Re: Northern Pike ice fishing

by Ivan Wagurak 20/02/22, 04:20 pm

As far as the crappie go I just run the knife down the back a long the spine down one end to the other only as deep to not cut the ribs (you’ll feel them don’t go any deeper) then run the knife up and over the ribs and down to the belly then take the fillet with the skin and put it skin side down and remove the meat. That’s it no scaling no gutting or no cutting the heads off or anything

by AJHS 20/02/22, 05:33 pm

Here is a great YouTube on how to fillet a northern pike, works for muskie and chain pickerel as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JkA68kceCw&list=PLOwv9l56o02VmslbapE3njHVAYlX7D7qY&index=18&t=213s

by Idaholewis 20/02/22, 06:54 pm

AJHS wrote:Here is a great YouTube on how to fillet a northern pike, works for muskie and chain pickerel as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JkA68kceCw&list=PLOwv9l56o02VmslbapE3njHVAYlX7D7qY&index=18&t=213s

Northern Pike are a little Trickier to Fillet due to their Y Bones, I watched several videos to help get the Hang of it, once you figure them out they are no problem Northern Pike ice fishing - Page 2 3355125947

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by Jitterbug 09/03/22, 06:02 am

Idaholewis wrote:
I use a regular fillet knife. I’ve had an electric one but I didn’t feel it was as precise enough for me. Don’t get me wrong it make short work of the back bones. But sometimes you pick up a few tricks as you go and a regular fillet knife is faster for me anyways

I’m in MN. My Uncle Gerry started filleting sunfish in the wintertime, probably fifty years ago. We had to clean them inside, because it would sometimes be -20F outside, and not much better in the garage. I suppose a “real man” could have filleted outside, but they’d have to be quick, before the fish froze solid! What a Face

Anyway, Gerry started filleting inside in the winter- no scales flying around was the biggest “plus” to the technique. Pretty soon, he was doing it that way year-round. He and “Brother John” would get an assembly line going, and they were FAST.

Forty years ago, Bobby (an old WWII Veteran), showed up one day with an early electric fillet knife- the Mister Twister “Electric Fisherman.” We all kind of rolled our eyes, but kept our mouths shut. Until Bobby cranked that sucker up, anyway! He could reduce a pile of bluegills to a pile of meat, in no time, with little more waste than doing it with a regular knife!

None of us ever adopted an electric fillet knife, but it CAN be done- I’ve seen it! Northern Pike ice fishing - Page 2 3355125947

by Idaholewis 09/03/22, 06:35 am

Jitterbug wrote:
Idaholewis wrote:
I use a regular fillet knife. I’ve had an electric one but I didn’t feel it was as precise enough for me. Don’t get me wrong it make short work of the back bones. But sometimes you pick up a few tricks as you go and a regular fillet knife is faster for me anyways

I’m in MN. My Uncle Gerry started filleting sunfish in the wintertime, probably fifty years ago. We had to clean them inside, because it would sometimes be -20F outside, and not much better in the garage. I suppose a “real man” could have filleted outside, but they’d have to be quick, before the fish froze solid!

Anyway, Gerry started filleting inside in the winter- no scales flying around was the biggest “plus” to the technique. Pretty soon, he was doing it that way year-round. He and “Brother John” would get an assembly line going, and they were FAST.

Forty years ago, Bobby (an old WWII Veteran), showed up one day with an early electric fillet knife- the Mister Twister “Electric Fisherman.” We all kind of rolled our eyes, but kept our mouths shut. Until Bobby cranked that sucker up, anyway! He could reduce a pile of bluegills to a pile of meat, in no time, with little more waste than doing it with a regular knife!

None of us ever adopted an electric fillet knife, but it CAN be done- I’ve seen it!

I have seen a few guy’s with Electric fillet knives that could REALLY get with the Program! I need to get one, at least give it a fair try

by Guest 09/03/22, 08:42 am

Idaholewis wrote:And i bought one of these Eskimo Quickfish 3i Insulated Pop-Up Ice Shelters, I REALLY like this thing as well Its a bit heavy, But it’s well worth it when you get it setup and Sitting in it, out of any Wind

With the Communists in charge, we may all be living in one of those....I'd laugh....but it's not funny anymore.

