Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2017 Avoided all the crazies this holiday weekend and headed North for a couple days mid week to get some work done on the cabin. I can never go near the Au Sable without sneaking in some fishing so after getting the yard work done yesterday evening I grabbed the 10wt fly rod and a box of pike flies I have been tying the past few weeks and hit the river for a couple hours. It was more like an October day with the cold drizzle and fog but was well worth it since I had numerous smaller pike chase the fly and then on the last cast this nice one just nail the streamer and put up a heck of a good fight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2017 Nice pike. Are those "breeding" scars on the tail? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kentuckysteve 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2017 Very nice catch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dflanagan 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2017 Nice fish! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2017 Kind of skinny for its length and it's head size. Is that normal for them after a Michigan winter or do they spawn this time of the year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2017 Yep they spawn here early spring, plus these are river fish not lake fish so most river pike are leaner than the lake dwelling fish. It actually had a pretty decent girth to it just not a sagging belly like some lake fish get. Mike the pike here spawn early spring so it could be spawning scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
retrocarp 0 Report post Posted May 27, 2017 Great Pic Stevo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
islander727 0 Report post Posted May 27, 2017 Nice fish. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryon Anderson 0 Report post Posted May 28, 2017 Good call avoiding the crazies. I made the mistake of trying to float the Au Sable on Memorial Day once--won't do that again. That is a dandy of a pike! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zip 0 Report post Posted May 29, 2017 Gorgeous fish Steve! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted May 29, 2017 Slice the fillets out of that guy. Carefully slide above and below y-bones and remove them. Cut top sirloin into fish fingers and bottom into patties and have some good fresh boneless pike eating from good water. UmmUmm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted May 29, 2017 I haven't kept a fish in years, but with that said I have heard many people say pike-ka-bobs are delicious when the pike is cleaned properly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted May 30, 2017 Those top strips after you cut y-bones would be perfect to ka-bob. Cut them in 1" sections and spear them on your stick with various other items and bbq . That is a way I've never done it and one of the few ways I've never eaten pike but I have taken the heft fillets below the y-bones and bbq-ed them skin side down and basted with mixed bbq sauce and honey. Again, delicious. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ggmiller 0 Report post Posted June 5, 2017 Nice pike! Thanks for posting the pic. Glad you were able to get away for a bit!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocco 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2017 By the time you add barbecue sauce, smoke, and honey, newspaper would taste good too. (grin) Pipe are actually OK eating -- y bones aside -- but they do suffer by comparison with the walleye, perch, and pan fish in the same waters. And freshness makes a big difference. Shore lunch made with newly caught pike and walleyes really narrows the taste difference. Rocco Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites