Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass are a lot of fun to catch because they hit hard and put up a great fight. Smallmouth Bass can be found in many lakes throughout Northern Ontario and the great lakes.

Smallmouth Bass concentrate on shorelines and off-shore shoals hiding in rocks, weeds, and submerged logs and trees. Smallmouth Bass are usually found in deeper water, when compared to other fish like Pike or Musky. They can be found in 2-20 feet of water or even deeper. The depth is not as important when fishing Smallmouths, what you need to be looking for is good underwater structure. If you can find an area that is filled with “Hiding Spots” for the fish then they are most likely there. Smallmouth Bass like cover, they like spots to hide.

The most rigorous feeding times for Smallmouth Bass is dusk (late evening, before it gets dark) and dawn (early morning, just before the sun rises)

Lures that are good for Smallmouth Bass are: spinners, ribbon tale grubs(eg. Mister Twisters), surface lures, small Rapalas, and of course live bait. Worms always work and almost ensure catching a fish. Crayfish, minnows, and frogs also work very well.

How to Fillet a Pike

Filleting a Pike

Filleting a pike is extremely hard because of the amount of bones in its fillet. This is what turns many anglers away from discovering the great taste of Pike fillets. De-boning a pike fillet is very difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. The most crucial part in de-boning a Pike is to remove the “Y” bone that runs along the length of the fillet. The way I find works best is removing the Y bone in one whole piece. Y bones are very fine, thin, hair like bones in the fillet. Eating a fillet that hasn't been de-boned is very unpleasant because of the ample amount of bones.

Once you have caught a decent sized pike to eat, you know need to fillet the fish. The shorter time the fish takes from the water to the cutting table, the better tasting it is. Remember: monster fish are not good to eat, they have high mercury levels within their bodies and do not taste as good, at the same time you want a big enough fish you yield two decent sized fillets.

Once you have opened the fish up, you can run your fingers along the inside of the fillet to feel where the Y bone is. This is a very hard process to explain and is better thought through a video. I have made this video to give you a visualization of what to do.

Keep in mind this is an expert who has done this for years, so do not expect your first pike fillet to be perfect. It takes practice

        

Northern Pike

Northern Pike Overview

One of my personal favorite fish is a northern pike. Not only do they taste great, but they put up a good fight on the line as well.  In northern Canada there are a substantial number of fresh lakes that are home to pike.  These fish are relatively easy to catch, but are hard to fillet. Pike are usually attracted to bright shiny colours and excessive movement under water. They can be found hiding off the weeds around shallow shoals, bays, and rivers. Pike are usually found in 10-15 feet of water with thick weeds. This can change depending on season. 

Recommended Lure for Pike

The lure I have had the most success with fishing for Pike is a Perch Rapala. Remember: bigger lure equals bigger fish. I generally go big or go home. So I use a 7 inch lure with 3 treble hooks. 

I have also had great success with  Black & Gold Rapalas, rapalas are a great lure for pike and every angler should have one in their tackle box. 

Everyone has their favorite lures, but if you don’t, choose one and stick with it. Do not change it after 3 or 4 casts. Have faith in your decision.

Identifying a pike

Northern Pike are torpedo like fish that are dark to light green  in colour with light oval spots all over its body.  A quick way to identify the fish is by looking at the head and jaw pike. Pike have large teeth and can be very powerful, don’t under estimate the danger of a fish flopping around with a hook hanging out of its mouth. Many people have wound up in the hospital with a hook through their finger, as a result of carelessness. 

-Pike loose their color slowly after they die. as scene with the smaller fish on the top.