Sheriff Dill Posted September 19 Posted September 19 Took the family out on the lake. Promised the little kiddos they could go fishing with me. This is the first Northern Pike I caught. 6.8 lbs. definitely not a monster or the biggest I’ve ever caught but put up a good fight and to hear the excitement in the kids voices was even better. Made a rookie mistake and grabbed the steel leader and when it shook it cut my trigger finger down to the bone. Hoping for fast heeling as we have a shoot this coming weekend. Also got to travel to Ny by water. Overall a great day. 6 3 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 20 Posted September 20 Sounds like a good day, even the finger in its own way. Are pike eatin' fish? None in California. They look bony and fatty. Quote
Sheriff Dill Posted September 20 Author Posted September 20 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said: Sounds like a good day, even the finger in its own way. Are pike eatin' fish? None in California. They look bony and fatty. You can eat them. I have caught them all of my life and have ever eaten one that I can remember maybe when I was a kid but don’t think so. We don’t eat a lot of fish. We catch and release everything unless the fish won’t make it. I know they are very very boney. Them and their close cousin the chain pickerel. I have heard of you boil them and can them they are better to eat but have never tried it. Like most things if you learn how to clean them properly im sure they are good to eat. Razor sharp teeth though. If you don’t use the steel leader expect to lose some tackle. AI says it’s a sweet and mild flavor depending on time year caught. Warm water can make them taste like weeds and mud. Challenges are the y shaped bones. But if you know how to clean them properly then you’re good to go. Edited September 20 by Sheriff Dill 1 Quote
Sheriff Dill Posted September 20 Author Posted September 20 26 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said: Sounds like a good day, even the finger in its own way. Are pike eatin' fish? None in California. They look bony and fatty. Here’s a list of recorded states that have them in the USA. According to Google. I’m sure it’s not 100% accurate. 1 Quote
Outlaw Gambler Posted September 20 Posted September 20 If you know how to clean them, you will have boneless fila's that can be breaded and fried. Really my favorite method. But you can pickle them or put the cleaned whole fish on the grill, in the oven or over an open fire. I have been eating them for 70 plus years. 2 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 20 Posted September 20 40 minutes ago, Outlaw Gambler said: If you know how to clean them, you will have boneless fila's that can be breaded and fried. Really my favorite method. But you can pickle them or put the cleaned whole fish on the grill, in the oven or over an open fire. I have been eating them for 70 plus years. Pickled sounds interesting. On black bread with sour cream and pike caviar. Or on blini. 1 Quote
Michigan Slim Posted September 20 Posted September 20 Fillet out the Y bones and fry them up. We would cut them into 1" strips to fry more quickly and evenly. Kept them through the ice. This big girl went back. 2 2 Quote
Sheriff Dill Posted September 20 Author Posted September 20 25 minutes ago, Michigan Slim said: Fillet out the Y bones and fry them up. We would cut them into 1" strips to fry more quickly and evenly. Kept them through the ice. This big girl went back. 15 lbs? Catching them through the ice is so much fun. We used to fish the Lake Morey ice fishing derby every year. Our boys won it two years in a row. Biggest northern I’ve seen in person is 13 lbs. 2 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted September 20 Posted September 20 53 minutes ago, Michigan Slim said: Fillet out the Y bones and fry them up Do you batter the bones before you fry them? Or just lightly season them? 3 Quote
J-BAR #18287 Posted September 20 Posted September 20 2 hours ago, Michigan Slim said: Fillet out the Y bones and fry them up. We would cut them into 1" strips to fry more quickly and evenly. Kept them through the ice. This big girl went back. MS--- what lake? Quote
Michigan Slim Posted September 20 Posted September 20 4 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said: 15 lbs? Catching them through the ice is so much fun. We used to fish the Lake Morey ice fishing derby every year. Our boys won it two years in a row. Biggest northern I’ve seen in person is 13 lbs. 18 on my buddies scale. 40". Her head was as big as a shovel. Awe inspiring, actually. The pic doesn't do her justice. 1 Quote
Michigan Slim Posted September 20 Posted September 20 2 hours ago, J-BAR #18287 said: MS--- what lake? Dallas, NE Indiana. 1 Quote
Sheriff Dill Posted September 20 Author Posted September 20 10 minutes ago, Michigan Slim said: 18 on my buddies scale. 40". Her head was as big as a shovel. Awe inspiring, actually. The pic doesn't do her justice. That’s a monster. They have massive heads for sure. Biggest fish for me is a 45 lb king salmon on my fly rod in NY. Quote
Michigan Slim Posted September 20 Posted September 20 Just now, Sheriff Dill said: That’s a monster. They have massive heads for sure. Biggest fish for me is a 45 lb king salmon on my fly rod in NY. Mine is 29. My cousin got a thirty the next fish. The heyday of Lake Michigan. They were good but not great. I grew up with the big lake as my playground. Quote
watab kid Posted September 21 Posted September 21 i picked up a 43 in canada a long while back [went back in the lake] but it was the 60"musky i caught here that was my biggest fish [also went back in the lake] there was three of us in the boat that day and all caught one within a couple minutes but the other two were a bit smaller 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.