Tackle Advice

[westynorth]

Hello Gang,

I'm putting together a tackle box from scratch for my Canadian fishing trip
this summer. I haven't been fishing in 30 years and I would greatly
appreciate any advice as to what to put in it. Do I really need a knife? -
or will a good pair of pliers do the trick? I guess I'm worried about
wasting money on things I won't need or prove useless. Any ideas?

Thanks for your time,
Westynorth

[GreenieLeBrun]

westynorth wrote:
> Hello Gang,
>
> I'm putting together a tackle box from scratch for my Canadian fishing trip
> this summer. I haven't been fishing in 30 years and I would greatly
> appreciate any advice as to what to put in it. Do I really need a knife? -
> or will a good pair of pliers do the trick? I guess I'm worried about
> wasting money on things I won't need or prove useless. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks for your time,
> Westynorth

I've always found it difficult to gut and filet fish with a pair of
pliers.

PS Don't forget the bear bells.

[Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers]

"westynorth" > wrote in message
...
> Hello Gang,
>
> I'm putting together a tackle box from scratch for my Canadian fishing
> trip this summer. I haven't been fishing in 30 years and I would greatly
> appreciate any advice as to what to put in it. Do I really need a knife? -
> or will a good pair of pliers do the trick? I guess I'm worried about
> wasting money on things I won't need or prove useless. Any ideas?

Westynorth,

It would help to know what species of fish you are targeting in order to
make recommendations on what gear to take with you.

A good basic start would be ball head jigs in 1/8th and 1/4 oz.. Get these
sizes in several colors, one of which should be chartreuse. Walleyes like
chartreuse jigs, tipped with either livebait or chartreuse or white grub
(Mr. Twister) tails.

Get some livebait rigs and spinner rigs to backtroll for walleyes as well.
Try here for these. http://www.norfish.com/Category/main.taf?cat=230

Some Rapala minnow imitating lures in the 3 - 5 inch range will get you some
walleys and will also attract pike. Silver/black and gold/black in both the
floating and suspending models.

I would also get some Secret Weapon spinnerbaits. Firetiger, Midnight Snack
and Baby Bass colors, in 3/8th and 1/2 oz. models. I've used these lures in
Canada with great success for both bass, northern pike and muskies. You can
get these at http://www.secretweaponlures.com

Because northern pike and muskies have sharp teeth, you will probably need
some leader material. I use only TyGer Leader. The 15 or 30 pound should
do well. Go to http://www.tygerleader.com and get this.

That should get you started.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[westynorth]

I'll be casting for Northern Pike using a lure. I really don't plan on
keeping my catches, I'll throw them back. When I was a 12 year old kid, my
dad told us to hold the fish by pressing in on the eyeballs while removing
the hook. So we did. Is this okay?

[GreenieLeBrun]

westynorth wrote:
> I'll be casting for Northern Pike using a lure. I really don't plan on
> keeping my catches, I'll throw them back. When I was a 12 year old kid, my
> dad told us to hold the fish by pressing in on the eyeballs while removing
> the hook. So we did. Is this okay?

Being on the other side of the world and in the southern hemisphere I
can't really comment on Northern Pike but as I understand it they are
rather toothy creatures.

When I have to handle fish with advanced dentition I usually grasp then
under the gill cover (avoiding the gills and gill rakers as best I can)
this gives you a firm grip on the fish and allows you to remove the
hooks with a pair of long nosed pliers or similar. My prefered tool is
a pair of haemostats (artery forceps) as these have a locking device so
you can clamp down on the hook for better purchase.

You may like to use barbless hooks or flatten the barbs out, you may
lose the odd fish but it does make unhooking them alot easier.

[Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers]

"westynorth" > wrote in message
...
> I'll be casting for Northern Pike using a lure. I really don't plan on
> keeping my catches, I'll throw them back. When I was a 12 year old kid, my
> dad told us to hold the fish by pressing in on the eyeballs while removing
> the hook. So we did. Is this okay?

Many people were told this was ok, and unfortunately it's not. Holding pike
like that simply blinds them, and releasing a sight-feeding fish blinded
definitely isn't the thing to do.

