Big Northern Pike Fishing, No Net, Hand Grab, Nice Watch

Gone Fishing with Silkman

Northern Pike Fishing in Ely MN

My name is Robert Silkey and here is my Big Fish Story. This big fish story is about the great Northern Pike and landing them without a net. That's right Northern Pike Fishing without a net!

The Silkey family has been going to Ely MN for 35 years and strictly fish for Big Northern Pike. The Silkey family which now also includes the Helton family camp outside of Ely MN in the Superior National Forest in an area called the BWCA for 9 straight days each September. Many years ago while fishing in Ely MN I witnessed a fishing guide grab a big Northern Pike out of the water bare handed. If you have ever seen a Northern Pike or have ever gone fishing for them you can understand my amazement and my immediate thoughts of this fishing guide being crazy.

However since that day we have adopted that same approach when landing a Northern Pike and have established a pact between those that attend our annual fishing trip in Ely MN. So when we are fishing for Big Pike there are no landing nets allowed in the boat. We believe that this concept pits man against Water Wolf, the common nick name for the Northern Pike. In telling those about this phenomenon of bare handing these fish, especially when they see my 30 pound, 49 1/2" Big Northern Pike on my wall, they simply do not believe we grab these big Northern Pike out of the water without a landing net given the size of their teeth. It is not only the size of their teeth but also the vast number of teeth.

In September of 2006, while fishing in Ely I caught a nice 40 inch, 18.5 pound Northern Pike which gave me a great fight for its size. This video will show all those that the Silkey and Helton families do grab all their Northern Pikes out of the water without a landing net. This video was shot by Ted Ricasa my boat companion that year, and has not been digitally enhanced.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Silkey
AKA Fishinman

p.s. When Pike Fishing please catch and release all your Big Northern Pike unless you wish to have a Trophy Pike. If you wish to mount a Big Northern Pike as a Trophy you should do so. Nothing is greater than looking on your wall and seeing your Big Trophy Pike and thinking about the fun you had while Fishing for it and catching that Big Pike. After you have your Big Trophy Pike on your wall please let the other Big Pike go and let others who enjoy Pike Fishing have an opportunity to catch the same Big Pike you were gracious enough to do a catch and release. Happy Big Pike Fishing to you, and may all your Pike Fishing dreams come true!!!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• fishing
• big
• northern
• pike
• supior
• national
• forest
• bwca
• ely
• mn

[northwoodsmn]

Nice fish and grab. I had the pleasure (and envy) last summer of watching the boat next to me land 2 large muskies (one trophy sized) with no nets. It made an impression on me. I later landed a 36 inch pike with no net. I am a bit nervous about a last second thrash joining my hand to the pike before a run. Robert - ever have any injuries from the hooks or teeth???

[RobertSilkey]

Thank you for your nice words about my big pike. I have only had one issue grabbing a big northern pike out of the water and that was with my 30 lbs pike. I had decided that if I ever hooked a pike that big I would take it to shore since we never have a landing net in the boat. Let me tell you that is my favorite fish story about trying to drive the boat and get to shore while still playing the fish, but when I got that big pike on shore its dieing effort was to put one fang in my finger ouch!

[seanweimorts]

not so beautiful when they shred your fingers are they

[centhocklars01]

too many softies commenting. Nice fish

[600conormc]

your ment to use long forcepps

[braggoffices]

fish killer

[Marcjw7338]

Truly bad angling , is it the first one you,ve caught !

[fattommy16]

@northwoodsmn I've had a couple decide to take out their anger and hatred for having a hook sunk into their jaw on my digits. Usually the smaller ones seem to be more feisty when finally landed or attempting to land them. No matter how small, they always leave one dandy of an "impression". Pike have my respect, more than any other fish. They seem to hold a grudge or retaliate.

[XxYOGURTx]

@andyscape my biggest pike was 32 inches

[andyscape]

i caught a 21 inch northern once but i usually go for large mouth.. biggest ever was 18 inches.. had a big fat guy on once.. i saw him on shore and my fucking line snapped.. worst day of my life lol.. nice fish though.. you use braided with a steel leader?

[rockybirddog]

if you were letting that fish go you hurt its chances when you layed it on your seat,it lost alot of its slime off its body.If it died just clean it

[kenstets12]

a 21 foot lake sturgeon?? are you retarded???? world record is like 11 feet...