Pb Pike ~ Video Added 2024
A-Jay reply :
I thought my final trip of the season had been made last week but the weather forecast for today was just too good to pass up - so I headed for my favorite smallie lakes. The morning air temps were in the low Twenties but Man - am I ever glad I went !
While fishing a blade bait through a saddle area ( in 25 ft) between two underwater humps, the bait just stopped. I set the hook and immediately thought it was probably Not a smallmouth bass. This lake has a healthy population of walleye and a few Pike & Musky. I didn't know what I had but judging by the crazy wide head shakes - whatever it was, it was BIG ! Immediately, my mind goes right to - "Oh man, my leader is only 10lb mono ! " This lake has clear water so I always go a little lighter to get bit. Since whatever this was, was towing the Old Town - I was hoping that the 3/4 ounce silver Buddy was positioned in a "Good Spot" - meaning away from the teeth and that my uni to uni braid to mono knot was good. ( as it turned out- it was). After a few minutes, the fish came into view and it was a really big pike. My heart sunk. I was both excited & bumming. Clearly, my bass net was not an option. But I'd run through this scenario a hundred times in my head. Hook a Big Fish - Head to the bank. So that's what I set out to do; unfortunately, it was over 300 yards away. I knew I would need to remain patient & composed if I was going to get a chance to handle this Beast. I tried to stay focused but I won't lie - I was pooping my pants !
It took forever but all the way to the bank, this mutant pike was being surprisingly cooperative. Until we got to the shallower water, then she made several long & determined runs for freedom. The kind that makes the reel scream and my knees weak. After what seemed like an eternity, she started to show signs of weakness. I was hesitant to fall for her ploy at first, but then it became apparent that after what was way too long in my mind, she'd had enough and I was able to bring her all the way to the beach. What a relief ! ! !
I was fortunate again in that one of the lake's few all season residents, had seen the insanity unfold from her cabin. She was easily at least as excited as I was and showed up at the bank with her camera just as I was beaching the beast. After some pleasantries, she snapped off a couple of pics and stated: "my Dad is Never gonna believe this one!".
I managed to quickly measure & weigh the fish before spending several minutes working to revive the pike. The 44-degree water temp definitely helped out and with a couple of way Big Tail swishes, my PB Pike Blasted out of sight.
Man, that felt Good. Stats - 41.5 inches long 20-inch girth - 25.52 pounds. Though not a bass - That fish defined my entire 2015 season.
The pic's are cool - but don't do the fish justice. The video tells the real story. ~ The video is loading up now. I'll warn you in advance, it's 16 minutes plus long and there's a little colorful language in the beginning, sorry. But I am SO Glad I had the video going to document what may be the largest freshwater fish I ever catch !
I'll post it as soon as it's ready.
A-Jay
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
AWESOME
A-JAY
I think your weight is wrong you have to turn your scale upside down to get the correct weight.
soflabasser reply :
Congrats on catching a huge Pike!
A-Jay reply :
Don't forget to click the HD button - I prefer the 1080 myself
A-Jay
Alonerankin2 reply :
What a Trophy!! Awesome story A-Jay.. Great pics & what a healthy fish... Thanks for sharing that. I appreciate it!
Happy Veterans Day, from one ole salt to another..
68camaro reply :
Congrats, great fish, cool boat set up as well.
Bankbeater reply :
Great pics! That is a monster pike!
bigbill reply :
Awesome way to end the season. Congrats
WIGuide reply :
Awesome catch A-jay. That is a monster northern, not only length wise, but it's a fatty! What a way to end a season! Even though with the success you've been having, are you sure you won't sqeek out a few more trips? 
haha
Darren. reply :
I'm already in bed with the chills, and you were out
in temps in the low 20s!! You're a beast, A-Jay. And
I feel colder.
And congrats on the PB Pike. Quite the fight.
ClackerBuzz reply :
simply awesome A-jay 
bonus: my gf thinks ur an amazing writer 
A-Jay reply :
On 11/12/2015 at 12:19 AM, ClackerBuzz said:simply awesome A-jay
bonus: my gf thinks ur an amazing writer
Thank you -
And I don't know about the amazing writer part, but I am definitely a Legend in My Own Mind . . . .
A-Jay
00 mod reply :
Congrats on the awesome fish and new PB! Easy to remember the dates too huh? 11-10 for pike and 11-11 for LM!
Jeff
Happy veterans Day and as always - Thank you for your service!
00 mod reply :
Just watched the entire video! I know those 14 + mins of fighting seemed like 2 hours! Congrats buddy! Job well done!
Jeff
Senko lover reply :
Saw the vid on YouTube last night. Fantastic fish, AJay.
Hi Salenity reply :
Sweet!!!! What a great fish!
Chris at Tech reply :
Not impressed... Hehe...
Way to go, man. That video is reminiscent of those I've seen of kayak fishermen getting towed all over the Gulf of Mexico.
SHaugh reply :
Nice fish... makes me wish I never moved away from Minnesota. That's what I miss the most and can't replicate down here in TN.... There's nothing like that extra adrenaline of knowing there are monsters down there...... I see people complaining about them and can't understand it.... come on down south and fish without em for a while... you'll see what I mean.
NEjitterbugger reply :
WOOOW!
That is something else A-Jay, what a fish! Way to capture the moment too man, congrats!
Alonerankin2 reply :
Well A-Jay.. We must now assume that 00mod has sent, yet again, another fine bottle of Kentucky Bourbon for your celebration.. & once again.. You must be asleep with the Wolf Dogs.
(Pappy Van Winkle ? ) Lol..
Zippyduck Krimm reply :
Great story and awesome fish.
papajoe222 reply :
I've caught some decent ones from saddles, but that is a BEAST. I can't believe, with that full belly, that she was still feeding. 
slonezp reply :
Don't know how I missed this. Nice pike
A-Jay reply :
On 12/29/2015 at 8:50 AM, slonezp said:Don't know how I missed this. Nice pike
Me either - but Thank you slonezp
and I have to watch that video at least once every other night.
(more when it's snowing - like right now for instance)
A-Jay
lecisnith reply :
Saw that video a week or so ago (subscriber, although a lazy one) and just happened across the post. Nice fish, man. Makes me wish A: I had managed to look less stupid in the video of my pb pike, and B: I had more video of the fight other than the last 1:15 of it my buddy got on his camera phone. I love watching people catch big fish, and especially when it's area dudes. Makes me feel like I'm not the only idiot out there spending so much time, energy, and (limited) brainpower trying to figure these things out.
Neil McCauley reply :
Great job of landing and releasing her. After seeing the video, you are right, the pics don't do it justice. She was huge. Not easy to hold a 25lb fish straight out towards the camera!
A-Jay reply :
On 1/3/2016 at 11:37 AM, Neil McCauley said:Great job of landing and releasing her. After seeing the video, you are right, the pics don't do it justice. She was huge. Not easy to hold a 25lb fish straight out towards the camera!
Thanks - and you're right about trying to hold that Slouncher straight out - causes that weird looking smile that's more like a grunt / strain.
A-Jay
markinny reply :
awesome catch bud!
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