For the amount of Black Crappie vested in Maine, there is very little fishing pressure on them. Low pressure equals an abundance of fish. When fishing for Maine Crappie think light. Light action rods and light line. Most of us know how many Maine Lakes and Ponds hold Maine Black Crappie. If you are an avid fisherman, Maine Black Crappies are usually a by-catch. The thing is, Maine Crappie fishing can be down right exciting. With the number of people targeting Maine Crappie as low as it is, you can expect the abundance to continue.

Known as Specs down south, Crappie are a schooling fish. Much like White Perch, when one is found, many others are likely to follow. While visiting my Southern friend, Whi Willie, he showed me some of the finer points of southern style crappie/spec fishing. Whi would take me into grass to jig fish for Specks. You can call them Crappie if you like, but I will advise you to call them Specs while your down South. You will be corrected less often. Whi would say to me"You Northeners call them Crappie, but down here we call them Specs." He would then spit his chew in disgust. He would say this every time I said Crappie. It almost became a game. I would call them Specks for a while, then, I would blurt out Crappie. The same oration would result "You Northeners call them crappie, but down here we call them Specks." Then the spit. I bet he rehearsed this in his sleep. I had fun with it. I don't know if he did.

Getting back to Maine Speck fishing, I mean Maine Crappie, you have to be used to jigging in cover with extremely small jig heads. Jig heads should be no larger than a 1/16th ounce. More typically a 1/32 or 1/64 will do a good gig. Another important point is line size. Two pound test line loaded on an ultra light pole will do you wonders when targeting the Maine Crappie. But all jigs are not the same.

You want a jig that lies level. If it doesn't, than position the knot so that it will. Whi gave me a few of his jig heads to bring north. He fishes them on quick release clasp. He can do this because his jigs have a center of gravity that is aligned with the jig's eye. This enables the jig to lie level when no action is exerted on it. It also allows the jig to appear to swim up and swim down when the pole tip is moved up and down. This swimming action will drive the Maine Crappie, I mean Maine Specs, nuts.

With a balanced jig head, the jig head is designed with some additional weight forward to compensate for the weight of the hook. The design is to balance the weight on the center of the eyelet.

A regular jig head has the weight of the hook dragging its tail down.

To compensate for this, slide the knot to the right side of the eyelet. This will keep the jig level and running true. Make sure to check it after each dip because the knot will easily slide forward with the slightest snag or nip.

Fishing for Maine Crappie takes a little getting used to. You aren't fishing for Bass. Maine Black Crappie have much smaller mouths that are easily torn. Do not set the hook like a Pro Bass Angler when you are fishing for Maine Crappie. You have to be gentle but firm. I like to use a light action rod when targeting Maine crappie. I get more fun out of it and it is guaranteed to be easy on the Maine Black Crappie's mouth.

If this is your first time targeting Maine Crappie, start out with a 1/8th once jig head and four pound test line. I know I said 1/116th before, but a 1/8th jig head is easier to handle. Work your way to a 1/32nd as you get comfortable with the light line and jigs. The higher strength line may account for fewer strikes, but it will insure enough power to pull them out of weeds. You get used to it. Work your way down to smaller jigs and lines once your confidence comes up. And remember, tip up upon the strike. Let your rod do the work. If you have chosen a light action rod, set the drag fairly high. The rod will do all the work.

Maine Crappie do not run too far. They are persistent and will make four or five dives as you pull them towards the boat, but reel slowly and let the rod do the work. Your landing rate will be significantly higher this way.

Another important factor in your success is the bait. For first timers use the smallest live bait you can get your hands on. If the bait is too small for a 1/8th jig head, down size to a 1/16th. We are talking ultra light gear here.

For Spring, target areas that go from 0 to 40 feet rather abruptly. The magic depth is usually around twenty-five feet. Target shelves, steep embankments and points. I like to use the 1/8th jig head for going this deep and two pound test line. It enables the jig to reach target depths faster. Try to pitch away from the boat and use a long rod if possible. Crappie rods from eight to ten feet are available from Cabela's. They are a little stiff for my liking but work fine if worked gently. There is nothing wrong with using a fly rod for this type of fishing. Its smooth action may give you an edge. The casting may be a little tricky, but you'll figure it out.

I can see it now. L.L. Bean offering a free crappie fly fishing rod with every Polar Craft Boat purchase. Wouldn't that be a kick!

