'24 - '25 Pike Spearing

[Birdbander]

It's a slow start for ice here in Michigan but I found just enough to keep me on the dry side. Another above normal temperature stretch is starting tomorrow.
Here's a video of an attractor that I use. Some call it a teaser or spinner. I make all of mine but they can be found to purchase. Just a fun little clip of how pike seem to become mesmerized allowing for more positive length estimates and spear placement.
The picture is of a different pike this morning.

 

[timberman56]

nice shot

 

[BearFoot]

Nice!

 

[CRJR45]

How deep are you setting up ? Looks like only two feet ?

 

[Flatbrimmer]

Damn that looks fun!!

http://memeguy.com/photo/107478/cyclist-has-jealousy-issues

 

[Arcola]

Fun stuff. That spear looks like a work of art.

 

[Gellar]

YES! That looks like a good sized pike using the spear for a rough size comparison!

 

[Birdbander]

YES! That looks like a good sized pike using the spear for a rough size comparison!

It was 31, good eater. In general there aren't as many truly large pike here in Michigan as there are out west.

 

[EKYHunter]

Way cool! Thanks for posting.

 

[Gellar]

It was 31, good eater. In general there aren't as many truly large pike here in Michigan as there are out west.

I was gonna guess 32”! Perfect eater!

 

[Birdbander]

Fun stuff. That spear looks like a work of art.

Agreed. Made by Hjelle Arc Custom spears in Minnesota. This one is a basic worker version.

 

[Birdbander]

Damn that looks fun!!

http://memeguy.com/photo/107478/cyclist-has-jealousy-issues
View attachment 354435

Like bowhunting from a treestand. Hours of boredom punctuated by moments of extreme excitement

 

[Birdbander]

How deep are you setting up ? Looks like only two feet ?

3 5' of water. It wasn't safe to get deeper & pike are in the shallow bay hunting perch.

 

[Bhoesl]

Agreed. Made by Hjelle Arc Custom spears in Minnesota. This one is a basic worker version.

Just looked them up, those really are some beautiful spears! I’ll be getting out for the first spearing trip of the year next weekend.

 

[Birdbander]

I haven't gotten out in the Darkhouse as much as I'd like so far snd when I have legal size pike haven't been moving. This morning they were a little. This 30" came in to a Mike Kitt wobbled. I could have taken it's twin a few minutes later but wasn't ready to have my daily limit so passed. You know the rest, no other legal pike came in.

The picture is poor and the color has started to fade from the pike as often happens while they're in a burlap bag but it'll be fine eating

 

[Birdbander]

There hasn't been much pike movement this morning and I'd started daydreaming about blue grouse in Colorado when a twitch of the Mike Kitt wobbler decoy brought this nice one smoking in! Just shy of 36"

 

[Gellar]

Never fails when you least expect it daydreaming about how it’d be better somewhere else, doing something else! I usually screw up those moments when that happens, good job capitalizing on the opportunity!

 

[Birdbander]

I made a trip down to Lk St Clair for the weekend to enjoy a fishing opportunity that to my knowledge is not only unique to Michigan, it's also unique to Lk St Clair - perch spearing!

When I was a working for Michigan Darkhouse Angling Association one of my roles was attending various stakeholder meetings. While attending the Lk Erie/LSC meeting I asked when it was and how it came about the the DNR allowed perch spearing. The DNR reps best answer was it just had always been that way.

I've never gotten close to a daily limit of 25 (spearing only accounts for 0.2% of the annual take of perch from LSC). I just enjoy Darkhouse Angling! I take the aggressive one's on a jig but the window shoppers get force fed the steel!

 

[Steelsearchin]

Nice work on the LSC convicts! First time in a few years we've had good enough ice down here to spear, but I just can't motivate myself to drag the sled out. I was bit pretty hard a few years back, carved dekes, got some friends out, and had a lot of fun, but kids, dogs, and life all compete for time. If the ice survives this next warm up maybe I'll get the stuff back out now that you've motivated me!

 

[Birdbander]

I don't like walking either and the amount of snow there this weekend made it difficult for those on leather personnel carriers. I prefer motorized transport
I offered rides to some folks but no one took the free ride into Selfridge.