Handling northerns

[gregens]

When grabbing a northern from an ice fishing hole, or from the lake in the summer, where is the best place to take a hold of it? I have seen people put their fingers through the gills, but it seems like that could injure them. I usually try to grab them behind the head, but just curious what others do.

[c0untryf1sh3r]

I grab them under the gill plate but I make sure I dont touch their gills AT ALL. Ice or open water, thats how I grab them. To me, grabbing them behind the head would hurt them more than grabbing the gill plate. Watch out for the teeth if you stick your hand in the gill plate, did that when I grabbed my dads PB 46"er. Those teeth are dam sharp

[Hoffer]

I ALWAYS grab them right behind the head - If they are not too big for that. If you grab them in the right spot behind the head - that will also stop them from thrashing around. It stops that pretty much right away for the most part. I think going for the hold under the gill plate will put the fish at harm due to the gills being right there and also will increase your risk of getting cut - unless you have a glove. They will also continue to thrash around more that way. Just my 2 cents - but I hold most of my fish behind the head and find its easier because it calms them down and also makes for easier hook removal and does no harm to the fish.

[mainbutter]

Gill-plating can be very safe for yourself and the fish. I find trying it on green fish isn't a good idea, and the bigger the pike the easier it is.

[Nick Kuhn]

Behind the head until they are big enough to net. I will gill the bigger ones for pictures.

[Hoffer]

yeah..just to clarify.

If Im catching smaller fish - its just easier to do the behind the head deal and then a quick hook relase and let them go. If they are bigger fish or i dont have a net - then its behind the head at first until I get them subdued and the hook out. Then you can transfer if you want to a quick hold with one hand carefully under the fill plate and the other to support them under the belly in a horizontal position for a quick pic if thats the objective. But for most fish its a quick behind the head hold, hooks out and back in the water.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

When I land pike I bring them alongside the boat and bring my hand toward their head from the tail end. I feel it doesnt startle them and if they do take off they are going the opposite way of my hand.

I grab them more on top of their head than behind. I slide my thumb in the gill plate on one side of their head and my pointer or middle finger into the gill plate on the other this allows for a nice firm grip.

If you try to grab them on their body behind their head there actually isnt much to hold onto and you have to grip far too hard and even then you dont have much control and are probably just injuring the fish. I see many unexperienced anglers grabbing pike like this.

[20lbSloughShark]

Ice fishing I just use momentum to pull them from the hole if I can and grab them behind the head and on the tail. If not I gaff them in the lower jaw. Open water fish under 3 pounds I just lift my rod tip lol, any bigger and I just net them. I never grab the gill, just out of fear. I have yet to have a fish die on me (other than the one with the guts hanging out).

[RK]

Paging Jack Penny....paging Jack Penny.

Jack if you happen to see this... It'd be a long story to write, but please, please, please tell the story of the guy from Kentucky getting his arm eaten on Nungesser. How NOT to handle a pike, and absolutely THE funniest fish handling story I've ever heard. Brought me to tears the first time I heard it.

To the OP, open water my first choice is to just reach over the side with a pliers and unhook them without ever bringing them in the boat. If I can't do that, I grab smaller ones behind the head. If they're too big to grab, I get them in a lip lock unless they have a face full of hooks. If they do, I tail and belly them while a partner works on the hooks - assuming I'm not alone. If i am, I just grab them however I can and hope I don't get hooked.

I've hand landed and unhooked hundreds of muskies, and never had one hook me. Pike have nailed me more times that I care to think about. They're 10x more dangerous than muskies.

[JPenny]

Rob! Just so I have the right incident, are you talking about the quick strike landing attempt?

[RK]

Jack -

The guy who tried to reach over and pop a walleye jig out of a big pike and was holding its head up with the line - ended up screaming at his partner Danny...

[20lbSloughShark]

For some reason this thread unlocked more memories of early fishing. When I was around 4 or 5 years old me and my dad were fishing (on the lake I got my 12 pound northern, and at least 12 years ago) We were crappie fishing, well mostly. I was mostly running around. I remember him yelling and when I ran to the house he was fighting a big fish. He got it up to the hole and it was a big pike. Just as he got it to the hole it cut his line. He just stuck his hand down and grabbed it by the mouth; or it got him by the hand. He got in and had to pry it off his hand. He was cut up really bad. It took 3 weeks to heal, but that was without stitches which would have helped. I am starting to realize I never started hunting and fishing at a certain age, I was born doing it.

[JPenny]

Ah! The hillbilly. I had almost forgot about these guys. OK Rob, just for you. The cast of characters in this scene included me and my partner Kenny, plus a guy we'll call Danny and his brother in law, called Eddie. Now Danny is the drill sargent type, flat top, big jaw, ect. He's also a master at deadbaiting big pike. Eddie is a real deal hillbilly from Kentucky and is married to Danny's sister. It is easy to see who's the dominate one between these two. When Danny barks, Eddie jumps to get whatever done. This may sound harsh, but Eddie needs the instruction, believe me. Eddie is a terrific guy, but is not the sharpest guy around. You know the type. Heart of gold, brains of pudding.

So, we're anchored with our boats next to each other, sitting there drinking coffee, joking around, and fishing deadbait. Eddie has been telling us stories about the hillbilly lifestyle that has Kenny and I in stitches. I'd heard stories about hillbillies many times, but never really believed everything I've heard. I'm sure you guys have all heard about the fondness they have for sisters and close cousins. After hearing Eddie, I believe them now! So, Eddie gets a good bite and fights a big pike to the boat. He's fishing a jig and when the pike gets to boatside, he reaches over the side and pulls it upward. The pike lunges and completely engulfs Eddie's hand. Now I've been bit many times, but I've never had my hand completely inside a pike's mouth and I know the damage that is being done. Plus, Eddie is getting most vocal at this point. He lifts his arm and the pike is sticking almost straight out and he's yelling, "Danny! Danny! Hep me! Hep me! Hep me Danny, he's got me!" I'm laughing so hard I nearly fell out of the boat and Kenny is rolling on the floor! Danny pried the pike off Eddie's hand and it was a mess. I carry a first aid kit so I bandaged him up and we kept fishing. I cannot remember another time I laughed so hard in a boat. Folks, do not try this at home!

[BobT]

When grabbing a northern from an ice fishing hole, or from the lake in the summer, where is the best place to take a hold of it? I have seen people put their fingers through the gills, but it seems like that could injure them. I usually try to grab them behind the head, but just curious what others do.

I use both methods but like already mentioned, be careful not to harm the fish or yourself when you insert your fingers into the gills. Behind the head works well too. Either way they seem to quiet down so it's easier to get the hook out quickly for faster release to the water.