With smaller ones, you can grab them over the top, back of the head,
pressing "lightly" in on the gill covers to hold them. Larger pike cannot
be handled like that and these have to be handled differently. Simply slide
your fingers up under the gill covers, taking care to avoid the gill rakers
themselves and grab them that way.

Otherwise, get a net! You can unhook them in the net and simply turn it
over to release them.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[Sprattoo]

"westynorth" > wrote in message
...
> I'll be casting for Northern Pike using a lure. I really don't plan on
> keeping my catches, I'll throw them back. When I was a 12 year old kid, my
> dad told us to hold the fish by pressing in on the eyeballs while removing
> the hook. So we did. Is this okay?
>

I would start with a good multi-tool. Can never go wrong there. You will
have some scissors or snips for line, pliers for hook removal and the
kitchen sink.

Northern pike up in Canada can get big... and toothy. You will need some
leader wire. You can pick some nylon coated stuff up at any tackleshop or
even Walmart. I like making my own leaders for all situations. So grab some
sleeves and start rigging away.

Those pike will be chasing bait fish most likely. Have you considered buying
live bait when you get there?

Perhaps you should consider what time of year you are headed up and what
body of water you will be fishing. Find out what types of fish will be
hatching, and whats in the water. Maybe email a local tackleshop owner near
the lake for some info. Then buy lures that resemble those food sources.
Red/white dare devils seem to be agreed on by everyone to bring out a
reactionary strike from a Pike. A nice source I came across a while ago was
this one:
http://www.bigfishcanada.com/northern_pike.html

I have heard of many good rigs for Pike. but the sites below list some tips:

http://www.kashabowieoutposts.com/ontario_fishing_tips.asp?hl=4

www.northernpike.com


For more tips try emailing: This is some
sort of Northern Pike club.
good luck!

-L Metcalf

_______________________________
www.fly-fishing-flies.com
Flies from $5.60 per DOZEN and more!
Penn int'l II Reel Special!
_______________________________

[--------------]

Absolutely: pinch those barbs closed. It will make you a better fisherman,
you'll have more fun and it will be 10X easier to remove the hooks; not the
least to say what it will do (or really won't do to) for the fish... A pair
of needle

Steve's advice about holding them is correct. Get a net, but watch out for
the extra treble hooks when they are flopping around in the boat.

Shad rap crank baits, size 9 in silver (my 1st choice), gold or blue are
good; trolled at 6-12 ft. Steel leaders with ball bearing swivels are
handy. I use 20-30 lb braided line with the drag set very loose--but, if you
do this, be careful not to let the line bind on the rod or you can snap the
rod before the drag kicks in. I choose this line not for the tensile
strength, but for its abrasion resistance. Also, I have fished for northerns
with this line without using a leader leaders... You can fish for lakers
with deep diving silver shad raps, just let out a lot of line and send them
as deep as they'll go. If you're going to go after lakers, please consider
keeping and eating your catch. In my experience, they don't survive well
coming up from the depths, especially if it's warm.

Shad Raps are also good for walleye. Yellow, chartreuse, or white jigs
tipped with a black, yellow or chartreuse mister twister work well. They'll
hang out anywhere's from 5-20+ feet depending on the time of day and
temperature. We always catch them in shallower water than we expect to...
They will school along rock faces in the shade. I do a lot of fishing from
a canoe and like to troll a crankbait as I'm traveling. When I get a
walleye, I switch to a jig and work the spot where I think I hooked the
wally.

Fire Tiger color is also good for a shad raps, rattle traps, and spoons.
Daredevils work well, as do big Mepps (with a yellow bucktail) at the weed
edges. Northern are agressive curious fish that like to go after things.
If it's hot & sunny you'll find then stacked up against the rock faces in
the shade. They like to cruise the shore late in the day and into the
evening.

It really doesn't take much gear to fish successfully in northern Ontario.

>"GreenieLeBrun" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> You may like to use barbless hooks or flatten the barbs out, you may
> lose the odd fish but it does make unhooking them alot easier.