Getting back to the Maine Crappie. When the water begins to warm, just around 72* to 73*, the Maine Crappie will get an urge to spawn. Maine Crappie will begin to move shallow and set up next to vegetation that will hold on to there sticky eggs till hatched. So look for them in shallow water or where the under water weed beds are thick. The trick here is to know the difference between a snag and a hit. If you are an experienced angler, it won't take long. If you are an inexperienced angler, there is no better place to start than here.

Spawning Crappie are very defensive and will attack your jig quickly. Raise your rod when you feel the tap. They almost hook themselves, but you have to be quick. The larger the Maine Crappie the better. But you have to get through the small ones to reach the large ones. If the weather is warm, make sure to place them on ice so that their fillets remain fresh.

Good luck on the water. And remember, it is more than just a crap shoot when it comes to Maine Crappie.

I've done some of the research for you and tried a few spots. I know I may get stoned for telling you this, but Maine Northern Pike fishing can be a great sport for those who give it a try.

Like most fisherman, I stumbled on Maine Northern Pike. I wasn’t really targeting Maine Northern Pike, but I was catching them. After a while, I wanted to up the ante and began targeting large Maine Northern Pike. If you want to be successful at Northern Pike fishing in Maine, think about what it is like to be a hunter. If you think like a hunter, you will be thinking like a Maine Pike.

Big Maine Pike are the best ambush hunters around; by laying in wait and move slowly, Pike stalk their prey; Maine Pike are able to conserve energy and stay safe this way. Large Maine Pike are territorial and have been known to attack each other. The hunter becomes the hunted.

When Maine Northern Pike become mature enough to spawn, they will hang in the shallows just before or after ice out; they are waiting for the spawn. They are not interested in food. But, like most spawning fish, they can be antagonised into biting. After the spawn, which varies widely, they are tired, hungry and cold. Fishing opportunities may be best with bait. As the temperature reaches 55*, the action improves.

If fishing in early spring, try dead bait on a floating rig. Many Mainers have luck with dead sea run smelt, suckers and duck legs. If they are not available from your bait dealer, try your bait of choice instead. Hang the bait two feet or less below the float in shallow waters and watch out. This type of early fishing can be boring, but it beats getting skunked.

Maine Northern Pike move to deeper areas as the water begins to warm. They can also stach up in shallow water around spring holes as the temperature warms. Vaguely resembling an alligator, you would think this cold blooded creature would like warm water. Their preferred water temperature is between 55* and 60* with high oxygen levels. Even though Maine Pike like it cool, they will move into warmer water to feed. I find the shallows productive on cool summer mornings.

Maine Northern Pike are ambush hunters that also like a chase once the water temperatures rise. While sitting in wait for prey, they are at times more likely to chase a steady lure presentation then a stop and go. Keep this in mind when bass fishing. Bass are more likely to hit a crippled bait, stop and go, presentation than Northern Pike. But I have caught my fair share of Pike on a stop and go presentation too!

Maine Pike also love bling…..they are attracted to the flash. And, if you fall in the water with a lot of heavy metal on, God help you. But seriously, they love flashy spoons or spinners dressed with flo-orange. I like to cut the tail off a brightly colored tube and slip it over the treble hook to increase the size of the presentation. Maine Pike seem to love it.

Remember; keep thinking like a hunter if you want to think like a Pike. Pike are attracted to cover such as banks, rock piles, grass and mooring anchors. Anywhere they can hang out with a good view and not be noticed, that’s prime Maine Pike territory. With this in mind, cast your lure around the inside curves of grass lines or banks. Maine Pike like to nestle into a comfortable spot and hunt. But they also do enjoy a good chase.

While one dear fisherman tried fishing for them with a fly rod, he asked his friend, who was gearing up on the bank, “Why do you like to fish for Pike with a fly rod?” The fisherman in the water was at the end of his retrieve and just beginning to lift his fly out of the water to recast. At that very moment a bruiser Pike jumped out of the water scaring the fisherman to death. As he ran up the bank, he looked at his friend and said “What the hell was that?!!!” “A Pike!” the friend answered. “That’s why I like fishing for them on a fly rod!”

So if you’re on your boat and a pike lunges out of the water at your lure, don’t be afraid. It usually happens once or twice on every outing after temperatures reach 60*. I haven’t heard of a Pike ending up in the boat, but I’m sure it has happened.

