Pigeon...yep...best to check yourself

[SNAPFisher]

After a disappointing trip to Island Lake by AthB yesterday, today felt like a redemption day. I had it in my mind now to just stick to Central AB. The fishing is just fine if not hotter in Central...gotta like being proved right!

Started at 15 to 8 a.m. Landed a big walleye over 55 cm right away. Was fishing shallow not wanting to fall for the "the whites are all deep" comments. Just had to check it out for myself. Next, a big white! It was still pretty dark to try to get it to take the hook but I could see it make at least 4-5 attempts before swimming off. Great to see one in the shallows!! Keep fishing, another walleye, smaller but nice. Keep fishing and when I drop down I see a huge, I mean frickin huge back go by up high. Tank white!!! A true monster. Kept jigging and it dropped down and took a swipe. The back on this thing made that first walleye look puny. I'm guessing...7-8 lbs. It left...sigh. But, 1 minute later it was back..or one just like it. This time it took 3 good tries at it and the 4th time...connect! I felt like setting the hook into a brick. Horsed it right up since I was shallow and it got stuck at the bottom of the 10 inch hole...a white...could not fit it in...the hook got caught on the side of the ice and it was over. I could hear a thumping sound. It was the sound of my heart in my ears...for the next 5 minutes...what a rush...what a pig!!! Glad I got to see it. Drop down, shortly after, another white and huge. This one just missed the hook but it most of just hit it so it took off. Then, the fishing got hot :) Walleye, pike, walleye pike. Didn't see any other whites but landed another 4 walleye, hooked a big pike and lost it, but hooked another huge pike and landed it. Hot fishing!

At 9 a.m., decided to try deep like everyone else said to. Got out there. Got setup. Put the jaw jacker with a WW under the LX7. In the 2nd hole I'm jigging away. I'm watching the screen and WW hoping to see something....nothing...keep jigging...I look down to see where I'm jigging only to see a white just grab the hook and I set it. Had it up to the bottom quick but couldn't turn the head and the fight was on! About 6 good long runs in this one. Of course it went into the jaw jacker line too....sigh. I was thinking I would lose it for sure but kept my cool. When I saw the jaw jacker line start to go on my other reel I knew I would be in trouble. So hand bombed the white up. Got it to the bottom of the hole, turned it, grab and pulled it out. A pig! Not a super pig like the one earlier but a very nice white.

Dealt with my tangled lines. Lost a lot of line. Who cares :)
Packed up and left. 10:30 a.m. After all, got 4 gull whites in brine and ready to smoke at home. It has been a quite a year already.

About 10-11 lber!!
https://s25.postimg.org/mhjgf2c7z/File_000_(4).jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/ez0b6fkv3/File_001_(4).jpg

Tank!
https://s25.postimg.org/tjhe19ftr/File_003_(4).jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/e6xn78gnz/File_005_(2).jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/t46488twf/File_006_(2).jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/6r2yz6icf/File_007.jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/yn8npgqxr/File_000_(5).jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/jtu04pj6n/File_009.jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/ry249g5lr/File_008.jpg

Not bad for the first trip to Pigeon. Maybe I should stop, not sure I can beat a morning like this. I'm a happy camper.

[catnthehat]

5 pound white? YUPP, NICE FISH!!!:sHa_shakeshout:
Cat

[Zip-in-Z]

Mr. Snap .... don't know what's more fun on a Sunday afternoon, watching the guys at Torrey Pines or reading your stories and enjoying a few bevy's. Bty Wfish on Brass or Glow WW ? I can imagine the excitement and the disappointment of that first one. I sure you'll be dreaming of that one for sometime & going back before the end of the season. AB record Whitie is just over 11 lbs, you can top that, look forward to the follow-on story.

Tks for sharing.

D.


Edit ... after looking at the pic's of that White again, I said to myself, wasn't he lucky that White didn't do a quick flip when he had the camera in hand and go back down the hole ... because, it happened to me.

[yoteblaster]

Going out tomorrow. Got me all excited now!

[RavYak]

That pike looks like a hatchery fish the way its tail is all messed up lol. What is access like on Pigeon, buddy was telling me there are lots of heaves and he actually broke through in one spot trying to cross one. That was a while back now though.

