introduction...

[JPenny]

I'd like to introduce myself as I'm new to this site. My name is Jack Penny. I'm an outdoor writer by trade and have been published in several magazines including In-Fisherman, Midwest Outdoors, Esox Angler and several in Europe.

I am also the author of "Pro Tactics, Northern Pike". I'm lucky to have fished pike all over North America and look forward to joining in on pike threads here.

[reinhard1]

Welcome to HSO sir!!!! we look forward to your input here on pike and more. good luck.

[Gordie]

Hey Jack welcome to the HSO Family and cant wait to hear some great storys of yours.

Looking forward to shooting the bull so to speak with ya

[cbrooks]

Welcome to HSO Jack. I remember reading some of your articles in Esox angler mag. Looking forward to reading some of your advice on pike tactics.

[JPenny]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I look forward to the pike (or whatever else!) discussions.

[solbes]

Cool, glad to have you!

[ESOXGEEK]

Ever get to chase trophy pike in Colorado ? Better than most think

[JPenny]

Thanks solbes. I've never had the chance to fish pike in Colorado, but I'd sure like to. May have to do some investigating of that area.

[cbrooks]

Jack, you mention you wrote for some magazines over in Europe. Have you ever fished over there for pike? Just curious what baits are popular over there and what the average size pike is.It seems like there pike are as big as the muskies over here.

[JPenny]

I never have fished in Europe. Been invited to speak at seminars and banquets, but no one ever sent a plane ticket! I do have several friends there that I keep in touch with on the fishing situations though. Jerkbaits are very popular in Europe as well as large plastic swimbaits. And I know a fellow in Scotland who is now in love with spinnerbaits for pike. From what I've gathered, the average size is probably small. Pike over there grow to mega-sizes, but they are very few and far between. They never see the numbers we do here. It is not unheard of to fish for 5 days and get 2 bites there.

[Gordie]

Pike over there grow to mega-sizes, but they are very few and far between. They never see the numbers we do here. It is not unheard of to fish for 5 days and get 2 bites there.

Thats alot like fishing flatheads in minnesota at times

[JPenny]

Big pike and flathead catfish are both apex preditors and that means theres fewer of them in any system. But given the choice, I'd take fishing in North America over Europe every time. I have spent some great days (and nights) fishing flatheads on the Minnesota river.

[cbrooks]

Thats alot like fishing flatheads in minnesota at times

or muskies for that matter

Learn something knew. I thought europe was a world class fishery for pike. I suppose to compare north American lakes to europe's lakes isn't like oranges to oranges.

[JPenny]

I'm sure parts of Europe are better than others, but I've never talked to anyone there who has caught even 30 pike in a day of any size and I don't think that would be uncommon here. For size, I'd call it world class. But we're getting better there too. In the last 5 years, there has been a 39lb and a 40lb pike caught right here in the lower 48! And both of those fish are well documented as being weighed on a certified scale, not just a fish story!

[Muskiefool]

Hey Jack; I hope all is going well.

John

[JPenny]

Hi John,

Good to see you here. I recently happened upon this site and it's good to see a few friends already here. Things are going pretty well, thanks.

[RK]

Hi Jack! Welcome to the funny farm.

Folks, Jack's being pretty modest. He's the best pike angler I know. Period. I don't know anyone who's fished them as seriously and for as long as Jack and Mary Penny, and they've got the fish to prove it.

Best of all, he's willing to share his knowledge. When we started Esox Angler, this dude from Iowa tracked us down, and asked if he could write for us. He quickly became the heart and soul of the pike content in the magazine. Besides the knowledge, he's one of the best natural storytellers I've ever known. He wrote what I think is frankly THE book on big pike, and has a well-deserved world wide reputation as an authority on pike. We're very fortunate to have him here, and I've had the good fortune of calling he and Mary friends for going on a decade now.

Glad you're here Jack

Rob

[JPenny]

Well thank you Rob for those kind words. I just stumbled upon this board and it looks like a great place to learn what others are up to with the pike. I'm always up for something new and who knows, maybe I can help someone else too.

Been a long hot summer, but I made it to the Arctic twice to cool off and connect with some huge gators. Hope all is well with you, Sara and the kids. Just about time for Marcy to start beating up the other kids on the ice isn't it? Give them our best.

And thanks for the warm welcome my friend.

Jack