Remember, steady flashy retrieves around cover will provide the best results. Don’t forget that water depth will be used by Pike as cover also, so let your presentation acquire some depth if fishing deep areas like channels. Some of the biggest Pike I’ve caught in Maine were sitting on the bottom, around some sort of cover, before they hit my lure. Channel edges are great for holding large Pike. Depending on the time of year, they will hug the channel edges or abutting grasses to stalk prey.

Another important thing to know is that Pike love to smash large lures from the side in an attempt to stun their prey. I have hooked several Maine Pike right between the eyes because of this. The force of their hit was so hard it drove my treble hook right into its snout. And if you know anything about Maine Pike, that’s a hard snout. They are truly an amazingly strong fish.

What about gear? Well, if you do not use a steel leader, you will loose half or more of your fish. Pike have teeth. Do not put any part of your hand in its mouth. They will draw blood if you do! I use a Boga Grip to handle mine.

As far as line weight, that is up to you. I once landed a twelve and a half pound fish on ten pound test. It’s all in how you play the fish and how lucky you are. If they manage to get into the weeds, light line will be a problem. When targeting pike, a heavy line doesn’t hurt. And remember, the more bling the better.

Now that you are armed with some relevant techniques and gear information, let me give you a few places to try some fishing. If this is your first time Pike fishing, try Sabattus Pond. I have caught Bass and Pike from one end to the other. I like the far channel in early spring and the eastern shore as the year progresses. Hey, don’t fish it out……OK!

Another nice Pond is Great Pond in the Belgrade area. It has receives a lot of pressure, but the Pike fishing is still Great. No pun intended. John Blaise picked up a nine pounder there this spring, so I know the place is still happening. You can’t always believe me, but you should believe this post; I’m turning you on to some real fun fishing!

OK let’s see. I heard the pike fishing in Long Pond is good too, but I haven’t fished it myself. Messalonskee is a good lake but slow for pike. You might do better Bass fishing in this lake. All of the Belgrade chain has Pike.

If you would like to read a little more on Pike, check out these two links. The State of Maine Strategic Management Plan can be a little dry as far as the reading goes, but it is filled with great information. And In-Fisherman is always a great resource.

Happy Piking

Be careful of all the Stones out there!

Have you ever wished for something and then, once you've opened it, wonder why you wished for it in the first place? I have......I do it all the time. Remember the Sears' Wishbook? I would spend months dreaming of things to come just by thumbing through that book. Oh....the dreams that book created; they were actually more fun than what I recieved.

Today, I have a different Wishbook. It's called the Cabela's Master Catalog. It's in the same format as the Sears' Wishbook, and I look at it several times a week. This time of year the book gets more usage due to the fact that I have more time to dream. To dream about fishing that is. And the dreams that come out of the Cabela's Wishbook are far better than any found during an average night's sleep.

I like to look, and I like to dream. I like to dream of the way a fish will inhale a particular lure; I mark the page with a Post It if the dream is enticing enough. Frequently, I will go back, change my mind, and reindex the pages with different items hi-lighted for future consideration. It's more fun than actually purchasing the items. Oh, how I love my Wishbook.

I did find a reason to order some items the other day. And the best part of it is, the items are not for me, they are for my nephew. That way, I won't be dissapointed when they arrive. And I'm sure my nephew will be thrilled! My nephew would become a fishing fanatic if his father enabled him. Well, guess what? I'm the Enabler! "OH How Sweet It Is!" to quote the late Jackie Gleason. And, that is also how I feel when I open the Wishbook....I mean Cabela's Master Catalog.

I keep looking through my Wishbook for floating plastic worms. They are a sure killer when hooked to a jig. The worm's bouency keeps it up and the jig head keeps it down. The equation equals a diagonal presentation with the worm popping off the bottom looking like a feeding baitfish when retrieved. Killer....killer....killer presentation for all types of fish.

So, I had to order something for his birthday! Hey, he is my God Child, and I am The Enabler. That's right! It's my job. Too bad I'm not Sicilian.

Well, to make a long order short, I forgot to place the order in time. It wouldn't show up in time for his birthday. I could use express shipment, but then I wouldn't have to go to Dick's Sporting Goods to pick out something else. You see where I'm going with this? It's really not about the purchase, it is about the picking and searching that really intriques and delights me. I can't disappoint my God Child can I?

