PIKE/BOWFIN

[Yar-craft Crazy(Lally)]

Hey guys,

Well, I have a couple fishes that my daughters and I would like to target this year.

First would be pike. I live in NY and will probably be focusing on the southern end of the lake, for it's a shorter ride for us.

Any suggestions on launches and tackle would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone experimenting with the best leader materials for the toothy critters?

Second fish would be the Bowfin. I have NO idea what bait/lures to use on these things. I have not caught either of these species myself and they are on the top of our "bucket list" for 2011 ;D

Thanks in advance for any input and good luck with the Ice out!!!

[schodackbassman]

I don't target either species but have had plenty of encounters with each while bass fishing. For pike, hard to go wrong with chartreuse or red spinner baits, in-line spinners, etc. Hell those toothy critters will hit about anything that moves. Big spoons or minnow type baits will work too. Read Brian's posts, they target pike often. His wife Diane is a master at finding big pike on spoons in the shallows. As for Bowfin, I've had them hit most often on chartreuse spinner baits. Senko's too but I don't use a leader so they break me off more often then not. If I see either after my bait I pull it away!

Can't help you with leaders. My spider wire fish line usually holds up to either but need to re-tie after getting pike or fin. Same with mono or flora as long as you hook them in the mouth. Both fish will make a mess of your boat (slime) so I usually try to release out side of the boat. If you get pliers on the hook of the lure and just hold on, pike will shake themselves off. Not unusual for them to damage your bait so have extra skirts ready. PLEASE feel free to take some pike home for dinner... Actually, pike population seems to have been down the past couple of years so most would prefer you put them back. Not sure anyone cares about bowfin.

[tunamas]

Leaders for pike don't need to be fancy. When I fish them it's usually with a fly rod. One product that is readily available and that works well is Cortland's Toothy Critter Wire. It is knottable with "normal" line knots so crimps aren't necessary. It handles and holds up well. It's also more flexible than many traditional pike wires. Bowfin love meat, perch and laker carcass pieces, if you are fishing bait. As for lures, anything they can get seems to work. We've caught them on topwater poppers, streamers, and rapalas. Pike too. Streamers, spoons, spinners and rapalas. Pike at ice out historically seem to be cruising the really shallow bays looking for winter kill. Large white streamers nearly motionless on the bottom work well when site cast to them. I don't fish bass tackle too much, but I believe that spinnerbaits for both species would be a safe bet too!

[jk47]

5 of diamond spoons and booya pond magic spinners work great for pike. I use TI wire for my leaders.

I've only caught bowfins on worms. Usually fairly flat/dead water in wide sections of the rivers

[mab555]

I have had good luck with pike on Rattle traps. The only thing I did though was change the rear treble hooks with larger ones in red. Seemed like the hooks wer undersized and missed hooking smaller pike, which is good or bad depending on how many you want to unhook. Larger pike of course will about swallow the whole thing. Another good lure is a number 5 mepps spinner with bucktail in white, and spinnerbaits in white with a worm or grub as a trailer. Have had good luck with both. As for Bowfin, look for shallow areas of slop, lily pads, etc. and fish the edges / pockets. I have had good luck on crawlers, minnows, sunfish with the heads cut off or hanging etc. Not fussy eaters! I use a bobber to suspend bait a bit mainly due to the weeds and debris. Use a tough line, extra strong sturdy hooks and a heavy rod. I've had them bend jig head hooks straight and break 20lb. test flourocarbon. They are not easily spooked and will swim right next to your boat, so I use one of the fine micro steel leaders, as it doesn't seem to make them turn their nose up. Pretty easy to catch if you find them. Areas near boat launches are even good where the lily pads are. Good luck and we'll be lookin for pics!

[Yar-craft Crazy(Lally)]

Thanks guys,

Tunamas..... That cortland toothy critter stuff looks perfect! I'm gonna try that!

Anyone have a little bit more specific launches or areas to target? LC is a big lake. I don't need you to cast my line for me, but narrowing it down to a couple spots would be nice ;D

Thanks in advance!!!

[fishfarmer]

I sight fish for bowfin from late May into the summer. I can find them in the backwaters that time of year, behind the tall reeds in the creeks on the Vermont side. Usually the lily pad growth isn't too bad in May and June and you can easily see them and yes they do come to your boat with gills flared ready to pick a fight. By mid summer they are still in the slop/lily pads but it can be tough finding them, at least by sight fishing. They will gulp air so look for surface activity around pad openings.

As above posts they will take most anything put in front of them.

[Yar-craft Crazy(Lally)]

Mar 24, 2011 17:51:40 GMT -5 fishfarmer said:

As above posts they will take most anything put in front of them.

SWEET!! I'm actually shaking with anticipation! A fish that's aggressive and tears up 20lb test line! Why don't more people talk about catching these things? I'm excited to try it!!!

[fishfarmer]

Lewis Creek/Little Otter backwaters would be good for bowfin as well as slack water around the mouth of Otter Creek, Hospital Creek and McCuen Slang also come to mind.

But I even had a bowfin check out my boat at the Converse Bay launch once.

[Yar-craft Crazy(Lally)]

Thanks Fishfarmer!! I'm looking on the maps as we speak

[basser]

You can launch in Ti. or Whitehall for both. Around Fort Ti. there are plenty of both. The Pike will go after spinnerbaits. Bowfin will be in shallow water, they eat about anything. Not that hard to catch but releasing them is a whole other story. They make Pike seem timid

[fishfarmer]

Mar 24, 2011 17:54:31 GMT -5 Yar-craft Crazy(Lally) said:

SWEET!! I'm actually shaking with anticipation! A fish that's aggressive and tears up 20lb test line! Why don't more people talk about catching these things? I'm excited to try it!!!

Because I think some people think they are ugly trash fish or they are scared of them ;D.

Fly caught Bowfin

Show me another freshwater North American fish that sports turquoise color during the spawn, absolutely gorgeous! Male Bowfin caught in late May guarding fry on a big white herring fly.

[Yar-craft Crazy(Lally)]

AHHH, The girls are gonna go CRAZY over these things!! I probably will also..... I'm such a little kid inside!!! ;D

Thanks for the looks Fishfarmer..... I will share with the girls

Thanks Basser..... I really appreciate the intel.

[fishinmachine]

you can also put in at South Bay on the NY side(need a NY license there) Benson landing,VT, LarabiesVt, or laphams Bay, Vt. all have pike and bowfin plus gar and catfish and God Knows what else

[tiny]

I always get a few bowfin every year in Mississquoi Bay. A large gold spinnerbait with a black and gold skirt has been the best producer. I got a 10wt fly rod for Christmas and I really want to catch one on that!