Lawrence Ecklor was in a bass tourney, so he had to release a 50 inch pike on the wingdams and get back to business. Since I’m not a tourney guy, figured this might be a great time to go piking on the rocks!
Pike are drawn to the wingdams now because of all the forage–particularly shad. When going species specific for pike on the wingdams a basser’s spinnerbait is ideal, because hang-ups are minimized and baits with two spinners look like shad in distress…but I’ve found that obnoxious florescents (chartreuse/red/orange) are better triggers for the toothers. The key is pitching right on top of the wingdams–from both above and below..and PULSING your retrieve.
A wingdam which tops out 2-3 feet beneath the surface with a silted-in component…but plenty of rocks, too…seems ideal. The best wind is out of the south blowing just hard enough to allow boat control from a position BELOW the wingdam, casting upstream to give a natural presentation. By using a spinnerbait and keeping the rod high snags are minimized and you can quickly stick the fish–which will invariably head further upstream.
50″ northern? I just got back in and apparently I missed that photo?! Details, please!~
That’s what Lawrence Ecklor told me. Said he was fishing with wife at upper end of pool 9 on a little club bass tournament when the fish hit a crankbait after first biting off a crankbait on another line. I fished with Lawrence the next day and heard the story. Not a tourney guy myself, but gotta say if i ever caught a 50 inch northern it would look like a flounder ’cause I would thump it between the eyes so fast it would still be floppin’ when we got to the taxidermist!
I would also like to see a photo. According to the Iowa DNR, the state record was 45″ 25lb and a few oz. He most likely had a state record fish. Had to be a awesome fish.