Randy Shoff cementing the connection between angler and fish (photo by Scott Baker)
Scott Baker
Jaws—the greatest horror movie of all time. A giant beast of a fish appeared out of nowhere, only to disappear just as suddenly. A fish that cannot simply be caught; it must be hunted. There isn’t an angler out there who hasn’t craved landing that big one.
No, the RR Fishing Club hasn’t been searching for great whites, but we have been angling for a monster of a fish. We’re talking about the Great. Northern. Pike. A 40-plus incher that stirs up fear of what may be lurking just beneath the surface and makes you wish you had a bigger boat.
Accessible only via float plane, members of the Fishing Club embarked on an adventure, taking them into the remote Manitoba Canadian wilderness in search of that big pike of their dreams. Cobham River Lodge served as base camp with its 76,000 acres of trophy pike havens, hundreds of bays, and endless miles of shoreline.
Although no comparison to a 25-foot great white, pike are the apex predators in these waters and come dressed for the part—needle-sharp teeth, vacant eyes, thick slimy body, and serpentine shape. They’re aggressive, voracious eaters, attacking anything that creeps into range, including ducklings.
On the water, we scanned shallow cabbage weed beds, the pike’s prime feeding ground. It didn’t take long to hit pay-dirt. Using heavy action rods, bait-casting reels with 30-pound test line tipped with a steel leader, and silver spoon lures, the strike came in quickly and savagely. The rod was lifted and hook set. Utilizing its length for leverage, the pike’s long muscles propelled it from zero to scary fast in a blink. What an adrenaline-spiked experience!
Long minutes later, the beast surrendered alongside the boat. Spent from the battle, the fish remained momentarily docile, but caution was still demanded. Peering at its rows of curved teeth, like unsheathed claws of a house cat, the hook was gingerly removed from its upper jaw. Once secured, the 40-inch monster weighed in at 20 pounds.
And for dinner that night, pike, the culinary rock stars of freshwater fish. Simply grilled and deep fried, its firm, white flesh made for exceptional table fare.
Canada pike fishing is wilder than anything most folks have ever done before! The oftentimes maligned and misunderstood northern pike definitely deserves more respect from anglers. They’re easy to find, fight like a rocket, and make a memorable meal. These monsters transform any given day on the water into an epic fish tale. It’s where you fight the line for hours and go home with stories they won’t believe.