I just got back from our annual fishing trip to Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan. My previous personal best pike was 26lbs and my buddy and I have chased the elusive 30 lber for about 15 years. This year on the first morning in camp I got lucky. We had to break ice to get to one of our favorite bays but it paid off. I caught this 32 lber on a lc pointer 100 saltwater series. She measured 49 inches long by 21.75 inch girth. She only had one hook point of the rear treble in her upper lip so I was very nervous until we finally got her in the cradle. I love chasing big smallies but this fish really made my year.

What a beauty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is a beast!

Congrats on a your personal best!

OOHHH BABY!!

Congratulations Dwight, you are one of the very fortunate few (I believe Al Lindner is still seeking his first 30 lb pike)

I almost missed this post, you need to post this gator on "My Fishing Outing", that's a "World-Class" pike!

I'm planning a trip to Lac Seul, Ontario this September (working on the passport now),

but maybe I should switch my game plan to Lake Athabasca, SK

Roger

two words......

simply amazing

Wow great northern. Sounds like it is still pretty chilly up there.

One beautiful fish. Congratulations.  What was the rest of the tackle you were using to get her?

Wow very nice...I've never been fishing for Pike but what if that fish decided he wanted to shake or flop while your holding him like that???

That thing is awesome!!! Very beautiful  :-*

                        CONGRATULATIONS!

Here is an other photo with Ian Besse our guide for the week. I'm 61 & she was plenty to handle for a photo. I caught her on a St Croix 6'6" legend elite bait caster rated 1/4 oz to 3/4 oz coupled with a Shimano calis spooled with 20lb braid. Thanks for sharing your congrats. I really know how special it is to get a pike this size to the boat. Very lucky indeed.

Awesome.  That truly is 'Slime Time'  Congrats!

What kind of leader were you using?

120lb florocarbon leader.

120lb florocarbon leader.

Atta boy.  Fluoro leaders are really starting to catch on in pike and ski circles...and for good reason.

Congrats...what a beut she is

thats one nice fish

wow! thats a gorgoues fish!

congratulations!

Holy Schneike!!!!  That's one big pike.  I'm lucky if I catch a 40" pike.  I have a friend who uses oversized musky baits for that elusive big pike.  He's done well but not nearly this well.  Great job!

Congrats!

They are rare there but on occasions in the fall at Great Sacandaga Lake in New York I have seen pike well over 4.5 feet long follow my spinnerbaits to the boat and their heads atleast 10". It is the home of the 46 pound world record and the next will be taken out of there.

During pre-fishing there late last September I witnessed my buddy have a pike on a spinnerbait that was easily 30 pounds (no disrespect to Mr. Hottle). Needless to say that War Eagle snapped in about 30 seconds but it was just enough to see her torpedo out. And we saw another 4-5 follow our baits to the boat in that same size class. By far the largest freshwater fish I have ever seen.

If you were looking into a trip to break 30 pounds that is the place to go Rolo.

If thats the case, why would you ever fish for bass in that lake?  If there are 30+ lb pike all over, break out the big baits and catch them.........way more fun when available than any bass that ever lived IMHO.

Matt

Trophy Northern water usually = trophy bass water.

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Excellent catch, Dwight. Gotta love those German Shepherds with fins

If thats the case, why would you ever fish for bass in that lake? If there are 30+ lb pike all over, break out the big baits and catch them.........way more fun when available than any bass that ever lived IMHO.

Matt

I have only seen them in the fall and the only times I have been up there are for tournaments or prefishing for them. Plus it is one of the better smallmouth fisheries around and I just don't have much interest in pike, they are just like pickeral to me. And I have only seen 4 or 5 of them so it's not like they are all over the place.

My dad is the pike hunter.

You've seen 4-5 30+lb pike and you don't fish for em?

p.s. the world record ain't from north america

What a monster of a pike!