Pike from the shore?

[Tightlines74]

Hey all, my 14 year old son is bent on catching a pike, me being the father that I am want to see him happy and continue feeding his addiction for fishing :) If you were targeting pike from the shore which river or lake would you choose? Please feel free to private message if concerned about spot burn. Thanks in advance for advise :)

[Delawareriver]

What part of the state you from? Budd lake, spruce run, and Passaic are the three I can suggest where you have a decent chance but from shore can be hard with any large predator game fish covering water is ideal

[zhitoman]

Farrington lake:)

[Skunk City]

Saw a report yesterday of a guy catching his first Pike ever on a shiner from shore at spruce run.

[buzzbaiter]

I've walked about 20-25 miles of the Passaic fishing it from shore and standing in it. Its an easy way to fish it but the water has to be much lower than it is now - maybe a foot or two lower. If mosquitoes amd poison ivy don't bother you, its great way to fish it :D

[gratefuldad]

I caught a 28" pike from the D&R canal years ago. I also caught a 34" chain pickerel from a john boat in there. Never caught one, but I heard of big musky in there. I'm an advocate for that place. Lots of fish, & big ones too, if you know where & how to target what your fishing for. But I'll also agree with zhitoman on Farrington.

[Delawareriver]

I caught a 28" pike from the D&R canal years ago. I also caught a 34" chain pickerel from a john boat in there. Never caught one, but I heard of big musky in there. I'm an advocate for that place. Lots of fish, & big ones too, if you know where & how to target what your fishing for. But I'll also agree with zhitoman on Farrington.

34" pic? That's impressive any pictures sure would like to see. No pike are stocked in the D&r so I wouldn't suggest any one that wants to target pike to go there but I do agree with you that's it's a great place to fish. Never know what your catch

[buzzbaiter]

Any weight on that pick? A 34" pickerel would be a state record or darn close to it if it was say "full size". A pick that size would be between 7-10lbs unless it was really skinny. Record is 9lbs 3oz caught 57 years ago.

Pa record is 8lb 14oz and was "just" 30". it was thru the ice and likely full of eggs adding to the weight.

http://fishandboat.com/images/staterecord/pickerel/2002/wilson_pickerelx500.jpg

[Eskimo]

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I've watched guys do really well catching pike from shore on the Passaic. They're usually throwing shiney lures like spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and occasionally top-waters.

I made an effort last fall after it got too cold to kayak, but I've never caught any pike from shore.



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[gratefuldad]

Any weight on that pick? A 34" pickerel would be a state record or darn close to it if it was say "full size". A pick that size would be between 7-10lbs unless it was really skinny. Record is 9lbs 3oz caught 57 years ago.

It was about 13 or 14 years ago. I believe I have a pick in an album somewhere. & It was very skinny, maybe 6-7 lb range.

It dwarfed this one I caught in the Raritan 2 years ago by length but pretty much had the same girth (if my sketchy memory serves correctly):
http://www.njfishing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=52

[Tightlines74]

Thanks to all for the advise :) We are in Woodbridge but I'm willing to drive where ever the pike or muskie :eek: are at. I've scouted the passiac some in the chatham area and we fished 3 bridges where my son got a really nice small mouth, we watched a guy get a really nice pike on his third cast at another but that spot as mentioned has been too high and with the rain yesterday i'm thinking our best shot is at a lake until the rivers go down and clear? Thinking we may hit up Spruce run or Budd lake between now and the end of the weekend, last 2 times at Farrington we got skunk but we'll probably try there again since it's close. Best of luck to all and enjoy the weekend!