Just got back from our family trip and my nephew and I landed a true 40" pike, 18" girth. Where I'm from, this is a monster and not sure if they are a dime a dozen up there. I told myself a long time ago if i ever caught a pike over 40", I'd get it mounted or a replica made. What size do you consider being a mount-able pike?

My personal best prior to this trip was a 32". Broke that a few times on this trip. Posted a detailed trip report if interested in the rest of the story/stories.

I would say anything over 40 inches is mountable. I would and have released a few over forty. I’d get a replica made instead and release the fish.

egknuti: "I would say anything over 40 inches is mountable. I would and have released a few over forty. I’d get a replica made instead and release the fish."

This fish was obviously released. I'm looking at a replica.

Nice fish! Thanks for sharing! I think it all depends on the person. If they think 40 inches would make a nice mount, I say go for it. If they think they might be able to catch a bigger one in the future, then I would hold off for a bit. You can get a replica at any time. Any 40 inch plus pike is a nice pike for up there.

40" is where a lot of people that I know draw the line. Nice fish.

I’ve caught a few 42-45” pike. That’s where I would start for mounts or replicas.

Another vote for 40". But I'm glad you'll be paying for that and not me. BEAUTIFUL fish! Congrats!

old_salt: "I’ve caught a few 42-45” pike. That’s where I would start for mounts or replicas."

Can you post a picture of those 45 inchers? Would love to see them. Always love seeing pics of big pike!

For me the magic number is 20 pounds.
That's a wonderful picture. If it were me, I'd spend a few bucks enlarging it and putting it in a nice frame. That makes a nice trophy as well.

Really I think you can make a mount or replica of any fish you want. Personally a picture and memory is enough for me but 40" pike are very respectable. Do it if it makes you happy and you have a good spot to display!

Very nice fish BTW!

T

QueticoMike: "

old_salt: "I’ve caught a few 42-45” pike. That’s where I would start for mounts or replicas."

Can you post a picture of those 45 inchers, would love to see them? Always love seeing pics of big pike!"

It was caught ‘back in the day’ when polaroids were popular. Pictures are in a shoe box in storage.

lundojam: "For me the magic number is 20 pounds.
That's a wonderful picture. If it were me, I'd spend a few bucks enlarging it and putting it in a nice frame. That makes a nice trophy as well."

20 pounds is my mark also.

walllee: "

lundojam: "For me the magic number is 20 pounds.
That's a wonderful picture. If it were me, I'd spend a few bucks enlarging it and putting it in a nice frame. That makes a nice trophy as well."

20 pounds is my mark also."

Well, 40 - 42" is about 20 lbs. Depending on girth or whatever. I've never had a replica made. I enjoy pictures just as well.

I think there is more to it than just size of the fish........it is the "specialness" of the moment. Nice fish, with the kids while they are young. Yup, definitely a memory captured and something you could pass on as a keepsake. It will always be a reminder of an event shared.

For me? I would not consider getting a replica of a pike less than 28 or 30 lbs. Part of the reason is I would have no place to display it unless I added on the "north woods" room to my home, something I have oft considered. The wife has already informed me that there are enough "fish" stuff in the house already ( a big sculpture of a yellowfin tuna) and several pictures.

About 10 of us did a Manitoba fly in pike fishing trip in June. We landed lots of big pike, the longest at 46.5 inches, but the biggest was a 43.5 inch HOG. I will try to figure out how to upload that picture.

But we landed plenty in the 37 - 40 inch range that were just fatter than hell. Some of these "non-trophy" (as defined by Manitoba < 41 inches) were surely mountable. For me it's overall fish size (bulk) that is the measure of whether to mount it.

We released everything. No mounts.

I caught a 44” musky in July. If I would have caught it in October it would weigh much more. Same with pike, they feed heavily in the fall. I would say if you caught a 20# it would look great on any wall.

40" is a common mark used to identify a trophy pike, I'd say that one for sure would qualify.

