Fish-Hawk.Net

Went to Dad's Gone Fishing yesterday for some minnows and advice. Walked out with some new grubs, jigs, minnows and tons of very welcomed advice. Headed out to the St. Lawrence around 5 and put it all to use. Wanted to catch my first walleye but that did not happen. I found though pike are great fun to catch. I only caught two, kept one. After filleting it I have decided I need a class on it rather than You Tube videos. The evening was a bit windy but it died off around 7. The river calmed and I found it hard to concentrate on fishing with all of the critters that came out. Saw something that looked like a ferret. Have no idea what it was but it was fun to watch. I gave up on serious fishing when a beaver decided to make it's presence known. I could cast and it made a point of going anywhere I was and slapping it's tail. I had the camera but it was getting a bit dark and I did not want to startle it with a flash. Was great fun and will be heading out again very soon!!!

Congrats on your first pike. They are a pain to fillet. I'm lucky I have a neighbour who is really good at it and likes to eat pike.....

That thing that looked like a ferret might have been a muskrat. A muskrat has a rat-like tail and will often swim close to your boat.

If it was near the shore it was most likely a mink.

Congratulations on your first pike. Pike are a blast to catch and are excellent eating. They get a bad rap because of the bones.

Congrats on your first outing, sounds like you had a great time.
I suspect the critter you saw was a mink. I've been seeing more mink on the St. Lawrence the last few years.

DropShot'r

Congrats on your first pike.

Grats man! Pike are a very overlooked fish in general...

Congrats on your 1st Pike....I bet now that you know how fun they are it won't be your last.

Certainly will not be my last!!! My mom in law loves pike so I will keep a few now and again. Thanks for all the kind words.....I do think the critter was a mink not a muskrat. Tail was bushy but way too long to be a squirrel. It also did go for a bit of a swim...

Pike are just as tasty as Walleye and Crappie. It takes some practice to be able to get out the Y bones. However, once you are able to do that, you will have an abundant source of tasty pike (snot rockets are the best for eating)

congrats on your first pike !