Those are good LO pike. I used to ice fish some of the W bays and saw a lot of pike. The bet I took was 11# -a buddy had a 13#. Things change though.

We've basically been on an intercept pattern for the past month.  Huge congregations of northerns are holding in frogwater swamp bays, and deep holes, some as skinny as 6" and as deep as 15', and feeding on the multitudes of bait fish in there.

I imagine after this weekend, the skim ice will have sealed us out.  I'll be back May 1, LOL.  Many, many fish in the 7-10 lb. range, and a couple bigger.

Yeah, they'd roll in in waves. We'd have days when we'd get

20 FAT egg laden females from just a few holes near the lake in BP. I always wondered if they came in from the lake itself.

Never fished IB though. Did you know...(lol)... that there used to be a little impoundment in ER called Spring Lake that gave up pike up to 20#s years ago (50s/60s). I talked to a guy who fished it, and a few other hotspots, who's now deceased who said the pike "are now all small" (c1980). I talked to a butcher (my best friends Dad) who weighed a 22#er at his butcher shop from the canal right in town -sometime late 60s early 70s.

Just a little trivia and time warp perspective on area pike.

Jeez, Bill Dance blowin' up my secrets!  Spring Lake? Shhhhh!!!!!!!!

"I know nutting!" :-X

great fish...awesome trip

Jeez, Bill Dance blowin' up my secrets! Spring Lake? Shhhhh!!!!!!!!

"I know nutting!" :-X

It's now got some big brownies (Mepps#2)! Ooooopps! I did it again!

Hustlures, man....Hustlures.  8-)

What're Hustlures?

Spelled it wrong.... :-[

http://www.luhrjensen.com/products/spoons--spinners/hus-lure

Interesting.

The narrow profile allows you to fish a lighter lure a bit deeper.  They have a unique snake like wiggle, unlike typical spoons.  I ditch the plastic attractor on the hook, use a #1 Aberdeen single hook, and attach a barrel swivel to the front swivel.

The narrow profile allows you to fish a lighter lure a bit deeper. They have a unique snake like wiggle, unlike typical spoons. I ditch the plastic attractor on the hook, use a #1 Aberdeen single hook, and attach a barrel swivel to the front swivel.

< taking notes

The reason I like to use something a bit different from the classic Lil' Cleos here is because EVERYONE and their brother tosses Cleos from the pier.  Since I was in 8 FOW, I'd have to go  with a 3/4 oz. Cleo, or slow my retrieve.  Neither worked for the 1st hour,so I went a different route.  Fooling trout is sometimes about VERY closely matching the bait, or bait size, and other times its about the change up.  Probably a little of both in this case, since this fish looked like it had already been up the creek, and dropped back into the lake to feed.

Paul, your thoughts?  Am I close?   ;D

The narrow profile allows you to fish a lighter lure a bit deeper. They have a unique snake like wiggle, unlike typical spoons. I ditch the plastic attractor on the hook, use a #1 Aberdeen single hook, and attach a barrel swivel to the front swivel.

How might it work for vertically fishing for winter bass? Does it engage quickly? Looks like it would. Heaviest is 1/4oz (?) -might be useful in smaller (shallower) waters for this.

Never really used them vertical.  I will say this, I suspect they'd work great this way.  This is one lure that rarely fouls up when stroking - a deadly technique on browns in spring.  I can't say the same for Krocadiles and other slim baits.

The reason I like to use something a bit different from the classic Lil' Cleos here is because EVERYONE and their brother tosses Cleos from the pier. Since I was in 8 FOW, I'd have to go with a 3/4 oz. Cleo, or slow my retrieve. Neither worked for the 1st hour,so I went a different route. Fooling trout is sometimes about VERY closely matching the bait, or bait size, and other times its about the change up. Probably a little of both in this case, since this fish looked like it had already been up the creek, and dropped back into the lake to feed.

Paul, your thoughts? Am I close? ;D

About what that steelie might have been doing? Oo what trips their trigger?

It was probably staging in the bay prior to running, waiting for proper conditions to ascend mostly stream water level (in the smaller tribs). That being a steelhead (not a domestic) the call gets strong in December (to ascend). But some are ready to roll in November as evidenced by the bigger rivers getting good November runs of mint bright steelies then (LOVED that).

So my best guess on your fish, from 1500miles and 20 years away: If you haven't had much rain, that fish was probably staging in the bay, or possibly nosing up into the estuary. As to its color, the vid is strongly backlit, but I believe it was a metallic slightly colored hen that recently took on her color in the lake they are happy to do that if they are ready to roll but cannot ascend.

There are more there though -could be a lot of them in places. Check for potholes in the estuary. They want to run. You may need to apply drift stuff (on bottom) though bright jigs can be good too. If you find one, it probably wasn't alone. Being in a yak may give you access to fish few probably have. Get there before it ices up over them.

The number of fish that stacked up in the SR estuary in the late 70s was amazing! By spring it was UNBELIEVABLE.

Oh...I think I get it now...

3/4oz Cleo in 8fow. Good for carp too I suppose.

J Franco, would you mind if I pm'd you about some Kayak questions that I have?