Walking the “RAPS”…..in Wolf Country!!

There are few things in the world of freshwater angling that can possibly rival the heart stopping attack of a stickbait via “Water Wolf”. April through June on Rainy lake offers up a shallow water bite that makes grown men lose sleep at night. Northern Pike aka the Freshwater Gator, Jack and Water Wolf rule these big waters. They are simply the top predator that Swims with Swaggar while often devouring most anything in it’s path. Your job as an angler……..GET YOUR TACKLE……..IN THE WAY!!

Pictured here is our 2nnd pike exceeding 40 inches and the biggest Rainy Lake “Water Wolf” of the day!! 45 inches and 20lbs plus! Full of spawn and quickly CPR’D. Northern Pike are open 4 season here on Rainy lake. This can offer anglers a early season crack at the biggest and baddest fish that roam these waters.

This fish was caught with a Size 13 floating Rapala in the Perch pattern. The Old School Balsa wood floater offers a very tight wobble and when worked effectively is deadly on big fish.
I’ve noticed after cleaning a couple smaller 5-6lb pike that the fish seem to be eating Crayfish again during the early season again. Keep this in mind when targeting fishing areas!! Spawning pike will move to early warm water, but before actually dropping eggs still like to eat!!

The warmest water with small rubble mixed into the sand/mud is holding the food right now!!

We used the Max Raps by Rapala as our in between stickbait. I think it has an action between the tight wobble of a original floater and the slash style of an X-Rap. The “Max Rap” casts a MILE and has a nice in between action deadly on Pike. I liked using it today in depths between 4-8 f.o.w.

Here’s a 36 incher that couldn’t believe this Max Rap wasn’t edible!!

Very nice Chris! fish like that will have me dreaming of giants! i’ll be elbowing the ol lady setting the hook in my sleep lol!

Close up of the 45 incher with a Rapala Balsa Floater……..SCARED!!

Ever throw big tackle for gators or stick to stick baits? Would be Intresred in throwing bucktails and glide baits….

Max Rap close up shot. Note that the Max Rap is probably a bit more durable when tangling with giants.

You are killin me man!

There are many ways to reach a common goal when looking to tangle with elite caliber pike. For me; I’ll use my Medium light spinning gear which is more than powerful enough to handle the monster fish we target. I believe when using “Sticky” rapala’s the soft tip helps our hooking percentage versus medium or medium heavy rods. Many anglers are more afraid of breaking line versus pulling out of a fish. I’d estimate more big fish are lost from too much pressure than line breaks hands down. A rod like this 6’9 St. Croix Med. Light fast action tip can effectively handle big fish and also work your bait precisely. Remember stickbaits like these Rapala’s I use are incredibly sharp or what I refer to as “Sticky”.

That last fight lead to our second 40 inch fish of the day!! My buddy said “GET THE NET OR THE CAMERA!!” I said can’t you do both??

In all honesty this was a “Homework day” for this fishing guide. We pinned down fish and then moved on to pin down some more.

Thanks to the 300 Ponies for making the transport time……..FLY BY!!

And just like that…….It was over!! Back home to bandage up fingers and ice my casting shoulder.

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Very nice Chris! fish like that will have me dreaming of giants! i’ll be elbowing the ol lady setting the hook in my sleep lol!

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I believe the “Queen” has been ordered to get the net in the middle of the night before as well!! Hooksets on occassion.

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Ever throw big tackle for gators or stick to stick baits? Would be Intresred in throwing bucktails and glide baits….

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I am often guilty of fishing my personal confidence baits. The original floating Rapalas, X-raps and now the Max Raps. I will admit the Glide bait from Rapala is on my “WANT TO TRY LIST”. I believe it has a slot in my boat. Other than that I’m not a big fan of hucking big junk requiring heavy gear to handle efficiently. IF…..IF I can catch an equal amount of elite caliber fish as the guy throwing a flashing Fox Squirrel……I’ll choose to stick on the lighter side of the equation. Just my personal preference.

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You are killin me man!

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Sorry man!!

Life just isn’t fair

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I will admit the Glide bait from Rapala is on my “WANT TO TRY LIST”. I believe it has a slot in my boat.

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I’ve amassed about 50 new baits to try later in the week, Chris. Sliders, Gliders, Subwalks… and some other crazy stuff that is worth a cast or two. Plus those Dunwrights that worked well for us last year during the houseboat trip.

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I will admit the Glide bait from Rapala is on my “WANT TO TRY LIST”. I believe it has a slot in my boat.

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I’ve amassed about 50 new baits to try later in the week, Chris. Sliders, Gliders, Subwalks… and some other crazy stuff that is worth a cast or two. Plus those Dunwrights that worked well for us last year during the houseboat trip.

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Sounds great!! I hope your shoulder has recovered from our Rainy River shoot. BTW……..This might NOT help.

Chris:

The first two were absolute tanks!!! Great stuff!!! Are you working a little heavier line in these battles and what are you using for leader material???