I'm off to Dick's! Or was that the Sports Authority?

Shalom.

Maine Largemouth Bass fishing in can be fun. You’ll have better luck when the water is over 60*. Maine Largemouth Bass fishing is popular through out the State with hundreds of well established ponds to support the sport. When thinking about Maine Largemouth Bass, think of shade; Maine Largemouth Bass prefer shady conditions. They are most active between 60*f and 80*f. They like to hide in grasses, submerged tree limbs. under docks and position themselves next to underwater structure.

Underwater structure is defined as a change in the bottom conditions. A large flat may not have changes in the lake bottom. But the flat will have structure. Some areas may have bulrush, lily pads, or boulders. They all are considered underwater structure. And Maine Largemouth Bass like to hang next to them. Maybe is makes them feel safe. The hunters can always become the hunted.

While fishing for Maine Largemouth Bass, remember that Maine law bans the use of live bait from April 1st to June 20t; only artificial lures are allowed during this time. There are more Largemouth Bass fishing techniques than I can go over in this article. So, I’m going to review a four Maine Largemouth bass fishing techniques that have worked for me; tubes, spinner baits, wacky worms and the Dawg.

I want to remind you that I’m not the definitive answer to bass fishing. I do not fish in tournaments, and I do not fish exclusively for bass. But I do catch and release my fair share of Maine Largemouth Bass, and I know of a few Maine Bass fishing techniques that have worked for my friends and me in the past.

In case you are not familiar withMaine Largemouth Bass, let’s first review what they look like and the difference between a Largemouth Bass and a Smallmouth Bass.

First, a Maine Largemouth Bass has a strong stripe on its lateral line; the line that runs along the center of the bass’s side. A Maine Smallie (Smallmouth Bass) does not have this marking. Also, the Largemouth’s smile extends beyond an imaginary vertical line that passes through its eye. Take a look at the links above; the differences are pretty easy to figure out.

Now, let’s take a look at Tube Fishing, Spinner Bait Fishing, The Wacky Worm and Walking the Dawg.

Tube Fishing for Maine Largemouths : Tube fishing is most productive when fish are off the bite and sluggish. This might be right after a cold front moves in or while the water is in the lower sixties or below. My most productive tube is made by Canyon Plastic and it comes pre-rigged with a plastic weed guard and a 1/8 oz weight. Canyon Plastics is the company that was originated by Gary Garland and his brother. They invented tube fishing. But that is not why I like it, I like it because it works. Make sure you slide the weed gaurd forward letting it dangle for better hook sets. I fish it in the color of electric blue until mid June if water is clear, and then move on to black with a chartreuse tail. I don’t use these colors exclusively, they are my starting colors. I then work my way to Pumpkin, Purple, Chartreuse, and Motor Oil. You won’t find this pre-rigged version on the Canyon Plastics web site but give them a call; you can order directly from them if you wish. If you don’t have time for that, stop in to the Kittery Trading Post. They usually have the first two colors in stock.

I catch most of my Maine Largemouth Bass with this tube by casting into two to five feet of water. Try a cast abutting a weed bed, then watch the line as the lure descends. If you see anything irregular in your line path, set the hook. If you don’t hook up, the instant the lure hits bottom start your retrieve, stay in contact with the tube by using a slow steady retrieve. Bump it along the bottom with intermittent quick hops; do this by varying the lift of your rod tip while retrieving. Try to imagine what the lure is running into. If you feel a tap, set the hook. It takes a little practice, but this technique can be very productive when the water is cold or the fishing is slow. The lure action should look something like this.

I also flip the tube into 3 inches of water and begin the retrieve from there. If you are new to this type of fishing and not familiar with your rod’s sensitivity, I recommend you start with this technique in 3 inches of clear water. Get a feel for what the rod is telling you. You want the tube to rise slightly (6” - 18”) off the bottom then bump its way along. Vary the height of its jumps off the bottom as you retrieve the lure. Try different speeds while retrieving, and try to get a feeling for the tube. Pretty soon you will know what the tube is doing without seeing it.

Once you become familiar with tubes, try rigging them with different hooks, weights and patterns. The trick is to rig the tube to descend in a swirling pattern. Many people fish tubes hollow with no weight inside of them. It is not my preferred method, but many people have good luck this way. They believe the bubbles leaving the tube make a big difference in the presentation. I haven’t found this to be the case here in Maine.

