northern nut

[spear foot 1]

 Who else on here is a northern nut?  I love fishing northerns especially ice fishing. I was big into spearing but the last bcouple years I have really got into tip ups. Nothing gets me going more than to see flags fly.I still do some spearing but if you cant make out every day or other day its a hassle keeping that hole open. This winter I want to try and fish northerns on rod and reel on one of my trips to devils lake.

[HD]

I AM!

They are my favorite fish to catch!

[dakids]

I AM!

They are my favorite fish to catch!

me too

[Fawkinnae]

It seems to me that each year for the last couple of years I get a little more turned on by pike fishing. This year I caught my biggest ever and I can't wait until next year. Now I want to get better at it.

[kenhuntin]

I have to admit I enjoy them also. The dang things actually taste good from most lakes. I think the worst of a northerns downfall is that stink that the slimers wear and I do not want any in the boat. Northerns usually keep a bored fisherman occupied retying rigs because of bite offs if you consider that good exersize.They raise hell with a whitefish net too. The way they can ambush a preyfish with that astoundiong burst of speed from a weedbed is awesome to watch if you get a chance to witness it on a underwater camera.

[guythathunts]

I love them. I would rather catch a walleye but on the hard water northerns provide great entertainment and taste great. I can deal with the slime - the bones are what gets me the most. It still won't stop me from taking a few home for the fry pan! Bring on the ice!

[spear foot 1]

Another thing I would like to try is using a fly rod to catch northerns. Saw a couple shows on it and some of my friends use fly rods for pan fish and they also say when a northern attacks its an awesome fight. Now if I could only figure out how to cast a fly rod

[HD]

I tell ya what........ I've caught musky and pike on a fly rod....man, they are a BLAST!
If ya was a little closer, I'd take ya out and show ya how it's done!
Used poppers and streamers that they just SMACK!

Right now....I'm waiting for early ice to get some tip up fish'in in. But, until then, I got some pheasants to whack! 


Hunter

[Dan R.]

I love fishing with tip up's early ice also
I just wonder if we are going to have a hard time getting shiner's again

[HD]

I got shiners in my pond that I trap....so, I'm good...
They are my favorite bait to use!

But, yea, they might be hard to come by....
Seems they run out, just when the fish'in is getting good.....

Ever notice that suckers don't produce as many pike as shiner's do?

I wonder why that is..... 

[thunderpout]

Shiners SHINE!   Theyre my favorite ice fishing bait... some places have em, some dont.  Yeah, pike on a fly rod are fun as heck.... even small ones are fun, its like catching smallies, but with teeth! 

[spear foot 1]

 Shiner shortage, propane shortage, money shortage, what else yet  lol.  Well  Hunterdown tell you what when I buy a fly rod I'll let you teach me a thing or to I'm not scared to travel might need you opion on a fly rod when the time comes. Talking about catching northerns on shiners, couple years ago I think I caught like seven walleyes on differnt lakes using sucker minnows. And the shiners the northerns were inhaling   Maybe all these years I have been using wrong bait on the wrong fish

[kenhuntin]

The reason shiners catch more fish than suckers is relatively simple. Just like female fathead minnows out catch male fatheads about 4 to1. Male fatheads have darker heads and have the little white bumps on them. Male fathead minnows are also shaded a little darker. Suckers are camoflaged way better than a flickering shiny shiner. To me it is obvious that the more visible you are the easier it is for a waterwolf to nail your behind. Very similar to driving past an oncoming squad car with high beams on.

[Fawkinnae]

O.K. Buddy you're going to sex I.D. all the minnows when we go fishing this winter. Maybe you could tag the females for me with a drop of pink nail polish.

[22lex]

O.K. Buddy you're going to sex I.D. all the minnows when we go fishing this winter. Maybe you could tag the females for me with a drop of pink nail polish.

 

Northerns are definately my favorite fish to catch. I actually don't mind the smell and don't mind cleaning them unlike the rest of my family.

NOTHING will beat the scared crapless feeling of having a waterwolf slam your bait next to the boat when you least expect it.

[HD]

Doug....I can see it now....


Sorry officer.....but, I was speeding cause the bait store took to long sorting my female fathead minnows, and I gotta make it to the liquor store before it closes.....(Man, Ken's gonna be pissed cause I'm late!)


                                                 

[spear foot 1]

 Just like male and female crappie minnows

[Jdrummer]

Ever notice that suckers don't produce as many pike as shiner's do?

I wonder why that is..... 

Thats funny, I would say I have caught way more pike from the ice with suckers than shiners  just my experience.

[Mayfly]

How about this one through the ice....

[spear foot 1]

Wow what a nice fish. Thats the kind I'm looking for. Careful with your background  in your pics  you might give away your secret spot. What am I saying 

[Cody Gruchow]

northerns all the way...open water hard water it dont matter. almost all lakes have them. the fight is amazing on light gear.  i fish them 95% of the time

[spear foot 1]

 Hey cody your as sick as me, Glad to hear it.  May be we shouldn't be talking about this, pretty soon every one will be fishing northerns

[Cody Gruchow]

they can keep there walleyes. eyes are good to eat but they aint all that much fun to catch.

[HD]

Cody just catches them hammer handles.......... 

[HD]

This will get ya going....

This one is from last year first ice........

[Cody Gruchow]

no not just the handles but they are fun to catch 

[spear foot 1]

 Oh  boy  just have to tease us with that picture didnt you!  Cant  wait come on ice

[HD]

Here's a couple good ones I kept for the fry'in pan just before rifle season..........

[Fawkinnae]

Let's go back to the minnow thing for a minute. So do all of you guys sort through the minnows and pick out the females. If so why am I the last one to learn this?

Actually I guess I do tend to pick out the blackest leeches for bait.

And by the way the guy with the big pike and two bridges behind him - is that Chamberlain?

[Mayfly]

And by the way the guy with the big pike and two bridges behind him - is that Chamberlain?

Chamberlain?