Canada

[barfuss]

We are heading up to Canada next week. We are after Big Pike and Walleye. Im so excited. I was wondering if any of you had any experience with big Pike. Is there any special colored Lures I should buy? Is there a preference on line? The lake we are going to is in Saskatchewan. Its callled Tobin Lake. Its supposed to hold some big fish. Ive posted a post on the Canada line but have had no responce. So Im hoping some of you guys can give me any hints on what to expect. Thanks so much. Im hoping to have some good stories with pictures when I get back.
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[wiperhunter2]

Just type in Canadian lodges on a search engine and see it you can find the one you are going to. If you can't find the one you are going to, find one in the general area, a lot of them have E mail addresses that you could send a message too and ask a question about what you should be using. I don't know much about fishing for those big pike but I've always heard that red and white Daredevil spoons are good lures for them. Good luck on your trip. WH2
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[longhotsummers]

For pike:

1 1/8 oz. Johnson Silver Minnows. The moss will drive you crazy using a standard spoon and treble hook set-up. I think any color works, but silver has always been my choice. Probably have to buy the 1 1/8 size on-line or once you get up there.

Berkley Fireline 20 lb test.

Highest quality swivels you can buy. Ball bearing with some kind of positive lock mechanism. I've found that swivels have the highest failure rate of anything.

If you go with standard wire leaders, take a bunch because you will go through them. I think the 9" titaniums are worth the money.

Don't forget a standard spring type jaw spreader and a hook-out. Tie them onto your boat! A tube of neosporin comes in handy. After about the third day your hands will be pretty cut up.

Polarized sun glasses for "road hunting", my favorite way of catching pike. Pull into a shallow bay and slowly cruise around looking into water. You'll see some big ones sunning in there. It is a good way to catch big ones without the bother of all the hammerhandles.
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[KokaneeReaper]

this may sound hard to believe but if you have walley on the brain in canada you will eventualy get sick of the pike, any good minnow imitation is great, big spoons and big broken back floating rapalas are great along with the standard hard back rapalas also, The times I went to canada where unbalievable and I will never forget the amount of pike we all got into there are so many up there! Remember jaw spreaders and neadle nose to get the hooks out also don't forget about having the hooks barbles and a good steal leader. I would stay with biger size lures pike are opurtunity fish and also sight preadetors so keep in mind a big 20 to 30 pound pike does not want to wast energy on a small bait fish unless you flip it right on his nose give him something big to chase and it should keep the smaller ones away [] but not always I cought a 10 inch pike on a lucky 13 up there i couldent believe how small a fish good posably consider eating something so big it looked like he was smoking a cigar lol. Also let those rapalas sit for a little after you cast them and give them a twich and wach the area you should be able to see them coming I had up to 15 pike chashing my blue broken back on one cast it was impresive seeing all those shadows behinde my lure!! You will have a blast and I wish you the best on a big pike Good luck
Don J
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[fishwisperer]

Barfuss,

I have made several trips up to Saskatchewan fishing for Pike, walleye and lakers. I also spent a summer as a fishing guide up there. If you would like to pm me I would be glad to give you my number and try and help you out. You will have an awesome trip. I currently spend my summers in Alaska, but hope to get back up to Canada soon.
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[lurechucker]

I've never fished Saskatchewan (I can hardly pronounce it, for crying out loud), but I did fish Ontario about a year ago. For my money, you can't go wrong with good old fashioned spoons. I caught a beauty of a Pike on a plain silver spoon. Not hammered, not chromed, just plain silver. I think it was a 1/2 oz. size or so.

If I were you, I'd pick up a variety pack of Daredevle or Daredevle knockoffs in at least a half ounce size. One day they'll be hitting blue, the next they seem to like yellow. When I was there it was anything yellow to yellow green. Daredevle's yellow "Five of Diamonds" pattern (yellow with...uh...5 red diamonds) was slaying them, and seems to be a perennial good bet.

Five of Diamonds lure:



For a Saskatchewan opinion, see:
[url "http://www.lloydlakelodge.com/Luretypes.htm"]http://www.lloydlakelodge.com/Luretypes.htm[/url]


It's kind of Ontario-centric, but check out:
[url "http://www.chapleaulodge.com/pike.htm"]http://www.chapleaulodge.com/pike.htm[/url]

Consumed with jealousy,


lurechucker

[barfuss]

I knew I could count on the guys here in Utah. Thanks for the good info. We are headed out tomorrow morning for the long dive north. I hope to bring back good stories, pictures and hopefully a wall hanger.

Thanks again
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