make a new mess for me 
to clean. 

	I think I know how farmers feel when someone is hunting thier land 
without permission.


<Flame off>


Johnny Roach

    
    	add on to re.35......
    
    	Hay! Mr [dry] Ice.....you forgot to tell them how I coached you
    	the entire time......:-)  
    
    	One thing...Les is a fast learner!
    
    	Gitzit'
    
    

Re: .38 etc.

  ===> MERRY CHRISTMAS <===
	December 26th - Norwich Lake Huntington MA. 06:30 - 13:30
                        Fishing So-Low - five type

		2 Pickerell(sp)        22'' - 20''
                2 B. Trout             14'' - 13''
                1 LM Bass              2# (Approx.)


  ===>  HAPPY NEW YEAR  <===
	January 2nd   - Norwich Lake Huntington MA. 07:00 - 12:00
                        Fishing So-Low - five type

                1 B. Trout             16''


	'Jerked' a few perch both days but none of any size.

                             Joe Whittemore - From where the Westfield
                                                   Meets the Westfield
                                                      By the Westfield
                                                         In Huntington (MA)

    RE: .38 catch anything?....
    
    Well, Christmas day, My boyfriend and I had to try out all the new
    equipment we got each other.  We headed out to Lake Cotituate (sp) and
    fished only a few hours - I got a 3.5 lb pickerell (sp) and he got a
    small 10 pd. pike.  That was a Merry Christmas in itself!!
    
    But this past weekend - Saturday at 8:30 I had a pike hit my tilt and
    not stop -  when I went to set the hook - I started to strike him and
    my arms came to a full stop a foot in front of me - I felt him shake
    his body in a matter of seconds he was gone!!  HA! now I knew what a
    Pike felt like - even if I did lose 'em! #@$%^@&(%
    
    Soooo, Sunday at 7:15 a.m. You got it!! - Good ole Polar tip up spinning 
    like mad - This time there was NO WAY out of it!! I set the hook and took 
    up my fist Pike - it was only 8 lbs and was 31 inches long but it was a
    he fought great and it was Pike none the less!!!!!!  
    
    I am toooo siked (sp)!! Come on 20 pounder!! 
    
    I can't handle having this "Pike fever" and having to work most the
    time - Can anyone relate to this?   My boyfriend has his own company 
    so of course he's out there as I speak!!! I am soooo jealous!!!!   
    
    
    Kelly
    (The dedicated female) - so they say!!
    

    Kelly,
    
    I can't help but smile while reading this.  My wife is my favorite
    fishing partner and you sound just like her when she has a good day.
    
    I think the thing I like the best about fishing with my wife is that
    I'm not feeling guilty about abandoning her on the weekend.  
    
    I'd wish you luckbut it sounds like you're doing just fine without it!
    
    :-) :-) :-)
    
    /brett

    I hit Newfound lake on Sunday.  I had never been there before but
    armed with Clark's Fishing guide and the New Hampshire Fishing guide 
    I picked a likely spot for lake trout.

    Set up my tipups, then my newly aquired portable bob house from
    Donmac.(Worked great Don)  Anyway I caught 4 lakers, 3 of them too small
    last one was 6 lbs, 27 1/2 inches.  Largest trout I've ever caught.

    Looks like I've finally figured out the ingredients for lakers.

    No more miniscule bait for me, use big bait for big fish,

    George 

    Hey, congrats George, nice trout!  And I'm glad you like the hack
    shack!  It must have been those blood splattered walls that brought you
    good luck!
    
    donmac

    Yeah, you should have seen the look on my wife's face when she asked
    what the spot's were from! :-)

    Looks like I'll have to wash it before next time.

    George

    Hi!!
    
    I just have to tell everybody I can about the lunker I caught this
    weekend!!  I have caught 3 Northern Pike in the last 3 weekends out
    there but this one takes the cake!!  
    
    It was a 15 lbs 2 oz. Northern Pike, 39" long and 17" 1/2 Girth - I am
    more excited the past couple days than I was when I caught it!!
    
