Went out in the wind a few days ago looking for smb. I had made three casts at my first spot and was just settling in for the days fishing when this U-boat of a pike hammered a Rapala Sub-walk

and proceeded to tow me and the Old Town around for quite a while. It got very interesting as I tried to will this 35" log into a 19" net ! After a lot of splashing and several out loud prayers, she was in the net. Some quick photos and a measurement, she was released.

Now my favorite Sub-walk sports two really bent up trebles and some gnarly teeth marks.

A-Jay

Nice fish and great pics. I hunt Esox quite a bit in VT. How much did she weigh? I snagged a nice one a few weeks back but no scale with me.

She's FAT!  I'd say around 12 lbs.  Next time get a girth.  Unless you have some sort of cradle or other weighing setup, I'd caution against getting a weight.  Leng and girth measurements alone will tell the story to other avid Esox hunters.

Very nice catch!

For sure. That one is quite fat and at 35 inches in would be 10+ easy. Most people say 15 and up is a huge Northern. Anything over 10 is a great time for me.

Thanks. I don't carry a cloth tape for girth measurements but I guess I'll start. I have a scale but like you said I didn't want to hang her to get a weight. Just lifting her in the net, 12 lbs. seems about right. The next mark will have to be 40" long which in MI is a C & R Citation/Master Angler award fish, but I will Definitely need a bigger net.

A-Jay

Now my favorite Sub-walk sports two really bent up trebles and some gnarly teeth marks.

A-Jay

That's the way your lures SHOULD look! I love that. I had a "walleye" finish Rebel minnow years ago that got so chewed up by walleye teeth that it looked like I'd taken heavy grit sandpaper to it -the finish was essentially gone. But, it still caught 'em just fine. 

Very nice pike. Beautiful condition. With her condition, body depth, and nice full fins I bet she put on quite a show. Congrats.

If you don't want to carry a tape measure, use the piece of line trick. Wrap a piece of line around the girth and cut it where the ends meet. Then measure the length of line when you get home.

Great fish btw. The only pike I've caught could have been eaten by that one!

If you don't want to carry a tape measure, use the piece of line trick. Wrap a piece of line around the girth and cut it where the ends meet. Then measure the length of line when you get home.

Great fish btw. The only pike I've caught could have been eaten by that one!

Good Idea - I wish I had thought of that.

A-Jay

nice catch man i went fishing after smb about 2 weeks ago ended up catching 7 pike in three days all the same lure i did use a leader so wen i lost one i went and baught anther of the same just too keep getting them,here is the biggest one,dont mide the blood it was bleeding befor i pulled her out,im vary careful and it was released unharmed