Northern Pike Bite

Recently fished Pool 11 in a spring fed backwater. Tried fishing for walleyes first with little success. Then switched to Pike and landed 7 fish, the biggest being around 35 inches. I’ve fished this backwater numerous times in the last 10 years with little success for Northerns. I’ve always casted up to the base of the spring and retrieved out. (the tactic works great for streams entering the Mississippi) Today we just casted in the general area of the spring (within 100 yards). We caught our fish on crankbaits in 7 to 8 feet of water. Fishing springs and creek inlets can be so productive for Northerns that I can’t emphasize the importance of catch and release. These areas are ripe for trophy northerns but they can only get that size if people don’t keep every fish they catch.

Note: At the landing I spoke to a federal warden who informed me of a boat taking 10 northern out of there almost every weekend. I can’t imagine anyone eating up that many fillets.

I agree that there isn’t as much “concern” for releasing pike. They can be a tasty dinner item if you’ve learned how to fillet out the y-bones, or you don’t mind picking them out. I’ve met a handful of people in the last couple of years who keep almost all of their pike catches. They all had one common purpose and that was pickling. Big, small, it softens to bones to unnoticeable mush and it’s said that the flavor doesn’t vary between sizes. Oh yeah, they couldn’t get enough of it either! I talked to a fella last year that only catches pike on accident (trying for walleye or bass……………..which he releases) but keeps every one of them for pickling. Everybody’s got a choice, but the trophy pike chase seems much more difficult than the trophy walleye or bass chase. CPR is CPR. If you believe it for one fish, you should believe it for all fish. Don’t get me wrong, I do “eaters”, but I have standards for that that should go on another post…………………this one’s long enough! :O)

I can’t agree more about the importance of catch and release for northerns – especially anything over 5 lbs. I used to keep a few (when catching a nice one was a big deal), but now as I have become more proficient, all go back. In general I see way to many northerns kept. Why is there a 5 fish limit on the river when inland waters have a 3 fish limit?? I’ve heard of several instances where big ones are kept to take home and show to friends, etc. and then are just thrown away and not even eaten. Wouldn’t a quick picture in the boat be just as good and then the chance is there of catching the same fish in a few years when it is another 5 lbs. bigger?? I’m sure the majority of people who read this will agree with me, but the word needs to be spread to those who just don’t seem to understand.