Yuba - I awoke at 3:30am to dawn patrol the Pike with UtGolf…evil tye dye required his beauty sleep. 10 mins away from my house I realized I left my big net at home. So we made the best of it and I bought a crappy little net at Wallmart on the way down. We launched his motorized canoe to realize that I had left the bolts to the battery at home. He jury rigged it and we set sail from Oasis!
UtGolf was the 1st to get a bite and I hooked into a beast. My drag was singing and we had the beast up at the canoes edge twice before UtGolf informed me that the 8lb mono was fraying. So run #3 and suddenly the line went weightless. No hook was returned to me. This guy was around 35 inches.
So I was furious and wanted my revenge! I switched to steel leader from that point on and got a 4 pound 9oz 26 inch pike to the canoe. I managed to have another unidentified fish unbutton. Then UtGolf managed to hook into my line as he was casting and lost the last of my perch rapala’s in CD7. I switched up to a Spro Jr. in perch. Luckily it worked out and I got a 5 pound 9oz 28 inch pike to the canoe!
Sure enough the T-Storms came up by 1pm and we headed in. Ooops the battery was dead and we were a long ways from home.
We paddled and paddled till the thunder was right over head. We waited out what we thought was the worst of it under a ledge on the beach. Sure enough we saw our window and we made a break for it. HOLY COW that was not the best window. Thunder cracked directly over us on the aluminum canoe! Pants carpping moments for sure!
I caught my pike on a CD7 Perch Rapala and a Spro Perch Lure. I also tried a perch swim bait and a spinner bait with no love. UtGolf threw BIG and rediculas things at them with a few bites and follows to show for it.
Curious (no judgement - just asking) did they make it home to meet your fillet knife?
Been curious how Pike/Musky are to the pallet? Have friends out east that have told me they’re bony, but good eating. But was also warned they’ll “play dead” then turn those toothy teeth at ya when you get ready to cut in.
I’d imaging they are a pretty firm, whiteish flesh.
Hope they don’t draw Newton dry, and waste all those fish there, as they’ve done for some lakes farther north. Sad sad deal!
I wasn’t fighting thunder, but sure plenty of wind today where I was at. Always hope the gas motor will fire and behave when I’m facing whitecaps and swells!
You may not want to be up a creek without a paddle, but sometimes being out in the middle of a lake with only a paddle can be less that preferable too!
We pulled of the lake right before you i think. We had tarped up and were leaving when we saw a canoe come up to the Oasis boat ramp.
No luck for us today. Just a few hits but no hook ups.
We have found pike to be great eating as long as they are real fresh. Our experience has been let the fillet sit for a couple of days in the fridge we don’t like it.
Bones yes but a few looks on the net on how to fillet and a couple of fish to practice on and it’s not to tough to learn.
Curious (no judgement - just asking) did they make it home to meet your fillet knife?
I wasn’t fighting thunder, but sure plenty of wind today where I was at. Always hope the gas motor will fire and behave when I’m facing whitecaps and swells!
You may not want to be up a creek without a paddle, but sometimes being out in the middle of a lake with only a paddle can be less that preferable too!
Well judging by the garage shots of the pike…I think I am going to eat them. I have eaten a few pike from last spring and yep they taste great. I would say the texture is rubbery. And that is not a dis on it.
The canoe reminded me of a quote the indians said to the religiuous europeans. “Pray to your god if you must, but don’t stop rowing away from the rocks!”
Yep keep paddling like an olympian when the thunder claps go overhead!
We pulled of the lake right before you i think. We had tarped up and were leaving when we saw a canoe come up to the Oasis boat ramp.
No luck for us today. Just a few hits but no hook ups.
Seriously? Ruff man. I am going back next weekend for a camp trip.
Nice piggy back report there ya nut! At least with the pike you have the option of a keep. I was hearing about some bozos catching a musky, and flinging it up on shore because there were afraid for removing the hook.
Boy scouts moto - Be Prepared! Shoot!
I’m still looking for a good top-water slam action. It’ll come.
Damned wind - sure is a 4-letter word! My fishn attempt last night turned to a total “bad trip” because of the white caps, and stress over “getting back”. Hate that!
I’d be curious from any of ya - how do you prep your Pike for the table? I’ve been through a number of Tubes on how to filet the bony beast. I’m thinking they’d probably do well fully baked…
that was fun and good job on your pike. I think I’d still throw the big perch stuff I threw, they definitely chopped it up, just need the different hook design they sell. Pick up some steel leader! those fish definitely aren’t that picky about it. Maybe I’ll be able to make it down again.
You’d still throw the big perch stuff[crazy]…can you say denial[;)].
I guess you can now take out that musky fix on the pike at Yuba…if you close your eyes and use some of that denial a day down there could be your best TM day ever!
I do regret sleepin in and missing the pike…but rowing in a thunderstorm I do not regret missing…talk about SCARY!
What pound test line did you use? I’m waiting for drier weather as well so I didn’t target any trout this weekend. Also, were the teeth pretty sharp? It seems a steel leader is a wise choice.
Its a good idea to use a wire leader and their teeth are extrmely sharp so be careful when handling them .Pliers are a must to remove lures or hooks.When it comes to lb test it depends how well of a fisherman you are .You can go heavy and horse the fish in or go light and fight him till pne of you gives.Hope this helps you.
What pound test line did you use? I’m waiting for drier weather as well so I didn’t target any trout this weekend. Also, were the teeth pretty sharp? It seems a steel leader is a wise choice.
Debbie
I used 8lb test. Yes the teeth are VERY sharp. I now carry steel leader and that was half the reason I didn’t bust out the fly rod. Didn’t need a repeat of the lost pike event on the fly too. That would have sent me further over the edge!
Nice fish you have there.