Spinner Bait Fishing for Maine Largemouths: When it comes to spinner baits, you either have it or you don’t. It is all in the retrieve. Spinner baits are best fished at a constant rate of speed intermingled with changes of direction and short pauses. I hate to use the word pause because it denotes a pause in action or speed. With a spinner bait neither is true.

When you pause a spinner-bait, the action doesn’t stop. The spinner bait will fall on a pause; the action is really changing not pausing. And if you pause it for a fraction of a second, the pause is hardly noticeable. If you pause it momentarily, the spinner bait falls to the bottom in a helicopter fashion. For Maine Bass Fishing, the spinner bait and the pause go together.

The Bait Fish Pause: This pause will mimic the pause a school of bait fish makes just before changing direction. And that is not a very long pause when bait fish are being pursued by a Largemouth Bass. Try retrieving the spinner bait straight towards you, pause and quickly move your rod tip to the left. Then quickly begin retrieving, pause, retrieve, pause, retrieve, change direction. Mix it up a little! Run it across the top of a weed bed somthing like this.

You have to develop a style of your own. You also have to develop a quick hook set and there is no better a place than to do this than on the water.

I like using a large single Colorado Blade when using this technique. Your rod should be sensitive enough to feel the vibration of the blade. If the vibration stops during a retrieve, set the hook. As with the tube, it is important to stay in contact with the spinner bait by feeling its vibration.

Largemouth Bass will generally attack your spinner bait on the fall, the pause, but it won’t be in its mouth for long. Quick hook sets are essential when it comes to spinner-bait fishing. Largemouth Bass have sensitive mouths and use them to determine what type of bait they have encountered. Once the bass feels the metal, you have to set your hook quickly. Keep your pauses short and stay in contact with your lure. A half second pause is the max and a quarter second pause is more of the norm for this type of retrieve.

The Skipping PauseAnother spinner bait presentation I have found affective during the summer months is the skip. Not many people used it, and I stumbled upon it while trying to skip over a dense weed bed. This presentation works best with a set of willow leaf blades. I like the drag they create and the amount of splash they provide. Cast your spinner bait to the opposite side of a weed bed. With a quick retrieve skip it across the top of the water; keep your rod tip high. Pause the spinner bait slightly when a clearing becomes available and then quickly continue the skip. This method can be affective once the sun moves higher in the sky and bass are hiding in the weeds.

I came across this entry while browsing our site and thought it should be re posted to keep it current. Many times when we are looking for fishing information, our efforts are hampered by the engine we are using. I like to use HotBot when Google comes up short. What ever the case, have fun fishing. Here is a reposting of Dick Penney's Article:

Chris Henson at Kittery Trading Post's fishing department says that there are a lot of misconceptions about trolling streamer flies for salmon and trout. "You have to judge the mood of the day to the variances of what you do to become a steady, productive streamer fly troller."

"If you are trolling with more than one line, it's important that they both be the same type of line, as mixing fly line or leadcore lines with mono lines is going to produce a lot of tangles. Mono line cuts through the water but fly lines more or less follow the path of the boat. So the mono will cut across the path of the fly line or leadcore lines and produce the tangles. Also, leadcore will track somewhere between what mono and fly line will do and is not compatible with either at times."

"Smart fly trollers will never start with duplicate flies on each line. You want to have a dark fly, such as the gray ghost or nine-three patterns on one line and a brighter fly such as the black ghost or Mickey Finn on another line. If you have more than two lines out, make sure that third line has a different fly pattern. When you find out what colors are working, then change over."

"Only on rough days would we recommend fishing with a floating fly line and then a light split shot may be needed to keep your fly in the right depth. Sink tip lines are okay for dark and rough days. For the bright, calm days, a long full sinking fly line is the key, along with a leader that can be as long as you choose, but should be at least the length of your fly rod."

"Fish your fly lines at different lengths from the boat. You'll want to try a short line off the back of the boat that rides deep enough to stay in the prop wash that can be back from 10 to 15 feet to around 40 feet. Your other lines should be back from 50 to 100 feet, depending on the length of your fly line. Cortland makes a trolling, sinking fly line that is 50 yards long and is very popular among fly trollers."

"Try to keep your boat on structure, either over schools of smelt or ledges or humps. Don't just take a boat ride with a predetermined destination! If you catch a fish don't just keep going. Turn around and hit that same place again at least a couple of times and if you keep catching fish there, stick with them until they stop hitting and then head to a different location."

