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Pike Limit increase

by , Posted to on 11/06/2011 10:29 PM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/06/2011
Location: ND
www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp

This would be nice for those who like pike.  Every now and then i will keep my limit of pike.....thoughts?
T.S.G.B.
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/06/2011 10:03 PM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
I'm for it, the pike numbers are very high and very few anglers keep pike anyway.  I have always wondered why the limit was only 3.  Even if they do increase the limit to 5 I don't think there will be even a slightly noticeable impact.  I love eating pike, however I only keep them a few outings a year when I'm prepared to keep and clean them, and even if the limit is 5 it's doubtfull I would bring home more than 3 anyway.  Plus the general concensus of most ND anglers when it comes to pike is "not in my boat!"

Many of the smaller lakes that are almost overpopulated with pike and size stunted might benefit from an allowed increase in the harvest, but then again even if the limit is a hundred it doesn't matter if no anglers are keeping them anyway.
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/06/2011 10:14 PM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND
I'd be all for it and I'd implement only one over 30in.
svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/06/2011 10:23 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/04/2002
Location: ND
I would be for the increase for the reasons stated above. If you want to put a slot size limit on it, I would recommend 40. Keep it consistent with Muskie.

You can't aim a duck to death.

Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/06/2011 10:31 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND

I'd be fine with 40. 

svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/06/2011 10:42 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND
Well, now the fun...how often do you get a 40+?  I guess it depends on the body of water.  Hence the fun of the Game & Fish.  I would enjoy seeing the state fish managed for "whoppers".  Y'all should have seen the freakn' dinosaur I saw bust through a school of trout a couple weeks ago at the Tailrace.
svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 04:08 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/15/2002
Location: ND
I have been catching and releasing pike for 40 years and never kept any until this past Frifay,  I caught 5 big ones and was putting them back and a fisherman near me talked me into keeping one to eat.  I was a good fish meal. A 30 inch one made a meal for 3 of us.  I may think about keeping some if I can find a way to get rid of the slime before cleaning them.
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 06:05 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 09/11/2002
Location: ND

Increase it to 10 on Sak.  They should be fun catching through the ice

I say to hell with that pot o' gold.

Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 06:35 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/15/2002
Location: ND
I just googled pike slime and found where it can be removed with solution of  one part vinegar and three parts water.  I am going to try that on one and if it works it would be easier to clean them.
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 06:46 AM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/12/2007
Location: ND
I like the idea of an inrease in limit, but should it be statewide?  Maybe one over 36" would be a better slot suggestion.
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 06:53 AM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
The game and fish suggested a slot but said it would only be implemented to ease anglers concerns & opinions.  They stated that the harvest of larger fish would not have a negative impact on the pike population.  So I guess it all depends on how squeaky the slot wheels get to determine if one is implemented or not.

And really...I know it's possible, but how many times in your life have you caught 3  40" pike in one day? I'd say 8 out of 10 40" pike caught on sakakawea in the summer months are released just because anglers don't want em in the livewell.
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 07:06 AM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/03/2009
Location: nd
And really...I know it's possible, but how many times in your life have you caught 3  40" pike in one day? at least a dozen. not on sakakawea though

im all for getting to a 5 pike limit for those areas that are only at 3.
i would love to see a no keep slot 30-40 like LOTW, with 1 over 40.  give those 10-15 lbers a better shot at getting to 20-25.
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 07:27 AM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
I am in favor of this.  Even during dry conditions many of the other lakes in the state were still growing in pike numbers.  Now with wet conditions there probably isn't a lake in the state or stream in the state that isn't booming.  As gg mentioned, Sakakawea is a hammer handle nightmare.  Once they get a little bigger I think they will go to less annoying patterns but there is still no shortage of pike.

When it comes to a slot I guess in theory I am a fan of it as I think it would be nice to have a few trophy destinations in the state.  But I think we already have that.  Sakakawea will return to her form as the king of pike in about 8 years.  That usually is the time it seems the fish reach the 40 inch mark.  Perhaps they will be sooner to rise since forage is high in the lake and it appears we will remain decent in water level.

So is a 30 inch or whatever slot necessary?  Perhaps on smaller waters but then again, how many people actually keep a lot of pike?  I think the number is somewhat low but I've never seen a study.  Just going by "boat talk" as mentioned by multi, I think it is safe to say we probably don't have a lot of consistent limit takers.

I keep probably one or two limits a year for people who want them for the pickle or smoke jar.  After my brother and I tore into some at the dinner table after an ice fishing trip I think I will do that again.  Pretty tasty...darn things still are a pain to clean though.  I imagine after getting more proficient at the task it won't be so bad.

But yeah, in favor of a limit increase since not many keep pike anyway.




