In this part of Canada it rarely reaches 90 degrees. When it does, it’s usually in the dog days of August. Well, Mother Nature proved again this week, she has a wacky sense of humor. From the cold harsh rains of a week ago…to…would you believe?… 93 degrees last Wednesday. And the fish?…they’re liken’ all the developing weeds for shallow water feeding. For those anglers who are going shallow too, it’s a bonanza. This past week we registered two big pike that will likely be among Ontario’s best in 2007.
From our Striker’s Point Lodge, Dan Bennett and brother Mike each scored a trophy pike with Mike’s 48” water wolf topping his brother’s 44 incher. And Mike told us they had over a dozen fish in the 36” plus category. Their pike were caught and released from the Ogoki River watershed’s Whitewater Lake in the heart of the Wabakimi Park. Both were caught on Johnson weedless spoons. The Bennett brothers like to put a tail on them just to “make them dance” a bit. The action all happened east of
Strikers Point – “up the river.”
Brett Toberman caught and released a 49” pike from Ogoki Lake, another lake coughing up a lot of trophy pikes in 2007. His bait? A Wally Diver. The Bennett and Toberman pics are on film cameras…and coming to us soon. And speaking of water wolves…these photos say it all. It’s Ben Chouinard from his trip to an outpost cabin on Ogoki Lake. Ben’s 44” Northern was caught on a Mepps Green and Yellow in-line spinner.
And look at the fat girl in the arms of Michael Doerner of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Michael wrestled in his 44” from Dawn Lake using a Silver Rattle-Trap. (Yes, we think it’s bigger too and we’re having the relative “man height” to “fish length” size analysis done.) Michael’s fishing partner, David Hudiberg, also had a 41 last week.
The Shallow Angling Pike How To:
Look for developing cabbage weeds or pencil reeds…and tie on those big profile weedless lures. Also try top water stick baits or Slugo type soft baits with the hook buried so you can cast into the trash. These big pike will roam areas so shallow the water barely covers their backs. Best technique? long cast – splash – wait ten seconds – quick jerks for a few seconds -rest … Wham! Hook up and hang on!!
So, Where are the Big Walleyes you ask?
Probably having babies… or in “fish talk” they’re in the post spawn. A quick check in the North American Fishing Club’s Walleye Secrets book reminds us that the Walleye bite is strongly influenced by “lake type.” For example, at 50 degrees north, the post spawn big fish bite doesn’t really happen until June 18th or later. Our walleye live in “Canadian Shield” lakes where the waters stay colder longer, thus delaying, to some extent, the spawn and post spawn.
After the spawn the larger female Walleye face the problem of not enough good size bait fish. This year’s fingerlings are too small, while last year’s off spring are fewer in number due to both Walleye and Pike predation. So that means longer feeding periods
for these big gals.
TACKLE TIP OF THE WEEK: BIG FISH FROM TINY BUBBLES
So you like to troll? Most successful anglers do. A tactic called “long lining” is a common trolling system in which 100 feet or more of line is slowly dragged behind a moving boat. But wait there’s another way!“Short lining”… Use 50 feet or less, even just 20 feet, so the bait is actually still in the bubbling wake of the motor…and speed up about
20% …AND…don’t use a leader.
Here’s what to do: First use a long billed deep diving lure. Second by removing the steel leader the bait actually emulates live bait the way it was designed and tested to do. And third, by speeding up the boat the pursuing fish must swim faster and only the strong ones can catch up. So your large fish to small fish ratio goes up. Plus you’ll be surprised how few of the fish you catch have the bait deep in their mouths. Of course… using a barb-less hook set up also aids in a quick release.
