Pike Spearing!

[Fish'n guy]

I know its a little ealy yet but I am starting to get the fever really bad. Who all is going spearing this winter? If so what are your favorite techniques? Any body e any exciting stories to tell?

I know for a fact that I will be out spearing in Southern Minnesota hardcore!!! I got hooked on it about 4 or 5 years ago when my uncle and his buddies were stickin the heck out of the pike on Rush Lake in SD. Me and my dad were both first timers in the spear shack and after missing 3 or 4 times my dad stuck the first one right behind the head. With my confidence being a little low and being ticked off that the old man was showing me up at a new sport, I went and asked my uncles buddy for some advice. He said that as long as that pike is looking at the decoy and you were very slow and stealthy you could just about touch the pike on the head with the spear everytime. I went back to my darkhouse and not ten minutes later a 5 pounder came inn and took a long look at the decoy, so I lined up the spear perpendicular to his back and lower the tines into the water then I threw it and nailed him perfectly behind the head. Needless to say I was hooked and soon after the Christmas money went towards a $75 seven tine spear.

Like my uncle said I shopped around for one that had the "aggresive" barbs. I do have to say Nothing gets off!! I have also learned that if you can find them and keep them alive 8"-10" golden shiners on a pin have worked much better than suckers for me although wild suckers, and big creek chubs will bring in some big pike to.

Another thing that I have found to work good is jigging a hookless pike spoon (pink or blue) with alive decoy up just above it more numbers come in the the setup. For bigger pike the big homemade decoys have worked well for me.

I would love to hear some tips and tricks as well as some spearing stories from some of you guys. I am still a beginner so I am always open to more info!

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!!

[Mike89]

I too am waiting for the spearing season!! Yes you can touch them and it's really a cool sight spooking them!! Have you joined the local dark house group down there? A very good group of people. I use live and carved decoys, on any given day it's fun. It's like a live big screen TV to watch!! Good luck!! Mike

[Fish'n guy]

Not a member of the MN Darkhouse Association yet but I am going to join this winter!!

[Early Riser]

I will be counting down the days to the spearing opener as soon as my deer hunting vacation is over on the 13th.

Anyone headed up to Park Rapids for the decoy show on November 19th?

If you haven't joined the Minnesota Darkhouse and Angling Assoiciation yet you really should. It is only $10 per year and you get a bi-monthly news paper with lots of good info. and stories.

My favorite technique is to get out early, set up on the edge of some deeper water, enjoy the view, and be very patient. I like to experiment with different decoys and ways to work them. Some days you will see pike, as well as other fish, and some days you don't see much of anything at all. I do like the physical effort involved in cutting the hole and setting up followed by relaxation and anticipation once you are ready. It reminds me alot of deer hunting.

[Fish'n guy]

Early Riser, I didn't even know about the decoy show up in Park Rapids. That sounds interesting!!!

I will agree with you that it is very similar to deer hunting. It's all in the anticipation.

Thanks for the interesting tips,I will have to try setting up next to some deeper water this year.

[Early Riser]

If anyone wants more information about the Minnesota Darkhouse Association or the decoy show in PR let me know.

In terms of decoys and working the decoys I have noticed that some days they will only come in if it is barely moving, or still. The first mistake I made when getting started was to move the decoy too much. Some days I have noticed that they will charge in very fast if you are using a fast decoy and a lot jigging action. Generally these are going to be the smaller fish.

Has anyone every gotten their head down close to the hole and looked out? I usually do this a few times each day I am out. I have seen some nice ones laying out there, but they are hard, if not impossible to coax in - at least for me.

How about watching all the perch and other fish scatter right before a pike comes in - talk about anticipation!

Another good point to make is that many spearfishers let a lot of good sized pike go through simply to watch them, appreciated them, and learn something. Personally I have done this and have really enjoyed watching how they react to the decoy.

We need some cold air to move in here soon!

[Augusta]

Believe this or not, but I've been ice fishing for 20 years and have never been or even watched someone spear fish. I would just love to go with someone sometime to see what spearing is all about. If anyone would like to have a "tag along" for a day, I would love to come along with them and just watch.

[Mike89]

As you can see I live in the Osakis area, and we have a program up here with our group from the dark house association from the Alexandria area. If you want to go, we will take you. If you have a licence you can spear. Other wise you can watch. I can give you any and all info if you are willing to come up this way. It is a great sport!!! We also have a decoy show at the end of February that has been really great!!! Mike

[riverrat56]

Is there a special spearing permit or does an angling license cover it?

I'd be interested in trying it out this winter, I have a nice lake in mind.....

[Gissert]

You need to buy a spearing license in additin to your regular fishing license.

Nothing quite like watching the Norwegian Television on a good pike lake.

[Fish'n guy]

Early Riser, I will agree that it is a blast to watch those come in and just BOLT when old mister pike comes struttin through. I haven't seen any huge pike come into my spear hole but I they were really big I would probably let them pass right on through.

Augusta, you would be welcome to come with me any time as long as you don't mind making the treck down to southern MN.

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!!!!

[HavocTec]

This has worked well for me in the past. I only use wood decoys and on slow days I hang a spoon from a spinner about midway on the bottom of the decoy. Then when you jig it ,it hits the tin tail and makes a click... Seems to draw the pike in. At least for me anyway...Anymore tips???

