Almost got robbed.

[FinsnFur]

Just the location of a topic titled that way kinda gives it away dont it? 

Things are really declining here and they never really got that good to begin with it.
The way the sun was hitting the water tonight, I could literally see little schools of 6 to 8 bass working back and forth near the shore line. I'd drag my lure right over top of them and they'd scoot out of the way

I said to myself, "self?...you gotta be kidding me."

I moved over to the shaded water and jerked this lil guppy out.



Fished for about three hours and right before I said, "this is enough of this *&^%"
This bad boy found my spinning colorados


He was only 34 inches so back in the drink he went.

[Bills Custom Calls]

Looks like a beautiful day up North

[alscalls]

 

[msmith]

Sweet! 

[pitw]

Good deal Jim and I'm wondering if all your pike are tapered like that .

[5 SHOTS]

It wasn't tapered until he decided to post a pic. Thats when he had everyone hanging on the tail to make it look bigger. 

[FinsnFur]

They look tapered cause of the jaw spreader. I've gashed my hands pretty good by holding them behind the gill plates and under the gills, so I ended that real quick.
The jaw spreader is under tension. Slip it into his mouth and release it and it cranks that mouth wide open while digging into his upper and lower pallets, so he can be carried that way too without flopping off.

Plus I always get my lure back this way

[Dave]

That jaw spreader sounds like a nifty little tool.  Wonder if it's sturdy enough to use on Bluefish?   Never saw one before.

[FinsnFur]

They come in all different sizes Dave. I'll take some pics and a lil clip maybe and show how it functions.
It's only a couple degrees from snowing here right now, I'll wait till I get back on some fish.

[pitw]

  I'm  .  You say that pike bother your meticulously pimped hands but yet I see your thumb in a Bass's mouth  .  I agree a pike can make your hands mighty tender for a week or so and the use of a opener can alleviate this .  I've also watched guys lose the whole dang thing over the side of a boat and that can't be good for the fish .

[Carolina Coyote]

What's a keeper on pike, the Bass looks like good eating size. good looking place to hook a fish.cc

[FinsnFur]

Teeth on a Bass are like sandpaper Barry. There's no real risk there and when you lip them like that and curl your index finger upward basically beginning to turn the lower lip inside out, the fish becomes somewhat paralyzed.

Teeth on a Pike are a whole lot different, longer and sharper as you well know. Kind like a million barb wire barbs, all pointing back into the fishes mouth so that in the wildest case scenario you did get clamped down on, if you pull back you set the teeth into your hand even deeper. It's not fun

Boundary waters up here Carl, no Bass under 14" is legal, but there's no season either, it's open year round.

[pitw]

Jim, I want to thank you for that info .  I always wondered about the Bass teeth cause I see them doing that on a fishing show and think  that would hurt.  Kinda neat actually learning these things .

[KySongDog]

You haven't lived until you get a catfish spine in your hand.