However, a trophy is always in the eye of the beholder. If a fish has special meaning or is a trophy in your mind then thats all you need in order to get it mounted. I was at a cabin a few weeks ago with an old mount of a 32" musky on the wall. The entire week I wondered what the story was behind that fish to make it mountable because it certainly wasn't its size.

The trick with a mountable pike isn't so much the size of the pike but finding a suitable saddle and snorkel set.

That is a great picture!!! I've thought about this question too. I'd say over 40" is the first box I'd check for mounting. Next, I'd think about the girth and weight and coloring - that looks like a big fish to me - bigger than many 40" pike I have caught. If have a fish over 40", I think the most important consideration, though, is the story, and the company you were with. Those kids will remember that forever, and I bet that story will be re-told many times at family gatherings, and even more so if you had that gator hanging on the wall. A 40" northern in a canoe is an accomplishment, especially in the eyes of people who don't canoe fish often, and especially with 2 youngsters in the boat. Again, that is a fantastic picture and I'd have that attached to my mount, as well as the lure that caught the fish, kids love that. If you're thinking about it and have the $$, I'd say go for it! I've caught a number of 40" northern and some musky too, and after seeing your picture I'd mount that fish in a heartbeat.

As many have stated 40" seems to be mark , like 30" is the common mark for a walleye. But not all 40" pike are created equal , with some being skinny but yours looks like it has some serious girth , nice pike ! I have mounted 2 fish in the past and highly doubt if I'll ever mounted another one , a framed 8X10 looks very nice too

"Trophy" means different things to different people. An interesting story adds inches and pounds to a fish. I'm considering mounting a fish I never actually got a hook into simply because the story behind getting it in the boat is such a good story (best told in person). Bottom line, if YOU think it's a trophy and want to have a mount made, go for it.

Weight varies so much on northern pike depending on condition factor. There is so many great companies that do awesome graphite mounts that look better than the real thing and are much much more durable. A Duluth base company is excellent.

Mille lacs northern pike which robust and look like hogs. A 45 inch pike could reach around 25 pounds. Biggest I ever seen was a 48 inch pike out of Mille lacs and weighed 30 pounds.
If you see a real 30 pound northern pike anywhere your one of a lucky few. In Minnesota they almost don't exist.

Pinetree: "Weight varies so much on northern pike depending on condition factor. . "

True and I think genetics play a big role too as some lakes seem to produce thicker, heavier fish while others produce skinny fish.

The memories associated with the catch are much more important than the fish's length. If you want to remember that fish, and if you want to bring a smile to your face on the most normal of days, throw a replica on the wall and remember it and smile.

shock: "As many have stated 40" seems to be mark , like 30" is the common mark for a walleye. But not all 40" pike are created equal , with some being skinny but yours looks like it has some serious girth , nice pike ! I have mounted 2 fish in the past and highly doubt if I'll ever mounted another one , a framed 8X10 looks very nice too "

true. my longest pike (just 37") didn't have much girth

EasyFisher: "Just got back from our family trip, and my nephew and I landed a true 40" pike, 18" girth. Where I'm from this is a monster and not sure if they are a dime a dozen up there. I told myself a long time ago if i ever caught one over 40" pike I'd get it mounted or a replica made. What size do you consider being a mount-able pike?

My personal best prior to this trip was a 32". Broke that a few times on this trip. Posted a detailed trip report if interested in the rest of the story/stories. "

Nice fish. Glad to see another Hoosier family enjoying this wonderful place we have.

I agree with CARMIKE, it's about the memories. Doesn't really matter much about size, just don't kill the fish. My grandson had a 12" smallmouth mounted for him by my son, not because it was a big fish, it was his very first fish!

egknuti: "I would say anything over 40 inches is mountable. I would and have released a few over forty. I’d get a replica made instead and release the fish."

