Day 2 of the Esox Hatrick: Persistence=Pike

[catfishonthelake]

I thought the pickerel and pike were supposed to be EASY. It took me 2 1/2 hours to catch a pickerel yesterday, and once again, I had to work HARD. I got to the Passaic at 3pm and fished probably 2 miles of shoreline with black spinnerbaits, swim shads and big senkos. NOT EVEN A BITE for 3 and a half hours. At about 6:30, I made a pit stop back at my car to drink a half-gallon of water as I was completely dehydrated by then from hiking with a bag of gear on my back and hucking lures. I headed out again, prepared to fish until dark. After losing a swim shad to a tree, I tied on a Strike King shadilicious on a Gamikatsu weighted swimbait hook. I had a couple fish on it last time, and it has killer action in the water. After a few minutes, I hit a familiar spot that I always expect to catch fish, but hadn't. I finally got some love, and after hitting it twice, I pulled a pike in on the third cast. Small fish, but who cares. I figured I'd cut bait from there, go home and rest and get my gear ready for musky tomorrow. On the way back to the car, I landed another pike and a small bass. That figures. Not even a bite for 3 and a half hours then 3 fish in 10 minutes. Oh well, guess I earned it. By the way, I tried using 20lb. braid with a length of 20-lb. fluoro attached with a uni-to-uni and I loved it. I was able to immediately pull the fish out of the snags and hopefully I'll have to do that to a 40-incher one day. Musky tomorrow!!!!
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254676_2272050766990_1420277128_2600212_4334760_n. jpg

[tjc76]

Great work Catfish!

[FASTEDDIE29]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH GOOD JOB!!! See that was the EASY PART!!!

[lunkertaker]

NICE fish

Timing is everything....

[FASTEDDIE29]

Catfish, think MUSKY! Be the MUSKY! Feel what the MUSKY feels! Ask Mr. MUSKY what he would like to eat tomorrow! BE THE MUSKY!! SEE THE MUSKY CHASING YOUR BIG LURE AND THEN........................ WACK-EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[Capt. Lou]

Be alert tommorrow,Muskies are called the fish of 1000 casts, once you hit 999 get ready!!! Good luck!!!:D :cool:

[catfishonthelake]

Ha ha!!! Thanks guys!!

[johnnyc08]

nice catch, good luck with the muskie!

[kcritch]

See that 's why you always gotta have that one last cast....no wait one more....no that didn't count my line was twisted and I didn't hit my spot...one more....no really this is it........I swear I felt a hit one more to that spot and we'll go...........

Because ya just never know damn it!

Nice Job and way to keep at it....Good Luck tomorrow.

[BottomBouncer13]

Catfishonthelake, great job! I love your reports and your persistence...if anyone deserves a shot at a Muskie it's you...the one muskie I caught was fishing for perch and crappies in the spring on Hopatcong...he was barely 20 inches but still kicked my ass on the ultra light...If u hook up with a 40 incher your gonna need all of your experience to land it...Good luck!

[BIGRED2]

Talk about a cult hero. You certainly have my attention. Good luck!

[Moz]

Nice job, good luck with the musky to hit the trifecta! :cool:

[AndyS]

He got a muskie, I'm sure he will post !!

[catfishonthelake]

I will, not a monster though. Thanks guys!!