Went to a friend's cottage up by Mt St Marie and did a bit of fishing on the small lake that they are on (Lac Tucker).
The kids and I started off in the evening off the dock, my son broke the skunk by catching a bluegill but then the bass started to break the surface of the water. I immediately switched rods to one with a hula popper on and after a couple of nibbles my lure was smashed by a smallmouth. The kids were squealing with delight as the bass treated us to some spectacular aerials and I did my best to stay calm and tire the fish ut before landing it. When we got it in the net I saw immediately that is was a personal best. Measured at 19 inches long and weighed in at just under 3.5lbs on my scale.
Here are some pictures (as you can see I made a mess of lining up the tape measure, but you get the idea.
Proud moment before putting it back in.
Next day I ventured out alone in a rowing boat and worked along some lily pads with a tube lure. After no success I cast right out towards the middle of the lake and felt a hit from a fish. I am rather inexperienced but it felt different to me but the fish was putting up one hell of a fight, peeling off the drag etc. Then I caught a glimpse if it and realised it was my very first Northern pike!
I stayed as calm as I could and netted it and took some pictures. As you can see they are not very good pictures as I was alone and a bit nervous of getting bitten and tipping the boat. I measured it at roughly 27 inches and it weighed in at 6lbs.
Too bad I couldn't get a good picture of me holding the pike up for the camera, but there is always a next time.
Before I go I want to thank some of the members here with advice on hook sets as that really helped.
