Massive Pike Caught By My Dad (Part 2!)

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by bcb

Over the weekend I bought a Swedish Ice Drill. I tried ice fishing on the Glenmore Reservoir, which is probably illegal. I didn't have an ice fishing rod, so I had to lay my 7 foot rod on the ice over the hole.
As I was clearly visible from the Glenmore trail overpass, I must have looked like a real doofus...

At least the drill works.

NEVER GO OUT ON THE RESERVOIR ICE!!!

It is my understanding that the water is removed from under the ice leaving a hollow pocket between the ice and the water. Or at least that is what I was told by someone years ago and it made sense and not worth the risk from my perspective/

[missdpuck]

Wow that is a great fish. Good work.

Originally Posted by 4X4

Gotta disagree with you. I see it the other way. Since a catch like this is so rare, it tells me that fish like this rarely grow so big and when they do, they're crafty SOBs that don't get fooled by anglers very often.

I humbly submit that your post sounds kinda peta-like. We're the top of the food chain. Pike are not endangered. A big-assed pike is a great catch and apparently a great dinner. In fact, I'd venture to guess that that fish has done more "damage" to the fish population in Sylvan Lake than Nehkara's dad will in 20 years of fishing. You do realize that when fish grow that big it's because they're eating other, much younger fish, right?

How bout we agree to disagree.

I am far from a peta-type.

I am however a staunch believer in keeping the fisheries as healthy as possible. Fish like this, are a natural balance. They do not impact the fishery as you and someone else implied. In fact, as you stated, they are SUCCESSFUL (for whatever reason) thus, perpetuating their genes is that much more important.

I did see alot of blood on the ice and as stated, if the gills were cut in some fashion, that fish was doomed. I would venture to guess that some form of live of once-live bait was used.

Just to be clear, I am not an environmentalist nor a peta type as you implied. I am for healthy fisheries. Which means to me that one must make all efforts to preserve large, successful fish. That is all I am saying.

I would even suggest that through my own personal experience, pike populations are not as healthy as they once were.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Bent Wookie

How bout we agree to disagree.

I am far from a peta-type.

I am however a staunch believer in keeping the fisheries as healthy as possible. Fish like this, are a natural balance. They do not impact the fishery as you and someone else implied. In fact, as you stated, they are SUCCESSFUL (for whatever reason) thus, perpetuating their genes is that much more important.

I did see alot of blood on the ice and as stated, if the gills were cut in some fashion, that fish was doomed. I would venture to guess that some form of live of once-live bait was used.

Just to be clear, I am not an environmentalist nor a peta type as you implied. I am for healthy fisheries. Which means to me that one must make all efforts to preserve large, successful fish. That is all I am saying.

I would even suggest that through my own personal experience, pike populations are not as healthy as they once were.

I respect this point of view. Some pike populations are lower than they once were (Glenmore Reservoir, Dalemead Reservoir), but Sylvan Lake has an incredibly healthy fishery. It tends to cycle, like most lakes, but rarely have I ever seen a significant drop-off in the population.

We have an underwater camera, so we can watch the fish. It is really interesting and gives you a whole new perspective. In Sylvan there are tons of fish and I am always amazed at that lake's ability to support a healthy enough fish population that it seems very resistant to the massive fishing pressure. Many times you are not catching any fish but you stick the camera down to take a look around and there are tons of fish. It is a stark contrast to other lakes as well, where much of the time you may see nothing. Sylvan is impressive.

In the case of this particular fish, she is very large and my dad was considering releasing her but she was bleeding a lot from her gills, as you can see, and therefore there was no reason to release her.

As mentioned earlier, we were using large smelts as bait. Smelts are by far the best bait for Pike in the winter but they will strike pretty much anything if it is moving, and some things if they are not.