horst Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Some of you may remember a northern I poted about losing last year out of a gravel pit.It was a monster around 40 inches long or better and in the 20 plus lb range. Since then as you can imagine Ive been fishing that pit much more regularly hoping to hook up with him again.The things is full of big northerns, a few years ago one a little over 22 lbs was caught through the ice there and I really believe theres fish in there that would push the state record. But they wont hit anything yesterday for example I was over there casting and had one approx 12 or 13 lbs follow my lure in and turn back out.I had another one last year slightly smaller than the big one I lost follow it in, and you can see them cruising the shallows at tmes about 3 ft off shore. ive tried every lure i can think of, Ive tried live bait which doesnt work at all, the turtles and bullheads suck the guts out of em as fast as you can throw em in.Ive fished primarily northerns and catfish my whole life but have never run into anyplace like this where the fish refuse to bite at all.Ive caught northerns when nobody else could get a bite but this has got me stumped,I suppose theres so many baitfish in there they dont have to eat as often or something but its getting pretty fruastrating watching these monster fish swim past and ignore everything I throw at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Try throwing a net. Nah, that would take the fun out of it. Are they bedding? Do they bed? What about the time of day? Or moon phase? I'm sure you've questioned all that. I hope you get one soon though. I hate it when they cruise by and there's nothing you can do. Good luck!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil hunter Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite maybe try throwin some old school lures that nobody uses anymore. I dunno if it will work or not, but at least it'd be a different lure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite DEADBAIT!!!!!!!!! Get some big deadbaits, like whitefish or suckers, stuff over 12" long. Get a big bobber and chuck it out and wait. If the bobber goes down, give it some time and set it hard. I've caught alot of big northerns this way. There are sometimes when they are not thast active, but they'll still pick up a suspended deadbait. I LOVE BIG NORTHERNS!!!!! Come on tomorrow, hurry up and get here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldawg Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Have you tried the suspending Smithwicks, or Rapala Husky Jerks. Reel them in some and then just stop & let it suspend in front of them pigs. Or, the Banjo minnow, or flying lures. Something different, and I've caught pike on all of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite I am with saskman. I suspect you have two problems. In a quarry i assume the water is probably clear? The visibility will allow the fish to see you or movemen ton shore and get spooked. Second, there is probably lots of forage. Throw out dead bait on a bobber and it is too easy a meal for them to pass up. Also do what you can to cast further, the longer your cast, the greater opportunity for the fish to hit while out of sight range of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Fisherguy, the water is crystal clear and I know theyre spotting me as they folow the bait in.Ive tried all sorts of live and dead bait though and the turtles in that pit have the belly ate out of them as soon as they hit the water On the bright side I got a whole coffee can full of different plastic baits last week and I havent seen anyone else using them, maybe something in that bucket will be what Ive been looking for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Even though it has been mentioned a couple times, I'd really go with something big if you want a big fish, big doesn't mean 6". When I'm fishing for really big pike, 40"ers and better I chuck big 10-12" bucktails or the biggest crankbaits I can find. I don't ever keep big fish but last trip we kept some pike in the 5-7lb range and all of them had whitefish in them over 8" long. What would you rather eat, a portion of a big steak or the whole big steak??? Big pike are maybe the most efficient predators in the waters I fish and they won't waste their energy on small meals if they can help it. I'm heading to the lake in a few hours and I'll be putting my theories to the test, I hope to have some pics for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Good luck saskman, Im heading to the tackle shop in a little bt to see what I can find for bigger lures, theyre kinda hard to come by around here because most folks dont target the size fish I do though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Well, I failed on my mission for a 40" pike, 36" was about the best. The big girls maybe haven't moved into the main lake cabbage beds yet. We did see one big fish following, same problem as you have. It was overcast and a bit choppy and contrary to one person's post we have by far our best pike action when it is sunny and calm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut_Buster Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Your in Iowa.. my bet is the crazy weather we've been haveing. So many fronts moveing through right now. I was fishing this weekend for muskie and just caught one small nothern. And i tried my hand at Smallmouths and didn't catch a thing. Also on my lake the wind was out of the east many times. Like my grandfater said "When the winds out of the east the fish bite the least." At least on the Hocombe Flowage where i fish. Hopefully next weekend the fish are a little more active with less fronts moving through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted June 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite Well, Long story short I drove 1 1/2 hours to a bigger sporting goods store with a much larger selection of tackle.I bought things Id never seen before, big lures, small lures, cranksbaits, spoons, spinners, bucktails, plastics, you name it I probably own it now Came back and got up at 5 yesterday morning, went to the pit and fished for 4 hours.Outta all the tackle I bought the only hit I got was on a 20 cent 5 inch twister tail {money well spent}Unfourtanately in the clear water I seen thefish coming, nice northern in the 10 lb range, he followed it to shore, I seen him hit it, and set the hook way to soon, he bit off the tail and swam away I think you may e right about the waether having a effect on things, the constant rain and wind seem to have the weeds and crap pretty stirred up in there, waters clear but theres stuff floating everywhere under the surface.Ill just keep trying I suppose, even if it means I have to spend all summer fishing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Re: Cant get em to bite [ QUOTE ] Ill just keep trying I suppose, even if it means I have to spend all summer fishing [/ QUOTE ] Man, I hate obligations like that!!!! Kinda puts a damper on all that work that needs to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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