"Trolling in a straight line isn't the best idea as making turns will vary the speed of your flies. On a turn, if you get a hit on an outside line, you know the fish liked the faster fly speed. A hit on the inside line should acknowledge the fact that hit came on the slower fly. Vary your speed accordingly. Keeping your rod in hand and imparting a jigging action will almost always increase your luck."

"Some people don't realize what the difference is between a single hook fly and a tandem hook fly. A fish hooked on a long single hook has a lot of leverage on the hook and often enables a fish to twist and throw the hook. Because the back hook of a tandem hook streamer is flexible, a fish is less apt to be able to shake that hook. For smaller flies, it's okay to go with a single hook. For the larger flies, stick with the tandems," Chris said.

I held the reel in the palm of my hand and attached it to my fly rod that was yearning for use. I had stored the rod, a nine weight St. Croix, carefully in its case last year; it was begging me to attach the reel.

Pflueger has always been my choice for fly fishing reels. The 1598RC is a work horse reel with no frills; it reminds me of my past. Its simple drag system is easy to clean; its exposed face easy to palm for extra drag. The reel is not flashy and makes no claims to impress the abutting flyhead you may encounter.

I smiled at Bill as I threaded the 9wfs line through the rod's eyelets. My leader, a 30lb fluorocarbon, was not tapered. I attached it to the fly line using a nail knot made with a tool purchased from Cabelas. The knot was strong and secure.

As we headed out on the water, I detected a small glean in Bill's eyes. He couldn't help it. He's a dye hard bait fisherman when it comes to fall pike; he knew I wasn't going to catch a thing with my flashy bling studded fly. I begged to differ with him but he wouldn't let me.

We approached the edge of the channel and found a stay; Bill threw the anchor overboard and tied us off. The day was cloudy but the temperature was bearable. We left the top down so I could make a few mistakes on my backcast. Bill grabbed the captain’s chair after he plunked two bait lines over the stern. One line was baited with a dough of Bill's own creation and the other was baited with last year's ocean run smelt. I knew he had the upper hand. Maybe his technique would help me. Scent is always a good way to attract Pike.

I began to cast. The fly's heavy stance and the size of the rod was a toll on me. I finally began to find a rhythm. I needed a fast retrieve to stop the fly from catching bottom. The combination of the fly's weight while being attached to a fast sinking line produced a quick sink rate; a sink rate I was unhappy with. It meant I would have to keep the fly on the move or catch bottom. Twenty, twenty-five, then thirty minutes proceeded with out a hit. Bill's posture had changed. He was up and about. We were both getting itchy and ready to move on!

We eased down stream to a spot where the channel met a small bay. Bill set anchor as I piloted us into position. He then threw his old dough ball overboard and put on a new batch of God knows what! I started to search my boxes for a marshmallow to add to my fly and came up with some Nitro Floating Gems. They would do.

I began to cast. The small piece of Nitro added buoyancy to the heavy fly. This meant I could slow down my presentation. I whipped the water, and then let my fly sink. One, two, three, four, five.....I would count between strips. One, two, three, four, five....Bill looked at me with that glean in his eye.

Fifteen minutes past. Then, I felt a jolt. It was Bill jumping from the helm. His bobber had just sunk out of sight. I watched as Bill patiently let the fish take line. It took the dough ball! Finally, it just blurted out of me "Reel, Bill Reel!" He closed the bail, set the hook and landed a twenty-four inch pike. Not bad for a Dough Boy!

I continued my casting and whipping of the water. I said I wasn't a fly fisherman. I just wanted to catch Pike on a fly rod!

The problem I have with bait fishing is that is just too passive for me. I like to move, cast and do things. But I wasn't catching any fish. I looked at his bucket of dough. And yes, I was tempted to join him. "If you want to bait fish, I've got plenty of dough" Bill smirked. "No thanks" I replied.

I looked down at my fly; I was tempted to cut it off. But it was my creation and I wanted it to work. Then Bill got another hit. As he set the hook the line went limp. I looked at him and laughed. I then saw his pole double over. It was definitely a Pike, and it headed for the deepest part of the channel. He played the fish as I readied the Boga Grip. It flashed as it came to the boat and then it was gone; it was gone to the depths of the channel again.