That is a nice unit though.

by Ivan Wagurak 10/03/22, 04:24 am

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Made one change to my handy work on the auger

looks better instead of the 2x4 and made a Hooke setter similar to the jaw jacker idea

by Ivan Wagurak 10/03/22, 04:42 am

Sorry for the doubles, I made the hook setter because I had a ton of flags this past weekend and no fish. The wind was relatively calm and the bait was 2in smelts and each time the flags went off there was probably 3 feet of line pulled out. I use button markers so I can set the depth on my traps. But the hook seekers seem to work really well and seem to have less issues with hilt and runs so to speak. I think the home made with the mouse trap works the best with no freeze ups. I built that one with left over scraps I had laying around my shop and 1 mouse trap for the trigger.

by Idaholewis 12/03/22, 08:46 am

I like that setup Ivan! Northern Pike ice fishing - Page 2 3355125947

by Idaholewis 12/03/22, 08:52 am

Our Ice would be unsafe now (at least for me) There are a few guy’s stil going to a few places around here, But it’s RISKY. There was a Guy Drowned up at Priest Lake a few weeks ago, Not worth it!

by Guest 12/03/22, 09:03 am

Idaholewis wrote:Our Ice would be unsafe now (at least for me) There are a few guy’s stil going to a few places around here, But it’s RISKY. There was a Guy Drowned up at Priest Lake a few weeks ago, Not worth it!

We have had one of the coldest winter in quite a few years here in South Central Colorado.
Trinidad lake isn't worth trying. Monument Lake and North lake are about 40-50 miles farther up in the mountains, but ice there is sketchy.
The Williams Fork Reservoir up in Granby Colorado, now they get some great thick ice 2'+!! however, that's a 6 hour drive.

by Idaholewis 12/03/22, 11:07 am

mustang65 wrote:
Idaholewis wrote:Our Ice would be unsafe now (at least for me) There are a few guy’s stil going to a few places around here, But it’s RISKY. There was a Guy Drowned up at Priest Lake a few weeks ago, Not worth it!

We have had one of the coldest winter in quite a few years here in South Central Colorado.
Trinidad lake isn't worth trying. Monument Lake and North lake are about 40-50 miles farther up in the mountains, but ice there is sketchy.
The Williams Fork Reservoir up in Granby Colorado, now they get some great thick ice 2'+!! however, that's a 6 hour drive.

M65, What species of Fish are most common there?

by Guest 12/03/22, 11:16 am

Idaholewis wrote:
mustang65 wrote:
Idaholewis wrote:Our Ice would be unsafe now (at least for me) There are a few guy’s stil going to a few places around here, But it’s RISKY. There was a Guy Drowned up at Priest Lake a few weeks ago, Not worth it!

We have had one of the coldest winter in quite a few years here in South Central Colorado.
Trinidad lake isn't worth trying. Monument Lake and North lake are about 40-50 miles farther up in the mountains, but ice there is sketchy.
The Williams Fork Reservoir up in Granby Colorado, now they get some great thick ice 2'+!! however, that's a 6 hour drive.

M65, What species of Fish are most common there?

Trinidad Lake: Rainbows, Walleye, some cat.
North Lake & Monument Lake: mostly Rainbows.

by Ivan Wagurak 12/03/22, 04:50 pm

Our ice is about to be unsafe. We just got 3” of rain plus 40’s and 50’s and forecasting more warm weather looks like I’m done too Crying or Very sad

and I’m not driving 6-8 hours for thick ice not with gas as high as it is and climbing

by Guest 12/03/22, 05:19 pm

Ivan Wagurak wrote:Our ice is about to be unsafe. We just got 3” of rain plus 40’s and 50’s and forecasting more warm weather looks like I’m done too and I’m not driving 6-8 hours for thick ice not with gas as high as it is and climbing

I hear you Ivan. I'm not about to drive that far either with these gas prices.
And they can stick that electric car where the sun don't shine.
This gas and diesel is going to kill tourism, hunting, fishing, etc!! No one is going to travel with these prices.
Food, airlines, lodging, restaurants, and everything in between is going to suffer.
Politicians and lazy people are the scourge of the earth! Take care.

by TheMightyQuinn 20/03/22, 05:52 am

Those are huge northerns, both bigger than our state record here.

by Idaholewis 20/03/22, 05:04 pm

TheMightyQuinn wrote:Those are huge northerns, both bigger than our state record here.
I ice fishing all winter but I only jig for crappie and perch. I also wind up catching bass and trout inadvertently. I have an Ion auger and several portable shanty’s. This past week the crappie fishing has been excellent and I’ve put about 100 in the freezer. The ice is going to be gone here in another week or so and it’ll be time to get my boat out.