    You should see the pictures - It is almost at big as me - I am 5'2" and
    weigh 96 lbs. it looks like a monster - But anyway - I got my STATE PIN
    - to me this is a big accomplishment because I have been fishing with a
    group of people since the second week in December and this is the
    biggest one YET!!!  The thing put major cuts in both my pointer
    fingers!!
    
    Well gotta run!!
    
    Kelly
    
    p.s. Look for me in the Mass. Fish Finder magazine over the next couple
    months!!   
            

That's a beautiful fish.  I've been out just about every Saturday with no legal
pike yet.  I did get one pike about 18" this past Saturday along with 3 perch
and 6 (maybe 7?) pickerel.  Best day out I've had this year.


Tim

    Kelly, nice PIKE!!! Congradulations...
    
    Bass-O-Matic
    

    
    
    
                Kelly,tell them what you caught jiggin Saturday.
    
    
    
                                       The Keg

    RE: Kelly, tell what you caught jiggin Saturday......
                                                       
    Well, it was close to the end of the day and everybody was ready to
    pack up then BOOM!! I had the massive hit on the small jig stick!! 
    After about 20 minutes of a FANTASTIC Fight - up comes a 4 lbs 6 oz.
    BASS - he hit the smallest shiner!! UNBELIEVABLE!!
    Let me tell you - it was a Fight and a half on the 6lb test, I was so
    scared that it was going to break any minute!!   It got me 3rd place in
    the derby I am in!! (so far)
    
    By the way, KEG, I got another 10 lb Pike Sunday!!  That Pike fought
    just as good as my 15.2 Pike!! And Once again, Frank wasn't there he
    ran home!! -(to get a jig stick, after Saturday's episode) But I put
    the Pike in the cooler for Frank to reach in his mouth because there 
    was no way I was touching MR. TOOTHY's Mouth!!  
    
    Here's a coincidence for you - I have caught 4 Pike in the last 4
    weekends!!  I think Frank is getting a little jealous?!?!?!?
    
    OH WELL!!!  gotta run!!
    
    Kelly
    
    P.S.  Look for me TODAY, 1/30/90 in the MIDDLESEX NEWS PAPER with the
    	  15.2 Pike!!  I look like a dwarf next to it!!
      
    
    
    
    
    

    
    Kelly,
    
    I saw the picture in the Middlesex News!!  Incredible!!!
    
    So, who goes for coffee, now??  Maybe you should buy your boyfriend a
    thermos!!
    
    Congrats!!!  Nice catch!!
    
    Ray

    RE: Make photocopies and send them out!
    
    Just let me know who wants them via electronic mail and I will send
    them interoffice!!  
    
    Kel

    Kelly,
    
    I also caught the picture in the Middlesex news yesterday.  It's funny
    I seen the picture and thought that is one hell of a fish and low and
    behold I read in the notes that it's you!!
    
    Great Fish and picture, your boyfriend must have been flippin out!!
    
    				Nice going,
    
    				Bart Lasky

    
    Hope I'm not breaking any rules of protocol....
    
    Kelly,
    
    Where did you catch the monsters?
    
    Thanks,
    -Dave

    Dave,
    
    I caught "the monster" at Lake Cochituate in Natick.  I don't mind
    telling you this because it is a VERY BIG lake and there are plenty of
    water for everybody!!!   Good Luck!!
  
    Kelly

Re .-1 Nice fish Kelly


	This past saturday was a fair day on the ice my friend got 
2 pickrel and 3 Brown Trout 2 small and 1 was 14" I got 2 Bass and 
a 16" Rainbow. The Rainbow had healthy girth and beatiful colors,
he was hooked cleanly so I released him so I can go back for him with a fly 
rod in the spring.....



Johnny Roach

     Hey Kelly nice northern!!!!! I just got the picture in inter-office
    and almost fell off my chair, I never realized how a 15lb northern
    would look next to a 96lb angler. So is Frank's jaw still dragging
    on the floor??
    
    Bass-O-Matic
    

    Kelly:



		What a beauty !




