One of my students is playing hookie today with a senior who graduated last year and sent me this pic.

Got the scoop on where and what he used they caught it on a J9 rapala in a side creek actually a ditch that runs off of johnsons creek here in wny. Me and my nephew are gonna attempt to head out later today.

I think Pike season is closed right now in NY to protect spawning fish.

It is till first sat in may I believe they didnt keep it and let it go we all do CPR the guys I fish with. But you cant stop them from bitting when they go for the same lures as bass and trout. Just gotta release them in a timly fashin just like the 100s of guys fly fishing the oak right now with trout season a week away.

Yep, this time of year is tough, I've caught a few northerns in March/April while legitimately fishing for trout. Especially in certain estuary environments very close to me, LOL.

As far as fishing the Oak, there are special Great Lakes Tributary Rules for fishing trout, and its perfectly legal.

Its when you are targeting out of season fish that it gets hinkey.

Yep, this time of year is tough, I've caught a few northerns in March/April while legitimately fishing for trout. Especially in certain estuary environments very close to me, LOL.

As far as fishing the Oak, there are special Great Lakes Tributary Rules for fishing trout, and its perfectly legal.

Its when you are targeting out of season fish that it gets hinkey.

Yeah im aware of targeting fish out of season is illegal but like you iv got alot of pike befor there season even walleye when throwing spinners and spoons for trout or jigs for bass. Especialy above the dam on the oak we catch a mixed bag of bass(smb and lmb), pike, walleye in april well befor pike and walleye opens when really were cranking for bass thats where the one in my avatar came from.