Have been getting out to the river on a farily consistent basis, as much as off time from college will allow. Fishing has been fairly odd the past month or so, but it does seem like the smallies are feeding pretty heavily when they are feeding. One day a couple weeks ago I caught 26 fish and got hits from/lost another 15 or so. All fish were under 14 inches with the average being about 12". Aside from that I havent really been targeting them enough to know what they're up to but I assume the water is still warm enough to keep them fairly active. I also have been catching a decent amount of snake northerns and one in particular caught my eye. Every pike I had previously caught was strictly spotted but this one seems to be predominantly barred. I originally suspected that it might be a tiger musky but I'm leaning toward oddly patterned pike. Any thoughts? The fish was around 20" btw.

pike


patterns will vary, light markings on a dark background is pike giveaway. Also next time count the pores on the underside of the lower jaw. 5 or less = pike, more than that = musky.

Musky. Gotta be. Never seen a barred pike.

Pike, all the smaller pike seem to look like that at least on the desplaines.

I'mma suggest a new species "Pikeallunge".

Also...you know laying em down like that will remove their protective slime coat right?

I mean the fish will be fine but the next guy that walks that shoreline stretch might do a slimeslide and slip into the river

Jk (of course)

Nice job!

Pike.

When in doubt, all you've gotta do is look at are the caudal fins.

Pike

Ya pike is what I thought. And by the way, I popped the hook out right on the shoreline and never touhed the fish. Just after taking the pic I released it into the water literally a foot away. I assumed that handling a fish would remove its slime coating more than beaching it on rock because of the salt content of the human hand. Normally I try to avoid taking the fish out of the water at all unless I plan on taking a picture, but seldom do I lay them on the ground like that. I admitt it was pretty cold that night Thanks for the replies and good luck fishin.

Pike, geez.

I wouldn't worry about how you handle them or lay them on the ground. Fish are pretty hardy and what you did caused it virtually no harm.

I'm with Darth. I hate slipping on fish slime.

Pikeallunge. Oh geez.