First ever northern pike.

[dead fly]

I cought my first ever northern pike today on a crawfish imitation I tyed the other day. Had a few other on line but lost them. One was just a foot or so from netting when the line broke... How disapointing is that? The one that did make it to shore was fine.. measured at 22 inches and not sure of the weight. Felt to be a good four or five pounds. He was relised of course. But I was wondering has anyone ever taken one to the dinner table? Are they good? Looks like a boney fish.

_Duane


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[Joe Valencic]

Congratulations! I have eaten many Northern Pike on trips to Ontario Canada. They taste just fine. Filleting them is different because of their bone structure, but you can find step-by-step instructions online. Make sure of your regulations before you harvest one for the table so you don't keep the wrong size. As with most fish, smaller is tastier, and please release the trophy fish.

Joe

[ducksterman]

Duane...Northerns are quite good...but as mentioned a special filleting technique really helps...my brother has a resort in Minn. and can fillet them to be absolutely boneless and end up with one large fillet per side...it is an art form

[dead fly]

Thanks for the info. I didn't keep the pike but may in the futor.. I gotta say a pike on a fly is some fun fishing.

[DDRRedneck500]

awsome!! i bet that musve been fun.
im still trying to catch my first. the lakes around here where i live have almost none.

[Gardenfish]

you can learn to cut out those "y" bones in no time. They are good eating, not as tasty as walleye or perch, but I have eaten and enjoyed many of them. It is fun to see what is in their stomachs - they eat quite a variety of critters.

[mashtom]

Congrats on your first pike on the fly!!!!

[dead fly]

Yeah, it was a great fight. It took me a few to get him in, he kept taking out line. When I finnally thought I had tired him and was bringing him in he was a few feet from me then shot upward, danced on the water and went for another run. After neeting him I went to remove my fly and the tipped broke off in my hand. Guess I was seconds away from loosing him... lol

[Gardenfish]

pike are tricksters - you get them close and then they take off on the real run and that is exciting.

[jjtroutbum]

Now I have only caught a few Pike with a fly rod but did use a steel leader attached to some heavy mono. Never lost a fly to one, and wasn't casting very far either.

Congrats on your Pike. Happens to be my favorite Northern eater.

JJ