How are you liking your Ion auger? I almost bought one of them, they get good reviews. I went with the Milwaukee Hammer Drill setup so i could use the Drill for multiple things, i am very happy with my decision

by TheMightyQuinn 20/03/22, 07:49 pm

Idaholewis wrote:
TheMightyQuinn wrote:Those are huge northerns, both bigger than our state record here.
I ice fishing all winter but I only jig for crappie and perch. I also wind up catching bass and trout inadvertently. I have an Ion auger and several portable shanty’s. This past week the crappie fishing has been excellent and I’ve put about 100 in the freezer. The ice is going to be gone here in another week or so and it’ll be time to get my boat out.

How are you liking your Ion auger? I almost bought one of them, they get good reviews. I went with the Milwaukee Hammer Drill setup so i could use the Drill for multiple things, i am very happy with my decision

It works great, I’ve never killed the battery, but I think it’s probably heavier than a drill setup? If I’d already had one of the recommended drills I’d probably have gone that route, but I didn’t.

by Ivan Wagurak 01/04/22, 09:50 am

TheMightyQuinn wrote:Those are huge northerns, both bigger than our state record here.
I ice fishing all winter but I only jig for crappie and perch. I also wind up catching bass and trout inadvertently. I have an Ion auger and several portable shanty’s. This past week the crappie fishing has been excellent and I’ve put about 100 in the freezer. The ice is going to be gone here in another week or so and it’ll be time to get my boat out.

What do you use for jigging? I usually just set everything up with bait on my traps and poles.

by TheMightyQuinn 01/04/22, 09:58 am

Ivan Wagurak wrote:
TheMightyQuinn wrote:Those are huge northerns, both bigger than our state record here.
I ice fishing all winter but I only jig for crappie and perch. I also wind up catching bass and trout inadvertently. I have an Ion auger and several portable shanty’s. This past week the crappie fishing has been excellent and I’ve put about 100 in the freezer. The ice is going to be gone here in another week or so and it’ll be time to get my boat out.

What do you use for jigging? I usually just set everything up with bait on my traps and poles.

by Ivan Wagurak 01/04/22, 02:26 pm

TheMightyQuinn wrote:
Ivan Wagurak wrote:
TheMightyQuinn wrote:Those are huge northerns, both bigger than our state record here.
I ice fishing all winter but I only jig for crappie and perch. I also wind up catching bass and trout inadvertently. I have an Ion auger and several portable shanty’s. This past week the crappie fishing has been excellent and I’ve put about 100 in the freezer. The ice is going to be gone here in another week or so and it’ll be time to get my boat out.

What do you use for jigging? I usually just set everything up with bait on my traps and poles.

Small tungsten jigs, usually 4 or 5mm tipped with a wax worm. Sometimes I use a 1” Gulp minnow instead of a wax worm.

Oh ok I had picked up some gulp minnows 1”-2.5” something like that but never got the chance to use them. Early ice out if you catch my drift

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I had tied a few of these for fly fishing and yes they’re weighted but could they be useful as well?

by TheMightyQuinn 01/04/22, 02:36 pm

Ivan Wagurak wrote:
TheMightyQuinn wrote:
Ivan Wagurak wrote:
TheMightyQuinn wrote:Those are huge northerns, both bigger than our state record here.
I ice fishing all winter but I only jig for crappie and perch. I also wind up catching bass and trout inadvertently. I have an Ion auger and several portable shanty’s. This past week the crappie fishing has been excellent and I’ve put about 100 in the freezer. The ice is going to be gone here in another week or so and it’ll be time to get my boat out.

What do you use for jigging? I usually just set everything up with bait on my traps and poles.

Small tungsten jigs, usually 4 or 5mm tipped with a wax worm. Sometimes I use a 1” Gulp minnow instead of a wax worm.

Oh ok I had picked up some gulp minnows 1”-2.5” something like that but never got the chance to use them. Early ice out if you catch my drift

I had tied a few of these for fly fishing and yes they’re weighted but could they be useful as well?

People use jigs like that here for yellow perch all the time, they call them “Bibbits” which is bug or something to French-Canadians? Usually tipped with a perch eye or spikes. I use the 2 1/2” Gulp minnows on a 1/16th or 1/32nd oz jig head for crappies all summer but I catch everything on them. White and yellow perch, large and smallmouth bass, channel cats and way more.

by TheMightyQuinn 01/04/22, 02:39 pm

These are bibbits in some popular colors.

by Idaholewis 01/04/22, 03:45 pm

They look DARN GOOD TMQ, and Ivan Northern Pike ice fishing - Page 2 3355125947

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