Fall Contour Trolling for Pike

[Swampbuckster]

I've found a new fishing addiction, and this time it's in my own waters. I recently found out I can troll musky sized baits exclusively for pike and since then, I have been having an absolute riot doing it in the last week and a half. I have been relying heavily on my chartplotter and have marked all the inside contour of the lake next to me, Patterson. Here are a few of the nicer fish so far:
This is probably my nicest fish so far. I took my mom and my son out one afternoon last week and wanted to try a new Giant Flatstick I purchased earlier that day. I added a red "bloody gill" to the paint job with a sharpie marker and just got to the first contour mark to set the rod. I set the bait at 55' back behind the boat, went to grab the second rod, looked back up and WHAM. Within seconds this pike nailed the new bait! Exciting!

Then, shortly after, got my mom on this nice fish:

Here is about a 33" I landed while out by myself last Saturday:

And then later that night, was able to hook up with this one with my neighbor:

Then a nice one from the week before last:

Two more nice ones from a week and a half ago:

Even a few bass don't mind a musky bait!

The co-worker/friend with a nice one:


Have marked out 85% of the largest and deepest lake on the chain, Halfmoon lake, on Wednesday. Going to give things a shot in the morning.

[drspeckler]

great pikes right there man!they seem to be pretty aggressive in the fall and I hook into some nice gators casting spoons for salmon this time of year on the zoo.

[ScoutB]

Nice pike! It looks like you've found a great new past time. I've always enjoyed catching pike because of the great fight, especially in colder water. I like eating them too. Cooked right they are absolutely delicious.

[Swampbuckster]

Pike are absolutely amazing eats. I actually prefer them over walleye. I've kept just 3 of those fish, in which two I cleaned for my neighbor and friend, keeping one for myself. I like fish, but only care to keep so much of it frozen in my freezer. Don't care to eat it often enough to keep everything I catch. They are sure fun to catch. Things have slowed down on the trolling for now. Went out yesterday afternoon with two fish on and two short pike. Today, ran a lap around Patterson without a hit. I'll have to keep at it as the fall progresses.

[ScoutB]

I just ate pike tonight actually. Even though I brought home a pile of walleye my wife picked out the one package of pike mixed in for dinner tonight.

[Swampbuckster]

The beginning of an eventually longer video from Saturday
youtu.be/9hyzFfa0TcI