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Posted

I've been told by several old time spear fishermen that around February pike begin to lose their teeth and are no longer aggressive, and they pull their houses off and there season is over? Is that true about their teeth? I've seen some very nice pics of pike on this sight that have been speared into late February. ???

Posted

I don't know about them losing their teeth but I wouldn't stop spearing in February. I've had some great luck late in the season.

Posted

I do not believe losing teeth stories. I think pike lose teeth all the time due to being an aggressive predator and they regrow all the time. I think fishing/spearing can slow down as the season wears on due to angler pressure and the fish may have moved to different locations towards spawning area's. Perhaps the weeds have died off in the area you were camped out in and oxygen levels have changed and you have not moved your shack but the fish have moved on. Maybe the bait fish moved on. Sometimes it just the nature of fishing.

Mwla

Posted

I used to spend a lot of time sight fishing pike through the ice. I believe that pike do loose/shed teeth, and/or regrow/grow new teeth. Generally it seemed to me that they were less aggressive during this time. Those caught would have pink gums and some bloody clotty stuff in and around their teeth - so it was our guess that they do have old teeth/new teeth thing going on.

Posted

Well after the amount of blood I lost yesterday I can tell you that one still had a couple teeth in its mouth.

Posted

I was fishing in Canada this past week and we hammered the lakers. We talked to a guy the last night who was fishing and he said that they never bite this time of year because they lose all of their teeth. I didn't have the heart to tell him our group had already caught 80 trout in 3 days, and every one of them had a mouth full of teeth. The cuts on my fingers proved it.

I've heard the pike story and have to believe it was drummed up by a group of guys that just couldn't catch fish. I've caught pike every month of the year and they've all had teeth. Some more than others, but I have a feeling they are constantly losing a few here and there and growing them back.

Posted

Yea, i guess i can't say that ive ever caught or seen a toothless pike!

Probably more likely just the oxygen levels or something else that would cause them to slow down if anything...

Posted

Its not that they lose there teeth, but its more like they change the diet and eating habits because they have to put the food bag on because the spawn is just around the corner.

I have read some articles on how pike will start to eat mostly fathead type minnows at a certain time of year.

Pike lose their teeth and regrow them all year long it is a myth started by fishermen that had a hard time catching them in the late summer and late into the winter. when in fact in the late summer they have moved mostly to deep cool waters and in the winter they are following the bait fish population and typically that again is in deeper waters.

Posted

Why would you want to put your hand in a pikes mouth???? Anyone ever tell you that they bite. There are tools out there for removing things from their mouths. MJ, You need to keep better watch on this guy. shocked

Posted

Gordy called it, It's an old wives tail that just isn't true. Pike do not shed their teeth, they just move and change their feeding habits.

"Ace"

Posted

Thanks for all the info guys! So my next ? Is do I need to change my tactics for the later winter? Down size decoys, shallower or deeper? Or just go with the flow of a day out spearing?

Posted

Why would you want to put your hand in a pikes mouth???? Anyone ever tell you that they bite. There are tools out there for removing things from their mouths. MJ, You need to keep better watch on this guy. shocked

More like a leash needs to be attached laugh

Posted

Thanks for all the info guys! So my next ? Is do I need to change my tactics for the later winter? Down size decoys, shallower or deeper? Or just go with the flow of a day out spearing?

I will down size and go deeper. I like to try and let the pike tell me what to do. I will start deeper and work my way shallower later in the season, but I have done well in 6 fow as late as the last weekend of the season. So it a carp shoot some times.

Posted

Why would you want to put your hand in a pikes mouth???? Anyone ever tell you that they bite. There are tools out there for removing things from their mouths. MJ, You need to keep better watch on this guy. shocked

It was a real circus out there yesterday. We should have charged admission!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
    • leech~~
      Oh is there a Superbowl game? 😋😋
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