		Nice fish too !        ;-)

Anyone been out on the ice in south-eastern mass?  Is it going to be safe this 
weekend? I'd hate to buy shiners and find unsafe ice and I don't want to drive
to the pond, then back to the bait store..

TIm

    
    
    	Tim, was out on the [hard] water last weekend in the Spencer Ma.
    area.  That may not be SE enough for your question, however.  The edges 
    were mushy for about six feet.  Just waded through that and got on a
    solid six inches of ice.  Didn't go the weekend before that but in
    two weeks we lost 10 inches of ice.......yikes.......is it time to
    add the new beer holders to the Ted Williams Special?....get it
    ready for ice out!
    
    Would suspect that with the cold nights that we have been having that
    this weekend should be no problem.  
    
    Gitzit'
    
    

 It's supposed to be in the fifties this weekend. Be careful, we want to have 
more stories of rapalas in the leg, etc. :-)

 The Doctah

    
    	Hey Kelly, Do yourself a favor and buy a "Hookout", that is, if
    you plan to continue Pike fishing.  It will save the hands, believe
    me.  Last winter between the guys that I fished with and myself we
    caught 186 Northerns (kept track of weather too) and if it wasn't
    for the "Hookout" None of us would have anything left but stubs!
    	Up here on Champlain we've been out a couple of times, best
    one yet was in December when a friend caught a 34" 10 lber, pretty
    girthy beast, but we're looking for 15 + lbs ourselves but have
    yet to connect.  One of the guys had one on that filled a 10" hole,
    but the hook separated from the steel leader (20lb) and the pike
    dropped off.  I think if he reads this it'll promote some old 
    nightmares... Right Kevin      :')
    
    - Rob
    

    
    
    	BTW, on that last note, not to sound like "game hogs" we released
    all but a dozen or so and will continue to do so.  Pike aren't worth
    much for Fillet'n unless they're above 8 lbs or so.  

    
    Thanks alot Rob...I'd almost forgotten, except for the scar on my
    finger.  Yup, lost a big one last year, but don't we all?  Don't use
    those damn Eagle Claw hooks with the steel leader attached, they're a
    nightmare.  I had 2 of 'em break on monster pike.  I planned on sending
    them back to Eagle Claw, but forgot about it...I still have the
    evidence though.  I use 30lb. Berkley Steelon leaders now, they seem to
    hold up very well.
    
    Kevin

    
    	Yo.....Burlington folks.....I have been coming up to your facility
    	about every week.....would love to stop by and
    	chat....particularily about pike fishing.......
    
    	I will be up there next Thursday and Friday.....send me where you
    	are located in the facility and I will look up.
    
    	Gitzit'
    
    

    RE: Kelly, do yourself a favor and buy a "Hookout"...
    
    A Hookout? Is this the same thing as a Gaft?  If it is then that is
    what I used, he just kept circling the hole (through the black ice) and
    finally he came closer to the hole and .... he was gafteddddd out!! The
    cuts on my hands were from setting the HOOK, as I set the hook, it set
    into the bending joints of my hands OUCH!!
    
    But, found a solution to that!!  At the fishing show here in Worc. MA
    this weekend - we found these Berkley Neoprene Gloves - they had the
    thumb, pointer and middle fingers cut off and you can do just about
    anything with these gloves!!  My boyfriend said they are like diving
    wet suits - they can get wet and then they adjust to your body temp.
    and stay that way all day!!
     

    
    	Kelly,
    		A "Hookout" is a tool that's similar to a pair of 
    pliers except that the jaws have been extended to about 6"-8".
    This enables you to place the "Hookout" in the pike's mouth and
    pull the hook with it without sticking your fingers in there. I've
    seen them advertised in Cabela's and Gander Mountain catalogs.
    If your cuts are from the line, then you've got other problems...
    
    - Rob
    

    Kelly,
    
    This is coming a little late, but congratulations on your outstanding
    catch.  It goes to show you that you don't have to be a 6'0 plus, 200
    pound gentlemen to catch the big ones.  Keep up the good work!!
    
    Nancy
    

    Gentlemen? Where??