Busted up little Pike

[mcfish82]

I hooked this fella over the summer at my local pickeral paradise...I think it was the result of an osprey/eagle looking for dinner and dropping him back in the drink

[Skunk City]

Thats serious! Guess thats the risk they take by living in the shallows.

[GetANet]

I once had a blue heron keep attacking the trout i was fighting on the north branch! Was standing on the stream not too far from me and when I hooked up and was fighting the fish it flew over and attacked it! It missed the first fish but grabbed the next one and when i pulled back on the rod and started towards the heron it dropped the trout. Was pretty cool. Some of those birds are crazy hungry!!!!!! The bird didn't wanna leave the hole just flew back to the shore and staired me down! I left cause after all the comotion the fish were spooked and stopped biting. DAMN BIRD!!!!!!!

[Chrisk]

Pike are prone to abcesses. Any small nick could turn into a ugly wound.

[tycomps]

Originally Posted by Skunk City

Got this tough little guy over the weekend. Had the obvious wound on his head, as well as a broken upper jaw and numerous scars on his side and head. Any guesses on how it happened?

whatever it was that's one tough gnarly pike! makes me feel better about the one I had to release that swallowed the hook last year

[Skunk City]

Tycomps, I got one earlier in the year at Two Bridges that had a small inline spinner in his gills, dangling out like a piece of jewelry. I assessed it and realized it probably would have done more damage then good to remove it. These fish really stop at nothing for a meal. Very hardy fish, definitely a good thing considering all the people catching them now with no experience or proper tools required for a fish with teeth.

[buzzbaiter]

Mishandling by previous angler(s) is the more likely reason. Anglers grabbing it, dropping it, dragging it causes damage the fishes protective slime leading to fungus then open sores/infections. The cold may slow down the infection but by summer, it'll be a dead fish more than likley. Anglers love to catch them but show little mercy when it comes to handling/releasing them. I particularly like the pictures of fish laying on the bank covered in sand or lying across laps. That's really good for them If not for the state stocking them every year, we'd have very few left due to poor handling. Nobody is eating them so no need to haul them into your boat or onto shore. Clip down your barbs, keep them in the water and use pliers to release them. A money shot is okay but do it quick. If you lose it or it escapes, so what, its not like your losing a pic worth any money. If you enjoy this great fishery the state has created, then fishes safety SHOULD come first above all else. I was guilty of the mishandling at first in my eagerness to get pictures but came to realize i don't need photos of every damn fish.