I had a customer ask me recently after I was telling him about some large pike we ecounter during the ice fishing season “How the heck do you get a 20lb+ pike up a mere 8 inch hole.” Well I’m glad you asked!!
My response “Very Carefully”. BTW a 20lb pike leaves a rather scary looking mark on a Marcum flasher in a mere 11 f.o.w.. For a brief second your afraid that huge red mark won’t hit your presentations, and then your afraid……IT WILL!!
Pictured here is Jerry Kayle with his rod bent to the cork handle and a very determined look on his face. Jerry and his son Ryan spend two ice fishing trips with us every year. Father/Son trips may be my favorite!! Positioned outside his Otter I hear this series of events unfold; “Where did THAT come from Jer?” I begin to think they either have a fish, missed a fish or see a mark on their Flasher. I then here drag SCREAMING something awful as I run to unzip the Otter. Minutes earlier his son lands a beautiful…….OK UGLY and MEAN looking 38.5 inch pike in which Jerry proceed to tell me in private……In his own words……”Yeah they can have those Pike…..I’m not really a PIKE GUY”. As I enter his Otter portable I witness these pics that I’ve included in Real life. Thanks to Ryan for capturing this great memory unfolding. Jerry has his rod loaded to the point of possible graphite explosion. He says NOTHING during the entire fight as I am frankly a bit scared to look down the hole with fear I may be SHOT by a spinning lightning spoon as it is ripped out of a fish mouth. I then see what resembles something the size of a full grown BEAVER burn past the hole. Seldom am I at a loss of words, but I look at Jerry and just say……..NOTHING. I mean this pike couldn’t seem any larger if it had grown antlers and had a scruffy beard. After many attempts to keep all of my digits attached and slip my hand into this freak of winter we hit “Paydirt”. This massive 22lb Pike smiled for In Depth Outdoors and Jerry gave me his patented smirk while whispering to me “I guess these pike are kinda fun”
God Bless Ya Jerry!! AND BTW AWESOME PIKE THROUGH THE ICE ON A ROD AND REEL!!
YES sir BOYS!! Big pike….There kinda fun through the ice!! 
