Pike-a-thon Weigh-in Thread

[ScowardNJ]

I met up with NJBassman and his 2 sons this evening for the swing and miss. The river was still slightly over bank, heavily stained at around 58 degrees.

Despite the skunk it was great meeting new people on a stretch of the river I never paddled. Cant wait to get back out there!

[buzzbaiter]

The river has to warm up and lower. Best action last year was on the warmest days (between July 1st and mid-August - especially evenings) and when it was under 4'/40cfs(chatham), 12'/300cfs(fairfield) or 1'/200cfs(little falls). Check 'dem gauges!. Sure you may pick up a few here and there in 'hotspots' but overall until the entire watershed(passaic/rockaway/whippany/pompton) has stable temps around/above 70F, its going to be little reward for max effort. I have yet to even see sunfish let alone a pike in the river this year - only a few carp. Fish breaking water - either bass or pike - chasing baitfish is the best indicator of activity.









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[Skunk City]

I've hit 3 or 4 of my usually can't-miss Pike spots in the past week and struck out. What's going on here? When the hell did Pike fishing get so tough ?

[NorthJerzyG]

Got out for an hour and a half after work. Time was limited so I stayed in one spot and went at it. After a half hour or so I hooked into my first one. Knew it wasn't huge but maybe enough. Weighed in at 2.97#. Threw him back and kept goin.

Soon after I got a harder strike and felt some nice pull. Got em in and weighed em up...........





Went about 30" and 4.14#. Maybe not a winner, but DAMN NICE nice to have an entry, lol........

[FASTEDDIE29]

Ladies and gents, we have a contender. Good to see another fish weighed in. Nice fish G!!!

[NorthJerzyG]

Thanx for the kind words guy(s), lol. Thought I'd post my weigh in routine to possibly save some fish. I'd imagine a bunch of weigh ins happening in the next 2 weeks..........

Once I got em in close, "play em" out for a sec to tire em out, makes it easier to handle them. At this point, get their head out of the water. Then, gently work the hook of the scale into the gill plate. Be sure not to make contact with the gills. The gill plate covers a lot more than the gills so it should be easy provided the fish is not going nuts ( see step 1, lol). At this point, raise fish up for another photo (depending on lure used and amount of hooks). Since its artificials only, try to get the lure in the pic. If not, lay the fish down next to the tape with the lure attached. Then, without gettin the fish sandy, muddy, raise it up for a full body shot.

Take a couple to make sure you got it in and release. Total of less than 1/2 mins tops. Good luck out there.....................

[Fish n Jeep]

I'm out... got skunked at Budd Lake yesterday (all I caught was a cold, LOL) and I don't have any more time to fish before the deadline. Congrats to whomever it may concern.

[GetANet]

Nice fish bro!!! AND GOOD pics to ID you and the fish!!! LOL

[flyboy1]

Gonna hit it today around 2 Bridges from shore.... Hopefully I will be posting the winner in a few hours....

[FASTEDDIE29]

PIKE ALERT, PIKE ALERT!!! This is not a beast, however, nobody seems to be catching a DAMN thing so for now it is a possible contender. Fish measured 32 inches and weighed 6.1 lbs. GO GET EM!!!