MT Waterfowl Opener

[Nemont]

October 1st and I should have been hunting waterfowl on Saturday but it was going to be calm and 80 degrees so I went fishing instead.

Never caught anything but snot rockets all day. No walleye, no bass, no drum. I did see about 100 people trying to snag salmon at the boat ramp. Not really my thing.

Kept some for a fish fry

 

[Tkaldahl2000]

I like "snot rockets", but that is because they are easier to catch than walleye. Good eats. I learned how to avoid those y bones at an early age too.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Looks like a beautiful October day. Nice to have those to fall back on when the others won't bite. If you were going to try for pike from shore what would you use?

 

[Flatrock]

If you were going to try for pike from shore what would you use?

We always just used smelt. Put an egg sinker on you line, tie on a leader and a quick strike rig or something similar and just throw it out and let it sit on the bottom. I've never casted much from shore but I think you could catch some that way as well with spoons or shallow diving crankbaits. Maybe Nemont will chime in too.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Looks like a beautiful October day. Nice to have those to fall back on when the others won't bite. If you were going to try for pike from shore what would you use?

Flatrock is correct, Smelt either on the bottom or I like too put a bobber on it about 2' or 3' up from the hook, I use a offset shank 1/0 or so hook, a 1' of wire leader, swivel, main line put a small sinker on just to get the bait down, doesn't need to be more than a 1/4 oz. and a bead between sinker and swivel, put a smelt on and your usually catching Northern's pretty good. Grew up on the missouri river by Williston, ND - I caught pike almost every day during the summer unless I was at the farm!. Good luck, where you going Brittany chukarman?
Matt

 

[JohnCushman]

My wife loves pike chowder. I found youtube videos on how to fillet them and take out the y bones. It was easier than I thought. I want to try pickling some next time I get a few.

 

[Huntin_GI]

Came here hoping for ducks. Left like I typically leave the duck blind... disappointed.