Don’t “Dis” the Northerns
By David Hraychuck, Wisconsin Licensed Guide
Slimers, hammer-handles, and snakes, all nicknames for northern pike , a fish most people won’t eat because they have too many bones and are to “slimey”. With decreased bag limits and slot size limits, it’s tough to be able to get enough fish for a meal. With a changed attitude. a little different filleting technique and some specialized recipes, you will have a whole new respect for the northern pike and will enjoy a great fish fry.
Most lakes in Wisconsin have a catchable population of northern pike and you can usually count on plenty of action. The most important preparation for catching a mess of pike is to have a “bite proof” leader. A commercially manufactured steel leader, a homemade light- wire leader, or the new, tough flouro-cabon line, along with a #4 or #6 treble, will be the most important part of your pike tackle.
Sucker minnows and golden shiners are, without a doubt, the two most popular winter baits for northern pike. With tip-ups, good leaders, and good bait, you are ready to find a place to catch pike.
Weeds and weed edges in the 6 to 12 foot range seem to be the most productive spots. Set your tip- ups four to six feet down from the bottom of the ice. Checking with local bait and sports shops will also help you to zero in on “pike action”.
Spending a few hours catching northerns and chasing flags can be a great time! The only thing better is introducing someone new, a child or an adult, to an afternoon of pike fishing action. They will no doubt become your new best friend.
Now that you have a nice mess of fish, what’s next? To keep your fish the best tasting and easiest to fillet, don’t let them freeze solid. This sometimes difficult feat can be accomplished by keeping your fish in a bucket with a little snow over them and keep the bucket in your ice shack or vehicle. When you get home, wrap your fish in four or five sheets of newspaper and let them set for about an hour. This will absorb all of the slime from the fish and make them much easier to handle and fillet.
There are numerous ways to fillet northern pike boneless. When you Google “filleting northern pike”, you will see 14 different techniques for boneless fillets. The Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota Departments of Natural Resources also have instruction pamphlets and websites that show how to fillet northern pike. Find one that works the best for you. Worst case scenario, you will have a great tasting fish fry with only a few bones. Remember, practice makes perfect!
Go fishing and remember, don’t “dis” the northerns, they are great on the line and on the table!
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David Hraychuck, P.O. Box 334, Balsam Lake, WI 54810, hraychucks@centurytel.net, 715-553-0577