[Early Riser]

River Rat, You will need to buy a spearing license which is 18.00. You will also need a shelter license for your darkhouse.

Augusta, I would be willing to bring you along sometime this winter.

[Augusta]

Hey guys, thanks for the invite....there's a good chance I will be looking you up this winter......I'll keep praying to the ice gods.....

[Mudcat21]

Nothing better then watching that pike come in and nail the decoy. Lot's of fun seeing all the other fish too. Seen some huge walleyes and bass through that big hole in the ice.

[riverrat56]

Got the house license covered, 3 of them infact....thanks for the info, maybe I'll pick up a license, I've got a spear laying around.

[joneshat11]

Just started to spear in the park rapids area last year and now I'm hooked. How bout this for beginners luck, speared a 41 1/2 incher the day after xmas last year. It was the 3rd fish I ever speared and will be the last one I'll take that big, due the cost of the mount. The fish weighed just over 20 lbs!!! After my first year spearing I've noticed when on larger lakes live decoys seam to work better and on smaller lakes wooden decoys work better. I'm a big time bowhunter and the excitement of a fish coming in is just as exciting as a deer under your stand.

[spearingboy]

It's getting to be that time of year. Only what 24 more days? Something like that. Mike89 how are you doing? Did you make it to the brainerd banquet this year? I couldn't. I like to use an artificial decoy with two hookless daredevils on a spinner. Then I jig it every once in awhile and they make a little noise. Seems to work alright somedays. I also switch it up and use live suckers some days. Has anyone used the Mankota spear houses? They're a suitcase style and are only suppose to weigh 56 lbs. I've been looking at them on the internet and wonder how well they work. A small portable would be nice to going on lakes and trying new spots. Any information on them would be greatly appreciated, or any other small portable that you guys know of. Thanks a lot and keep this going!

[Early Riser]

I am currently using my Otter lodge for early ice and my Canvas Craft suitcase style spearhouse when I can drive out. They each weight about 85 plus. Not a big problem unloading and loading from the pickup.

24 days - hopefully the cold weather will move in soon. I am planning on heading up north of Duluth on the 2nd. There has always been enough ice to get out by the first weekend of December. Hopefully this holds true this year!

What is everyone else doing for the spearing opener?

[Fish'n guy]

Early Riser, how do you like that Otter lodge for spearing? I have always wondered how those would work for a portable spear house. Are they very dark? I would imagine that they have alot more room and you don't have to be so precise with cutting the hole, which would be a huge plus.

I use a Shapell fish house that I modified into a spearhouse. I basically cut a bigger hole in the floor and put hinges on the piece that I cut out and two pins to lock it shut. I like how dark it is inside, but I have to be pretty exact with how I cut the hole.

I hope we have walkable ice around here for the first week of December!!! By the looks of the extended 15 day forcast it should continue to gradually cool down and they are talking teens for lows in two weeks. I know its not much but its a start.

here in Southern end of the state I have a couple of lakes in mind that I hope to be on for the week of the opener, but that is weather and ice permitting.

Glad to hear all the responses!! Keep them coming!!!!!

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigstone goosekiller]

fish'nguy- acouple of years ago i lived on rush every week end.spearing northerns. you related to people in ortonville? if yes i bet you where with my uncle. how did you do deer hunting? did you come out this way

[Early Riser]

I really like the Otter for spearing. It is dark enough. You have to be carefully getting in and out of the house especially if you like to use a big hole - but no big deal.

I also like the sled feature on the Otter for the lakes that do not have road access or too much snow and slush for driving. My Otter Lodge is a about 5 years old. I just looked at the new Otters at Fleet Farm the other day and they are even better in my opinion. The square tubing on the poles slides very nice, and the system for attatching the canvas to the sled seems very good. The fabric on the Wilderness series seems like it would let in too much light.

[Fish'n guy]

Thanks for the info Early Riser! I may end up taking a moreserious look at one now. The Light issue was what I have been a little sketchy about.

bigstone goosekiller, Whats your name? It very well could have been your uncle that I talked to, and he was a nice guy and sure knew how to spear them pike up there!!!

I did indeed hunt around Ortonville this weekend for deer and saw plenty of does and fawns. I had an 1 1/2 year old eight point come in and give me a good 20 yard broadside shot but I let him walk. I will be out there again this weekend hunting for the 3 1/2 year old or older buck and if I don't see him thats fine. I will probably just go out and shoot a goose and a limit of mallards and maybe chase some chickens around with the lab in the afternoon.

GOOD FISHIN!!!!

[riverrat56]

Spearingboy

Drop me a line at nick_domeier77 at hotmail.com

[Mike89]

Hello Spearingboy!! good to hear from you again! I know the Mankato house very well, that's my home town. it'a good house but I use my otter portable all the time. Have no problems using it for spearing. The reason for me is the mankato house does not have runners unless they changed it's style. Don't taker wrong, they are a good house depending on your mode of transportation. As for the Brainerd thing I missed it too. I'll be going to the Pard Rapids decoy show the 19th of this month though. I also should say with my portables I use both a 2 man and one man house for spearing. Tell your dad and Paul hi for me Spearingboy!! Talk to you soon!! Mike89