This time it approached the boat with a surrendering attitude. It thrashed its head as I lounged for it with the Boga. I missed! The Pike made one last ditch effort but came back to the surface quickly. I clipped on the Boga to its lower jaw. Five and half pounds the gauge read. This one was hooked a little deeper and drew blood from my hands as I attempted to unhook it.

I looked at Bill and was going to say.....but he beat me to it! "I'll set the hook quicker" he shouted out before I could begin my scoffing at him. It really pisses me off when fishermen let a fish swallow the bait if they are not planning on keeping the fish.

We resumed our game, but I switch spots with Bill this time. I took the rear and had him cast off the front. "And grab your own @X&# fish this time!" I blasted with a smile. What's a little blood among friends? "Hey, give me a glob of that stuff!" I demanded. I then proceeded to place a piece of dough above the treble of my fly.

I short cast this time, not wanting to knock the bait off my treble on a strong back cast. One, two, three....BANG! "Wow.....Wow.....Oh No" I stated as the fish made a strange circle around the boat. Suddenly, it was taking line off two poles. I looked at Bill and said "Reel or No Reel? That is the question!"

We tried to untangle Bill's line but it was too late. My line was well entangled with his. We just let it go.

Since this was my first time with a Pike on a fly rod, I was surprised at the amount of force I had to palm the reel with to slow the Pike's decent. When I tried to recover line, I couldn't do it fast enough. This fish made several passes as most pike do, but my fumbling with the rod seemed to make every turn an adventure.

As it approached the boat, I noticed it was thinly hooked in the lip, and said a Hail Mary while lunging for its lip. I pinched its lower jaw with my Boga and proceeded to boat the Pike. My first Pike on a fly rod and was I happy! It weighed six and half pounds. I looked at Bill and said "biggest fish today" with a smile that would have embarrassed a Cheshire Cat.

Bill looked at me and smiled back. "I hate to inform you, but half that fish is mine." I looked down to see Bill's hook embedded in the Pike's dorsal fin. "That's illegal Bill....that's illegal! This fish is all mine!" I countered. Bill replied "But Marc, you landed it legally, I'm only claiming my half now that it is on board!"

Bill looked at me and quipped "I just have one question....Reel or No Reel?"

Sometimes, the best of times, are just blurted out of you!

I was fishing for bass with a root bear colored Senko on a Ossipee Lake the other night. The water temperature of the Maine lake was hovering between 69* and 70*. As I approached a small deep cove I noticed a fishing bobber close to shore and made a mental note not to become tangled in it. I was fishing a steep rock covered bank and was expecting a Maine Smallmouth Bass to hit my Senko. I fished the Senko using a stop, pause and shake presentation. Suddenly, I felt a tap, but I did not hook up.

As I made my way through the shallows I saw used Bass spawning beds, and I concluded the Bass were recuperating. But suddenly, I felt another strong and quick hit, yet again no hook up! As I made my way along the bank, I continued to fish. I changed my presentation adding shorter pauses in the retrieve; before I knew it, I had hooked up. While I was playing the fish, I noticed a scuttle in the corner of my eye as a fisherman scurried down the steep bank. He promptly picked up his rod and began pitching his worm and bobber my way. But in his haste he got tangled in the trees. And I? I boated my first Crappie of the season.

Crappie run in schools, and if there is one, there are surely more. The secrete is staying with the school. Once you move off the school, the action can stop abruptly. I assume that's what happened to the scurrying fisherman. And when he saw me hook up with his crappie, he attempted to cast to the school. Since he was bank fishing from a stationary short dock, he was unable to stay on top of the school as it moved. Crappies will stray as you land fish and disturb the school and move their targeted food. Some fishermen also believe they get use to the color of the artificial bait offerings and stay away from them after several catches. This isn’t as true as some believe, but for what ever reason the action can start and stop abruptly.

When you do find crappie, try to determine the depth at which they are feeding. You will have better success if you target this depth than if you vary your presentation depth. My preferred presentation is a jig and worm or small grub under a bobber. Crappie can be light biters. And, though they hit harder than smelt, using techniques similar to smelt fishing can be productive.

If you are fishing from a boat, cast your presentation away from the boat and slowly retrieve it at the preferred presentation depth. You can also catch them by jigging, I prefer a long crappie pole for this.

If you are interested in which Southern Maine water these Crappie were caught on, drop me a note in the contact screen below and I will send you the details of good crappie waters in Maine.