When pike attack your crappie lure...

[Guest]

I have been fishing a lake with pike/crappie. I set up a tipup fr the pike and jig for the slabs....

But these northerns keep thinking the jig is for them, and they hit that instead of the tipup, and I keep losing fish (and losing jigs thanks to The Teeth).

Is there a proven way to play a pike on light tackle (no wire leader) that allows you to get them up the hole before they cut your line? Any advice? I tried setting my drag real loose on the last one, and that seemed to work good for a while, but he still snapped the line at the hole. This is happening every time I go to this lake.

Thanks,
ak

[hunt4food]

I use fireline. It can handle those toothy critters a little better than mono. You are still going to lose a few, but that's fishing!

[the big dipper]

Usually you'll have a lot less "snake attacks" after dusk and at night.

Do you fish in a deeper part of the lake? Sometimes moving out deeper will get you away from the hammerhandle habitat.

Also, switch to smaller jigs and wax worms you might catch more crappies too. Either that or spool up heavier and start eating more snake meat.I've got a great recipie for snake cakes.

[Crawlerman]

Of course with "fire line" and other superbraids it also proves "visable" to the crappies, where as the light mono is "invisable". Oddly enough; all the snakes I've cuaght on my crappie rod I've landed; each one having the hook set perfectly in the corner of the jaw so they weren't able to bite it off. Set the drag loose and let him run, and then as he tires gently pump him back to the hole. If you do catch a lot of Northerns that way every time you go out; consider buying a heavier jigging rod and doing the same thing with a slightly bigger minnow and a wire leader; keeping the other rod with a waxie instead of a crappie minnow. This should attract the northerns to the larger jig and minnow, and away from the waxie setup that awaits the crappies...

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies.

I actually hooked into a northern today again while crappie fishing and I got him up the hole! I set me drag REAL LOOSE and basically played him long and wore him out good.

[Guest]

How big? I think it's great fun fighting 22-30" northerns on 1-2 lb mono. Just make sure your drag is set properly and don't use a rod that's too stiff! Usually my jig and waxie is stuck right in the tip of their top lip. Really puts some stretch into your line though, so best to re-spool a.s.a.p.

[Guest]

. . . . waiting for you guys from Minnesota to start poking fun at our Michigan hammerhandles . . . .

[Guest]

Loose drag an den hangk ON!

[gill man]

As long as you don't lose one right away on the hookset, you can land quite a few. One piece of advise I have is don't use the drag, but backreel if your reel allows it(most do). It's tough to set your drag light enough for the light line without it slipping when you don't want it to. Use a rod with a good backbone to give you power when you need it, but a light enough tip section to protect light line. Also use your arms as shock absorbers. When a fish makes a run, and especially when they give a hard headshake, lower your arms with it(and raise when you need to to keep slack in the line when they shake their heads). Doing this along with backreeling when needed can allow you to react quickly when a fish runs. It's harder to explain than to do. Just imagine that your arms are shock absorbers, giving when necissary, and taking up slack as needed.
Another big thing to remember is take line only when the fish isn't resisting. When it's pulling or running, let it go.
Also try to keep your line from rubbing the side of the hole too much, though it's impossible to do when the fish takes out some line. Also take it slow when they get close to the hole. Just like reaching the boat in summer, fish can pick up some extra energy at the hole. Be ready to backreel in a hurry when they're getting close.
I don't think I can stress how important backreeling is. You really can give a fish line faster than you think. I've never had one "outrun" me. If you insist on using the drag, set it light, and apply extra tension on the spool with your index finger when you need to.
And lastly, you won't get all of them. Those Northerns can cut light line with a gill flap in one quick roll, there isn't anything you can do about that. Every now and then I'll set the hook and feel almost no resistance. The knot didn't fail, the line was cut clan through. When a Northern gets that line on a tooth or gill flap, there isn't much you can do about it. But if they get hooked in the tip, or corner of the mouth all but the biggest are very catchable on light equipment.
Good luck.

gill man

[icehousebob]

My sons and I used to do a lot of fishing for Sunfish through the ice. Ultralite tackle, #12 jigs. Northerns were always hitting the jigs. I watched one of my boys on several occasions finesse in northerns that were twice the weight of the line strenghth. He would gently lead them to the hole and as soon as their heads came up, I would grab them. I don't think the fish knew they were caught until they hit the fishouse floor. Then they fought like heck. He has the gentle touch. I've done it a few times but to be really good, I think you have to be born with the gift.