+1

I've heard that 40+ is typical as well.

shock: "As many have stated 40" seems to be mark , like 30" is the common mark for a walleye. But not all 40" pike are created equal , with some being skinny but yours looks like it has some serious girth , nice pike ! I have mounted 2 fish in the past and highly doubt if I'll ever mounted another one , a framed 8X10 looks very nice too "

Amen...2015 I caught this 43" Northern on Disappointment during a hot slip bobber walleye bite. This pike was skinny as all get out.

Probably going to do a replica someday unless I stab a bigger one on Basswood in 2019!!!

40” is kinda the mark to shoot for with lake trout. I’d say a mountable like is 44”+. Gillcommander that pike is not 43”, maybe 33”.

Mountable pike, not mountable “like”.

A 40” pike is nothing to shake a stick at though. Great catch!

44”: "40” is kinda the mark to shoot for with lake trout. I’d say a mountable like is 44”+. Gillcommander that pike is not 43”, maybe 33”."

Guess you had to be there...luckily for me I had 43" of extra fishing line...just enough to measure from nose to tail and verify later with a trusty accurate tape measure at Williams and Hall Outfitters the day we came out.

shock: "As many have stated 40" seems to be mark , like 30" is the common mark for a walleye. But not all 40" pike are created equal , with some being skinny but yours looks like it has some serious girth , nice pike ! I have mounted 2 fish in the past and highly doubt if I'll ever mounted another one , a framed 8X10 looks very nice too "

Nice fish. But that is a muskie, not a pike.

I wouldn’t let anyone tell you what size of fish is “OK” to mount or make a replica of.

For me, I also would never let anyone hang a fish on any wall in my home. I am an obsessive angler and I may even have gills but I just don’t get the mount thing. I think maybe I was scarred as a child by my uncle’s VAST array of unusual taxidermy. I wouldn’t go into his basement without my sister or cousin for moral support!

IMHO, a nice print of that photo will be cheaper, just as memorable, and a wee bit easier to display.

Zwater: "

shock: "As many have stated 40" seems to be mark , like 30" is the common mark for a walleye. But not all 40" pike are created equal , with some being skinny but yours looks like it has some serious girth , nice pike ! I have mounted 2 fish in the past and highly doubt if I'll ever mounted another one , a framed 8X10 looks very nice too "

Nice fish. But that is a muskie, not a pike."

just an example of a nice framed picture if you want to release your trophy and not pay the high price of a replica. is this better ;)

I was just stating that the topic was the size of a mountable pike. Those are some nice fish, and I agree about the pic idea. I have fished Waconia numerous times. Good lake for quality fish.
Also, we put my ice castle out there every year for the vintage snowmobile show.

^^^ yes Waconia holds trophy fish of all species but many read up on waconia and try it and dont do good and they take it off there list. which is fine with me :)
a couple winters ago we released a #17 & #14 pike , well after sundown on 8" suckers. and a #12 release too.

shock: "^^^ yes Waconia holds trophy fish of all species but many read up on waconia and try it and dont do good and they take it off there list. which is fine with me :)
a couple winters ago we released a #17 & #14 pike , well after sundown on 8" suckers. and a #12 release too. "

Nice fish! Waconia is a fun lake to fish.

EasyFisher: "Just got back from our family trip and my nephew and I landed a true 40" pike, 18" girth. Where I'm from, this is a monster and not sure if they are a dime a dozen up there. I told myself a long time ago if i ever caught a pike over 40", I'd get it mounted or a replica made. What size do you consider being a mount-able pike?

My personal best prior to this trip was a 32". Broke that a few times on this trip. Posted a detailed trip report if interested in the rest of the story/stories.
"

I have seen many 40" + Pike. Your fish is mount worthy. Big fish aren't that uncommon and everyone gets into an ego match and competition of how big a fish they caught 40- 42 -45 -48. The reality is that picture is worth a thousand mounts. You should frame that picture as your kids will always have the memory of that fish and most importantly you. The mount and the picture would be the best of both worlds as the fish would loom over the picture and be a symbol of the large time they had with a big person in their lives.
That picture is the best!