MichaelAngelo Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) My first report with a "catch" and with pictures for 2012. I spent the afternoon today taking advantage of the warm weather. Got to Ontario Place around 2pm. Fished along the water in front of both parking lots trying to target pike. I started with a big willow-blade spinner with a wire leader. Another guy was fishing there as well. I asked him for advice, he advised against the big spinnerbait and wire leader. I donwsized to a spoon tied on directly. I tried to cover the water as methodically as I could. Eventually switched to a noname silver sinking swimbait (that I pulled off of a salmon in the Fall hahaha) featured in the picture. I didn't see any action unfortunately. So I'm dying to spend a day out there with somebody who knows what they're doing and is able to get reliable pike hits =D. I did catch a crayfish, it has fish in the name at least =P. This little buddy was a nice surprise. Around 5pm I moved the car further east. I found some free parking around the island air port. From there I worked the Spadina Quay marina at the foot of Spadina avenue but no luck there either. I fished into the dark, till about 7pm. I started using a glow-in-the-dark spoon for a bit. Anyway, I was glad to get a line wet. Anticipated pike is always exciting, just wish I could spend some time with a seasoned vet to show me how it's done. Also my rod (I think it's 6ft) didn't help on the casting front... should I invest in a proper length 10ft. or 12 ft. rod? Would really help the action and casting i think. Edited February 14, 2012 by MichaelAngelo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Live2fish85 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Don't need a rod that long to cast just need a good rod and a better reel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rizzo Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 advice: put the leader back on. Once you get it figured out and the fish start biting you will lose lures and pike may die without one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 My friends and I usually run 10.5 foot rods whe fishing from shore... They cast a mile... And you can cast parallel to the shoreline and keep your bait 10 feet off the shore for the whole retrieve... It's like trolling the shoreline... Also prevents getting snagged right at the shoreline because your lifting your bait 10 feet out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelAngelo Posted February 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Don't need a rod that long to cast just need a good rod and a better reel. My friends and I usually run 10.5 foot rods whe fishing from shore... They cast a mile... And you can cast parallel to the shoreline and keep your bait 10 feet off the shore for the whole retrieve... It's like trolling the shoreline... Also prevents getting snagged right at the shoreline because your lifting your bait 10 feet out... Hmm, anyone else have thoughts about this? advice: put the leader back on. Once you get it figured out and the fish start biting you will lose lures and pike may die without one. Once I get the presentation figured out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 No, use the leader regardless. Pike aren't leader shy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdrifter Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 No, use the leader regardless. Pike aren't leader shy. They are at Ontario Place.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelAngelo Posted February 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 They are at Ontario Place.. implying...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 They are at Ontario Place.. I dunno man, pike aren't exactly picky fish. Perhaps you need something a bit smaller then 130lb flouro leaders, but to tell someone to go leaderless for pike is only going to donate lures to the back of the fishes throat, or to the bottom of the lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC1 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Nicely done! I was thinking about going there to take a few casts since it never even froze over at all this year. These things are supposed to bite jerkbaits year round right? Has anyone been in contact with the legendary SNAG lately? Would love to see what he's been up to with the downtown pike lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captpierre Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Used to fish the harbour and Islands. The fish are there. Likely sluggish with the cold water. Try a suspending body bait like a Husky Jerk and twitch it real slow. makes for monotonous fishing but should work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronto_Angler Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Countdowns are your friend for winter habourfront pike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdrifter Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 implying...? JJJEEEEEAAH.. Ya think??!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdrifter Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 I dunno man, pike aren't exactly picky fish. Perhaps you need something a bit smaller then 130lb flouro leaders, but to tell someone to go leaderless for pike is only going to donate lures to the back of the fishes throat, or to the bottom of the lake. 130lbs!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelhedrmatt Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Used to fish the harbour and Islands. The fish are there. Likely sluggish with the cold water. Try a suspending body bait like a Husky Jerk and twitch it real slow. makes for monotonous fishing but should work I was going to suggest the same thing. Although the weather has been fairly mild, the water is still quite cold. Slow your presentation down. Use suspending body baits, jerk like crazy a few times, then just let it sit there. I haven't fished down there since I moved out of the city, but thats what we used to do. Keep at it. There are some real monsters lurking around down there. Also try the boardwalk in fron of old fort york. Used to do well there also. Good Luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Live2fish85 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 If you do a bit of research on the fish you are targetig you will learn things and have a better chance of catching that species. It is well known that pike don't care what size line or leader you are really using. An as said not using a leader is only going to result in you losing lures possibly killing the fish and still.coming up empty handed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 mepps black fury are a good start. i know pike take them like candy in the spring. number 3 -5 (maybe add a twister tail on the hook) moving a husky jerk real slow is another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 130lbs!!! If I'm fishing for 40+ inch pike, I don't mess around! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelAngelo Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 JJJEEEEEAAH.. Ya think??!! I still don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelAngelo Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 (edited) I dunno man, pike aren't exactly picky fish. Perhaps you need something a bit smaller then 130lb flouro leaders, but to tell someone to go leaderless for pike is only going to donate lures to the back of the fishes throat, or to the bottom of the lake. Well that's what he said, to go leaderless like he was. He also said he had bites, and well, I didn't get bites. This was my second day at this spot in the past week, and nothing. That's not all, I recognized this guy from a picture on OFF holding some monster pike at this exact spot a month ago. So I knew he meant it. Getting nothing, so I gotta change something right? Also, on the issue of leaders read on here: http://www.ontariofishingforums.com/forum/topic/13587-pike-tips/page__view__findpost__p__223947 Mixed opinions indeed. Edited February 15, 2012 by MichaelAngelo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 It wasn't the leader that was causing you not to get fish.... Slow down your presentation and you'll get bit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigger Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 There are many types of leader material. Some prefer a steel leader, some prefer Fluorocarbon. You should try them both and see if you can figure out which one you prefer in the end. The only thing thats going to sway your decision is success with one or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danc Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I'd simply toss out a stinky oily dead bait such as a smelt or cisco on a quick strike rig. Let it sit on bottom and enjoy the day until your rod starts going nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Live2fish85 Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Like jigger said. Plenty of leaders. I never use a wire leader but I always use a leader. An like Bill said it isn't the leader causing you to get nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronto_Angler Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 I would listen to Highdrifter. Pike and Bass at Harbour and Islands are unbelievably picky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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