[HEDDONFROG]

What a freaking night. Actually started at 2:30 and fished until 2:30. This beauty is the highlight of my year. I finally got my 40" Pike at 40-1/4" Which was one of my 2019 goals. Man what a freakin' battle, she never gave up and the initial hit is going to leave a bruise on my ribs. Had no idea what it was, I've never caught a pike that stripped drag like that or bull dogged so long. Wish I could have gotten a weight but I had her out long enough getting the bladed jig out of her throat. I keep my camera set up and ready so that was a quick job but I still had to hold her upright for at least 5 minutes before she bolted off. Her girth and shoulders dwarf the 37-1/2" Pike I caught last year. Can any of you Pike masters guesstimate her weight? 15? 18? It was especially rewarding that she came on a bladed jig I had just made the night before, which was a 1oz Tackle Supply Depot tungsten football head jig, living rubber skirt, Owner hyperwire spilt ring and a Decoy egg snap and blade. Tipped with a MaxScent Creature Hog. Ok I'm beat G'night

 

[Aux Pleins]

That's a beaut! The weight probably varies by how many ducks it has eaten in the last 72hrs :lol: .

Big pike season is upon us now. I imagine some giants would make appearances thru the ice there too :shock:

 

[Rambler]

Nice goin' Dave!

 

[Phil6]

Nice one dave, how quickly did you know it was pike?

 

[urbanHog312]

yooooo wtf! straight gator man good work.

 

[Grain]

I suspect a fish like that would take me home and feed me to its children.

 

[vman01]

That is a tug-boating capable monster. Great picture, bet you were doing some huffing and puffing too once you got her back in the water.

 

[Phil6]

bet you were doing some huffing and puffing too once you got her back in the water.

You can tell by the look in his eyes LOL

 

[billebob5]

nice fish

 

[minstrel]

The monsters come out at night... :shock: Great job!

 

[joetrain]

A true horse.
~JOE~

 

[DPMike]

Great job, beautiful fish.

I can see your heart pounding in a still photo!! :shock:

 

[jmdog2003]

You hooked into a whale man, congrats

 

[HEDDONFROG]

Thanks guys

Nice one dave, how quickly did you know it was pike?

It took turning on my headlight and getting her close enough to the boat to light her up. I had some indication when I first hooked up, that it wasn't a bass, when she headed for the surface (too far out to see) and she made a huge boil. I also thought it could be a huge walleye. I can't wait for the Tigers to get over 40" though I don't know if Bruce will still be living there when that happens.

That is a tug-boating capable monster. Great picture, bet you were doing some huffing and puffing too once you got her back in the water.

Great call V, it was total pandemonium. Somehow lost my net and my jaw spreaders overboard. Jaw spreaders had a float but I drifted off so far by the time I released her I couldn't locate them. Didn't even realize I lost the net for an hour, lol

 

[polishfly]

Wow nice fucking fish man!!! Hell yea another chat catch

 

[cletedius]

Thats a large animal!
Congrats :thumbup:

 

[Ryguy83]

Nice!!!!

 

[badger75]

For the "Hunter of Large Fish" that you are: that is a LARGE fish.

 

[Skifish1]

Heck of a fish!

 

[vman01]

Somehow lost my net and my jaw spreaders overboard. Jaw spreaders had a float but I drifted off so far by the time I released her I couldn't locate them. Didn't even realize I lost the net for an hour, lol

Despite the missing items the thrill and craziness of the catch is what we live for (and those peaceful 5 minutes afterward when you piece it all together as you relive the moment) . Great report and the added details