omild
New Poster
Posts:17
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| 08 Aug 2011 04:10 PM |
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I have never caught a pike or muskie before should I fish for them? If yes what should I use.  |
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Pegsguy
Veteran Poster
Posts:4094
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| 09 Aug 2011 08:26 AM |
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Both pike and muskie are basically cold water fish. If you live in the south, it might be a waste of time. (sure would be nice if posters would state where they fish!)Pike are relatively easy to catch, muskie not so much.For pike med-large spinners, medium bucktails, crankbaits and larger live bait all work. Try weed edges near deep water or drop-offs. For muskie most of this applies, just use larger baits and a lot more patience. Muskie like to follow baits and not strike, so a couple of "figure 8" moves at the boat can help hook reluctant fish. Read some of the old posts here, it is worth the time. |
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| Lifer in NE Illinois Gen. 1:28 I didn't rise to the top of the food chain to become a vegitarian! |
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wellsley
Senior Poster
Posts:5999
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| 11 Aug 2011 04:08 PM |
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The first thing you have to do is find a place that has pike in musky in it. Most anything will catch them but be sure you use a steel leader. If you give us more info as to where you might be fishing we might be able to be more specific. |
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| Lifemember & Bushwacker
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the rod tosser
Veteran Poster
Posts:1486
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| 23 Aug 2011 10:59 AM |
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scroll down the left hand side to the articles on pike and muskie http://learninghowtofish.com/ |
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Take a kid fishing , If the fish aint biting entertain them.  |
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the rod tosser
Veteran Poster
Posts:1486
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| 23 Aug 2011 11:04 AM |
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should you fish for them ? you have to make the judgment but these fish have sharp teeth so proper release equipment , tools are a must have for your safety as well as the fishes. Now with that being said Like wellsley said they need to be in the lake to begin with . Contact your dnr fishery and ask them, ask your bait shop owner, or others you may know, in other words do your home work . Some lakes may hold big fish with small numbers other will hold small fish with big numbers. So ask your self what your goal is , to catch a pike or muskie or to catch a whooper and go from there.
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Take a kid fishing , If the fish aint biting entertain them.  |
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omild
New Poster
Posts:17
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| 31 Aug 2011 09:03 AM |
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Thanks guys for the info i am planing to head to lake champlain sometime soon |
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5638
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| 01 Feb 2012 05:57 PM |
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That's a good place to catch'em! |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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wellsley
Senior Poster
Posts:5999
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| 02 Feb 2012 04:23 PM |
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Yep Champlain has both and pickeral too. Champlain is murky water so use something that will attract them like lures with rattles, spinners with blades that creates alot of vibrations. Buzz baits. |
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| Lifemember & Bushwacker
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Pegsguy
Veteran Poster
Posts:4094
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| 03 Feb 2012 08:59 AM |
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Most folks don't realize how tasty Northern can be. The trick is to remove the "Y" bones. I was taught a trick called zipper stripping and it does an excellent job. One of those things that is easy to demonstrate but hard to describe. |
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| Lifer in NE Illinois Gen. 1:28 I didn't rise to the top of the food chain to become a vegitarian! |
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kwright3
New Poster
Posts:23
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| 03 Feb 2012 07:54 PM |
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I agree i think pike are one of the best tasting freshwater fish when freshly caught, but those bones are a pain in the butt! And yes you should try to fish for them, just take some time to learn what to use, get the right tackle, and take a shot, but dont plan on catching a ton of them in a day, they take time, but are worth it. |
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MUSKYLUNGE
New Poster
Posts:22
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| 08 Feb 2012 08:22 PM |
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Where is Lake Champlain? |
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| I ( JESUS ) WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN. MATT 4:19 N.I.V. .......
MUSKIES : All other fish are just bait!........
O.C.D. ….... Obbsessive Catfishing Disorder........
FISHHOUND Pro.......
N.A.F.C. Life Member....... |
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Pegsguy
Veteran Poster
Posts:4094
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| 09 Feb 2012 08:38 AM |
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On the border of New York State and Vermont. |
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| Lifer in NE Illinois Gen. 1:28 I didn't rise to the top of the food chain to become a vegitarian! |
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5638
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| 09 Feb 2012 02:58 PM |
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Yep, right next to Lake George... |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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wellsley
Senior Poster
Posts:5999
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| 09 Feb 2012 05:44 PM |
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It also borders Canada and is 100 miles or so long. |
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| Lifemember & Bushwacker
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panfish101
New Poster
Posts:25
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| 09 Feb 2012 08:56 PM |
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If you fly fish pike can be a blast. Problem is that they don't spend a lot of time in shallow water. This limits time to fish to during the spawn or in shallow rivers and lakes. Most any large streamer pattern will dobut what I usually use is a MEGA DIVER. A spun deer hair and synthenic surface fly that dives on retrieve. You will need a verly heavy fly rod- most use 7 to 10 weight but I prefer a 5 weight. As mentioned you will need a steel leader. And as for eating- it's hard to beat a pickled pike. |
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