[r-von]

That pike looks like a hatchery fish the way its tail is all messed up lol. What is access like on Pigeon, buddy was telling me there are lots of heaves and he actually broke through in one spot trying to cross one. That was a while back now though.

I was out at Mulhurst a week or so ago and there was about 22" of good ice. I didn't encounter any bad heaves but there was a ton of rock hard drifts. I had the rzr out so it wasn't really an issue.

[SNAPFisher]

Mr. Snap .... don't know what's more fun on a Sunday afternoon, watching the guys at Torrey Pines or reading your stories and enjoying a few bevy's. Bty Wfish on Brass or Glow WW ? I can imagine the excitement and the disappointment of that first one. I sure you'll be dreaming of that one for sometime & going back before the end of the season. AB record Whitie is just over 11 lbs, you can top that, look forward to the follow-on story.

Tks for sharing.

D.


Edit ... after looking at the pic's of that White again, I said to myself, wasn't he lucky that White didn't do a quick flip when he had the camera in hand and go back down the hole ... because, it happened to me.


No worries, he was wacked :)
Copper is the winner. The ole standard.

I'm just real happy to find them in shallow so one can sight fish them again. Last year you couldn't find them anywhere but deep water. Two years ago I saw and almost caught one that would be pushing towards that record of 11 lbs. Baby steps, first I just want to try and break that 6 lb mark. Can't wait to get back out there.

[pikeman06]

Nice fish buddy. Usually have my best luck with the whitefish during the new moon in pigeon. Great challenge for trophy caliber fish. Got 6 of the big buggers one day it was the best day of fishing I ever had for size and sheer excitement. Very strong fish and as you said turning them up the hole is the tricky part. Need a strong hook that won't straighten or break and most traditional whitefish hooks sadly fail at the moment of truth.

[TroutBaus]

Great post! Awesome follow up to your threat in another post to check out pidgy for whites.

Pigeon has some good fishing generally especially if you are into C&R, as there are tons of hammer handles bigger cookie cutter eyes and the odd hog pout or pike. Going there after a dry spell at other lakes really can bring moral up! Had a blast this month HUNTING and putting in WORK to fill my c tags as I'm not a far drive.

The whites are a different story few catch them unless they are truly targeting them. Seen lots come up on copper ww brass wataskawin and silver spoons.

Just curious if you would mind sharing what bottom was looking like where you were seeing them? Sand? Gravel? Cabbage? Haven't seen any at my sand bar last time I was out wondering if I should check out some of my other spots with different structure. If you don't want to share that's cool just say jelly beans.



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[SNAPFisher]

Great post! Awesome follow up to your threat in another post to check out pidgy for whites.

Pigeon has some good fishing generally especially if you are into C&R, as there are tons of hammer handles bigger cookie cutter eyes and the odd hog pout or pike. Going there after a dry spell at other lakes really can bring moral up! Had a blast this month HUNTING and putting in WORK to fill my c tags as I'm not a far drive.

The whites are a different story few catch them unless they are truly targeting them. Seen lots come up on copper ww brass wataskawin and silver spoons.

Just curious if you would mind sharing what bottom was looking like where you were seeing them? Sand? Gravel? Cabbage? Haven't seen any at my sand bar last time I was out wondering if I should check out some of my other spots with different structure. If you don't want to share that's cool just say jelly beans.



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In the shallows, more gravel than sand and near bigger rocks. Normally just straight sand for me.

P.S. And I like jelly belly jelly beans best :)

[Red Neck]

:cheers:Thanks for the pics keep em coming:cheers:
Red Neck out
:scared0018:

[Fish-Taco]

Great.. now I need to get a new keyboard from all the drooling over these pics.


Great catches!

[cube]

That pike looks like a hatchery fish the way its tail is all messed up lol. What is access like on Pigeon, buddy was telling me there are lots of heaves and he actually broke through in one spot trying to cross one. That was a while back now though.

Yes there are lots of heaves this year. Or at least a couple that are very long. Some nice people have cut through them to give access at both Mulhurst and the PP. You can not get on any meaning full distance at Grandview but can about 2 km south. Don't know about the rest as I could not find a way through the heaves to check them out.

