I was base camping on Basswood with some guys who didn't want to travel any further due to physical concerns. The water temps were still cold. Only saw one bass on the bed the whole week. It rained everyday and we had a fire ban for the entire trip. I don't think temps got above 65.

Fishing was slow. I slowed down my regular presentation by throwing a ZMAN Razor rather than ZMAN ShadZ (5 inch soft plastic jerk bait). I rigged the Razor like my typical Zulu rig. The lure is more buoyant than the ShadZ and Zulus, so it rides closer to the surface during the retrieve.

The retrieve for this bait is similar to the Zulu, but it is even a slower presentation, if you can believe that. I think the slower presentation in the colder water provided for a better method of attracting strikes. I used the smokey shad color the whole time, but I think the bad shad color would have worked better since it looks more like a cisco. I ordered some bad shad colored Razors when I got home to use on my next trip.

Nice Fish Mike. That northern is a monster. I bet that was fun.

Looks like you guys had a nice successful trip.

How important is a swivel with leader while fishing flukes? I've never used a swivel and thought everything was fine. What am I missing?

Very nice fish Mike !p.s. That's one hell of a pike .

quote slowtime: "Looks like you guys had a nice successful trip.

How important is a swivel with leader while fishing flukes? I've never used a swivel and thought everything was fine. What am I missing?"

I don't use flukes, the 5 inch jerk shads I use are either Strike King or ZMAN. But when fishing these lures the swivel helps in two or three ways. First, it helps reduce line twist. These lures can twist the line pretty good. Second, it helps take the lure a little deeper for more of a sub surface presentation. Third, it makes it look like the lure is chasing after some type of tiny prey.

Thanks Mike. I should have known better than to say fluke around you, probably sounded like I was swearing at you.

Sometimes if I grab a ***** type bait and it doesn't run quite right or I want to go just a bit deeper, I'll put a very very small split shot on the nose. I'll give the swivel a try. Thanks again.

nice bonus pike ! your pics never get old , beautiful fish mike !

nice pictures. Fire ban and rain every day - nice fish, but that pike is huge. what did you use to catch it? do you ever use leaders?

quote jswamp: "nice pictures. Fire ban and rain every day - nice fish, but that pike is huge. what did you use to catch it? do you ever use leaders?"

I caught the pike on a ZMAN Razor. I just rigged it like my typical Zulu rig. It was the first time I ever used these lures. The fish seemed to like it. I wasn't using any titanium leaders on this rig. The only time I use titanium leaders is when I am down to the last top water lure of certain kind of lure and I don't want to lose it to a pike. Other than that, for the most part I don't use metal leaders.

The pike was so old it didn't have any back teeth and the line was stuck in the back corner of its mouth, so teeth were no issue on this catch.

Thanks for the info - I have never used leaders either but lost so many Zulus last year to pike that I was wondering if you used them - I checked out the Zman Razor and ordered some from tackle warehouse. enjoy your tips and post.

quote jswamp: "Thanks for the info - I have never used leaders either but lost so many Zulus last year to pike that I was wondering if you used them - I checked out the Zman Razor and ordered some from tackle warehouse. enjoy your tips and post."

I typically use a 1/0 Gamakatsu worm hook on the Zulu rig and I did for the Razors I was throwing in Quetico, but I'm thinking with the Razor I should go to a slightly bigger hook with a longer shank like a 2/0.

Did you experiment rigging the razor sideways instead of up and down? I've seen the In Fisherman guys do that a lot with swimbaits.
Did you try the Popshadz this year?

quote dbpmw3: "Did you experiment rigging the razor sideways instead of up and down? I've seen the In Fisherman guys do that a lot with swimbaits.

Did you try the Popshadz this year?"

No, I did not try the sideways rigging. Worked just fine up and down. I don't think the Razor is classified as a swimbait. More of just a life like soft plastic jerk or twitch bait.

I have used PopShadZ in the past, I wasn't real impressed with them.

Nice job......looks like fun! How did the guiding gig go? Texas fishing is usually done with rope for line (heavy mono) and they pound the shorelines being used to fishing largemouths. Did your guys pay attention? Did they do OK?

quote mastertangler: "Nice job......looks like fun! How did the guiding gig go? Texas fishing is usually done with rope for line (heavy mono) and they pound the shorelines being used to fishing largemouths. Did your guys pay attention? Did they do OK? "

The guys from Texas did a fine job. I haven't seen the pictures yet, but from what they told me, they did pretty good at times. We split the canoes up for the most part once they got the lay of the land so to speak. They did well with the paddling and they were experienced campers, so no issues there. It rained 9 days and I never heard any of them bitch. They said it is what it is.... great attitudes.

quote shock: "nice bonus pike ! your pics never get old , beautiful fish mike !"

It's always good to have a nice pike kicker to go along with the smallies. Just lucky it didn't have back teeth any longer. It was a fat one and a good fight.

quote QueticoMike: "

quote mastertangler: "Nice job......looks like fun! How did the guiding gig go? Texas fishing is usually done with rope for line (heavy mono) and they pound the shorelines being used to fishing largemouths. Did your guys pay attention? Did they do OK? "

. It rained 9 days and I never heard any of them bitch. They said it is what it is.... great attitudes."

Pefect fishing mates.

Mike,

That's a nice pike! Did you get a length and weight on her?

Dave

Nice!

Waiting for a fish poem

quote Ohiopikeman: "Mike,


That's a nice pike! Did you get a length and weight on her?


Dave"

It was 40 inches long. Didn't have a scale. It was a thick fish, nothing skinny about this one. Probably in the 18 to 20 pound range I am just guessing.

quote mooseplums: "Nice!


Waiting for a fish poem"

I already have a series of poems written about the 4 Grand Slam fish and Stu at the BWJ has been sitting on them for about a year now. He says he is going to publish them soon......so who knows. I will let you know if they are published.

Here is the last verse of the poem " Quetico Pike ".......

Remote lake, Bushwhacked hike
Forty incher, Quetico pike

Awesome Pics! I picked up some ShADZs for my trip next week and looking forward to trying them out for the first time. I'll be on the west end of LaCroix.

quote wrestlencanoe: "Awesome Pics! I picked up some ShADZs for my trip next week and looking forward to trying them out for the first time. I'll be on the west end of LaCroix."

Good luck on your trip! Let us know how you did.