Mark

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Chris:

The first two were absolute tanks!!! Great stuff!!! Are you working a little heavier line in these battles and what are you using for leader material??? Mark

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Good Morning Mark!! Just heading back out on the lake. I tend to work with a bit lighter tackle than many anglers do. Here is my theory; You can’t lose a fish that doesn’t bite. A 20lb Fluoro Leader is a tad Light and isn’t for every angler. I keep a very close eye on it. IF……A big pike T-bones my rap I will ease that fish to the boat. I hope to catch the fish that are leary and know I’ll catch the fish that are in a frenzy. I believe this concept allows us to fool more fish while in the end landing more tanks. A 25-30lb lead would be a more universal leader for guys that are deathly afraid of ever being cut off. I feel I am able to fool more fish early in the season when we are working our Max Raps slow. On a side note the Max Rap has a very realistic look in the water. This is GOLDEN considering many of our strikes are after a fish sits and eyeballs it while it rests in that monster’s wheelhouse. IMHO a Med Light Spinning rod, 10/2 Braid like Power Pro and a hand made Fluoro Lead will lace up and land big pike consistently. Guys are often mistaken thinking they need heavy pike rods, 50lb Braid and Steel leaders. In fact……I promise you the presentation you get with that set up costs you a lot of big fish…………SHHHHHHHHHHH!! Keep it to yourself.

Here is another hint; Clasps tend to take a beating with big pike…Go light, but go strong with your clasps below your crimping.

Chris:

Good stuff, a little bit lighter than I would have imagined. I was thinking a 20# braid and 30# floro leaders.

I have fished 20# floro side by side with my buds jigging ‘eyes and have been able to keep up and feel comfy with it on toothy critters, though not as large as the specimens you are showing us!!! Also just love my 10/2 PP and would feel comfy using it in this application as well.

Again good stuff!!!

Mark

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Chris:

Good stuff, a little bit lighter than I would have imagined. I was thinking a 20# braid and 30# floro leaders.

I have fished 20# floro side by side with my buds jigging ‘eyes and have been able to keep up and feel comfy with it on toothy critters, though not as large as the specimens you are showing us!!! Also just love my 10/2 PP and would feel comfy using it in this application as well.

Again good stuff!!!

Mark

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Chris:

The first two were absolute tanks!!! Great stuff!!! Are you working a little heavier line in these battles and what are you using for leader material??? Mark

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Good Morning Mark!! Just heading back out on the lake. I tend to work with a bit lighter tackle than many anglers do. Here is my theory; You can’t lose a fish that doesn’t bite. A 20lb Fluoro Leader is a tad Light and isn’t for every angler. I keep a very close eye on it. IF……A big pike T-bones my rap I will ease that fish to the boat. I hope to catch the fish that are leary and know I’ll catch the fish that are in a frenzy. I believe this concept allows us to fool more fish while in the end landing more tanks. A 25-30lb lead would be a more universal leader for guys that are deathly afraid of ever being cut off. I feel I am able to fool more fish early in the season when we are working our Max Raps slow. On a side note the Max Rap has a very realistic look in the water. This is GOLDEN considering many of our strikes are after a fish sits and eyeballs it while it rests in that monster’s wheelhouse. IMHO a Med Light Spinning rod, 10/2 Braid like Power Pro and a hand made Fluoro Lead will lace up and land big pike consistently. Guys are often mistaken thinking they need heavy pike rods, 50lb Braid and Steel leaders. In fact……I promise you the presentation you get with that set up costs you a lot of big fish…………SHHHHHHHHHHH!! Keep it to yourself.

Here is another hint; Clasps tend to take a beating with big pike…Go light, but go strong with your clasps below your crimping.

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My 6’8″ Avid MXF has tackled some big pike, (up to 41″) with no problem. I too, love to throw sticks at them early in the year. 10 lb. fireline crystal or power pro with a 12 lb. 5″ invisaleader from South Bend will get them every time. I realize the little wire leaders tend to crimp, but they are cheap & they do not inhibit the stick’s action at all. You don’t even know you have wire on there. Just my way of doing it. Big walleyes are amazing, but big pike make your blood run cold!!!

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I’ve amassed about 50 new baits to try later in the week, Chris. Sliders, Gliders, Subwalks… and some other crazy stuff that is worth a cast or two. Plus those Dunwrights that worked well for us last year during the houseboat trip.

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Its always great to add to the collection

Super fish Chris,
what do you like for your fav patterns in the #13 ?
Jack

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Super fish Chris,
what do you like for your fav patterns in the #13 ?
Jack

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Hi Jack!!

Size 13 floating Rapala; Gold/Black, Silver/Black, Perch, and Firetiger

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Super fish Chris,
what do you like for your fav patterns in the #13 ?
Jack

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Hi Jack!!

Size 13 floating Rapala; Gold/Black, Silver/Black, Perch, and Firetiger

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Ever throw floating rogues?? I love them and they have a rattle chamber too. My favorite color is Blue/Chrome with an orange belly.

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Super fish Chris,
what do you like for your fav patterns in the #13 ?
Jack

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Hi Jack!!

Size 13 floating Rapala; Gold/Black, Silver/Black, Perch, and Firetiger

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Ever throw floating rogues?? I love them and they have a rattle chamber too. My favorite color is Blue/Chrome with an orange belly.

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I have as well. Still I prefer the tighter action of the Original Rapalas in cold water.