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 risovitaxidermystudio.com
Jig-em-Up Guide Service | Grand Forks, ND | 701-739-9198 jig-em-up-guide-service.com

 
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 07:37 AM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
Just for fun, how many pike did we keep this year and how many can we guess we released.

in 2011 I kept about 12 pike give or take 1 and I bet I released no less than 200.
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 07:42 AM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/06/2002
Location: ND
Most people see water and assume that it is in a healthy state for the fish. G&F are being proactive in my opinion hedging against a down turn in water supply and quality. Thus the idea that it is better to have them use the fish then lose the fish to winter kill,algae bloom that deplete the oxygen etc... and the fact that right now things are booming! In regards to slot limits and size etc... again most as stated is more to appease anglers unwarranted fears!

We target pike for the table quality, easier to find and catch, great fighters especially for kids. Not sure an increase in limit would increase the number of fish our family would take home, but I do know that on some lakes that hold only pike, it would be nice to remove some of the excessive numbers and a few new areas that are flood stocked to take them out prior to freezing out!
In my lifetime I have seen fence row to fence row farming and the return of CRP and game to the landscape.Now we face again the prosepect of fence row to fence row again! Sportsman are our own worst enemy in that we fail to look forward and focus to much on the now!
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 07:46 AM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/26/2010
Location: nd
multi-species-angler Said:
Just for fun, how many pike did we keep this year and how many can we guess we released.

in 2011 I kept about 12 pike give or take 1 and I bet I released no less than 200.
I usually keep 10 or so pike a year when I'm hungry for fish and the freezer is empty.  I like them, but like you said "not in the boat".

Probably released in the ball park of 100. 

Live hard! Die happy!
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 07:55 AM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
Pike are tasty, just a more difficult fish to clean that a walleye, perch or gill. 

One of the ways to remove the slime if you are interested in catching some to keep is to just take a couple of old newspapers with you.  They work well in desliming a pike.

As far as ease of removing the bones, only practice will help with that. 


I think one of my favorite ways of eating pike is to have it smoked.  I have never done it but I grew up with a guy whose father smoked them and they were fantastic!
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 08:01 AM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
Hardwaterman Said:
Most people see water and assume that it is in a healthy state for the fish. G&F are being proactive in my opinion hedging against a down turn in water supply and quality. Thus the idea that it is better to have them use the fish then lose the fish to winter kill,algae bloom that deplete the oxygen etc... and the fact that right now things are booming! In regards to slot limits and size etc... again most as stated is more to appease anglers unwarranted fears!
agreed
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 08:21 AM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/23/2007
Location: ND
I have kept 14 this summer all over 10 lbs.  I have released probably 400 under ten.  I only keep the bigger fish they are easier to clean and imo taste better.  If they raised the limit I would most likely target big ones in the spring and keep one limit of bigger fish every year.  All fourteen were caught and kept incidental to walleye fishing in the tail race.

Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 08:39 AM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
Hardwaterman Said:
Most people see water and assume that it is in a healthy state for the fish. G&F are being proactive in my opinion hedging against a down turn in water supply and quality. Thus the idea that it is better to have them use the fish then lose the fish to winter kill,algae bloom that deplete the oxygen etc... and the fact that right now things are booming! In regards to slot limits and size etc... again most as stated is more to appease anglers unwarranted fears!

We target pike for the table quality, easier to find and catch, great fighters especially for kids. Not sure an increase in limit would increase the number of fish our family would take home, but I do know that on some lakes that hold only pike, it would be nice to remove some of the excessive numbers and a few new areas that are flood stocked to take them out prior to freezing out!
I'm sure it all factors in but we do not have a shortage of water and I'm somewhat confused by the quality statement.  I mean, I understand the ponds, etc go in stages with their life but I remember the late 90's and early 2000's when they boomed and survived quite a few years.  I don't know if we have to worry too much about a lack of water but hell, we are always one day away from being in a drought.

But yeah, killing fish by man versus nature killing it is a big part of the equation too.




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 risovitaxidermystudio.com
Jig-em-Up Guide Service | Grand Forks, ND | 701-739-9198 jig-em-up-guide-service.com

 
Re: Pike Limit increase
by on 11/07/2011 09:01 AM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/01/2008
Location: ND
multi-species-angler Said:
Just for fun, how many pike did we keep this year and how many can we guess we released.

in 2011 I kept about 12 pike give or take 1 and I bet I released no less than 200.

I kept 0 and I released an estimated 250-300.  I guess I don't play my part in this.  I am all for an icrease in limit because there are plenty to go around for those that do take them home.

"Diligence is the mother of good luck."
Benjamin Franklin

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Posted On: 11/06/2011 10:29 PM
2113 Views, 48 Comments

Tags: limit, pike, increase, www.kxnet.com, getarticle.asp, pike.....thoughts, nice
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Region: North Dakota

Categories: Fishing > Pike and Muskie Fishing
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