NICE FISH SNAPFisher. I only managed about a dozen walleye with the largest 57 cm. Had to work to find the B class as a friend was tring to tag out for the season.

[fish99]

nice to see the big belly on the pike , things are looking for pigeon lake

[bwch84]

Right on ! Nice white!


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[Speckle55]

Grats on the Great Day !!!:47b20s0:

found them:happy0180:

The fight is on now:fighting0074:

When the Whites are hunting wow hang on:shark:

Thanks for sharing

good luck on your Quest:sign0111:

David:)

[Soiler]

Nice work Snap! Good fish, but they get way bigger. Lol
Last year the whites averaged 7lbs ish for me ... See you out there some day again soon I'm sure.

[waterninja]

Great story and pics. Congrats on a great day of fishing. I'm getting cabin fever, so it's nice reading about someone else's adventures.

[SNAPFisher]

Nice work Snap! Good fish, but they get way bigger. Lol
Last year the whites averaged 7lbs ish for me ... See you out there some day again soon I'm sure.

So your saying I can expect that rush even more...this is better than drugs! :lol:

[carlson]

Heading out to pigeon tomorrow hopefully I have a day like yours! We are gunna try out by ma me o beach, never fished that side of the lake so it will be all new to us

[Soiler]

So your saying I can expect that rush even more...this is better than drugs! :lol:

That's one way to look at it... the feeling of losing yet another 1 right at the ice or in the hole, frustration is the word I used not a rush. Lol. I got wet to the elbow lots last year after they'd break the line as they came up through the ice. But they fill the smoker quick!! 👍

[Stryker2]

WOW! Nice white!! You lucky man! I snagged one about that big at Gull a couple of weeks ago and just as I was bringing him closer to the hole after a couple of runs he got off the hook!! I wanted to jump into the hole!!! :sHa_shakeshout:

[bobalong]

So your saying I can expect that rush even more...this is better than drugs! :lol:

The Tug is the Drug :)

[SNAPFisher]

Went to explore some new spots that I saved on Pigeon back from 2015 when I boated it. I've been meaning to try these new spots for whites. And....it worked :)

Walleye right away...and another...and another...and another. Then nothing for a long time until a nice white came and had 3-4 tries at the hook. All missed. Just missed a tank of a white after that. Then headed out deeper. Found a good spot and more walleye...how do you not catch these things....
Landed a nice big burb - that was fun! More walleye. A scrawny pike. I did see more whites but they were just zooming by. Then the fish cops showed up. Had a nice chat, showed my license, all good. The one officer kept telling me to go to battle for the biggest whites....I think he has me convinced. Just after they left, dropped down and a couple of whites came in. One was small and I accidently scared him. The other was not small and grabbed the hook. I hand bombed it up in to the hole, it popped off but grabbed it out :)
Another nice jumbo!

Great day on Pigeon at some all new water. Awesome!

https://s25.postimg.org/8wwv3sten/File_002_(6).jpg

Just shy of 24 inches and 4.7 lbs.
https://s25.postimg.org/shbe6ktzz/File_004_(5).jpg

Made room last night too - whitefish burgers ...sooo.....good....
https://s25.postimg.org/xh8ueizmn/File_000(1).jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/x1xklidpb/File_000_(6).jpg

[Newellknik]

Look grand .....

Free Zone cut it out,your killing me .Lmao

Keep up the good work !

[RavYak]

Nice. I tried it briefly on Saturday but was surprised with how much snow was out there. Most of the lakes I have been going to barely have any snow and after getting stuck once with the rav and seeing another truck stuck I didn't feel like exploring anymore.

[2alarmfishing]

F and W talked with me as well. All good. They looked cold though.

[Soiler]

Nice work! I only had 1 white hit on Sat & he broke me off. It was fun finding my way to my spot, dodging around all the heaves....

[SNAPFisher]

Nice work! I only had 1 white hit on Sat & he broke me off. It was fun finding my way to my spot, dodging around all the heaves....

Yeah, crazy heaves out that way. It will mean likely mean quading as the ice rots in March.

[Prvallee]

An old wiseman once showed me a trick for landing big white fish and most other fish, is to drill two holes side by side and make one long narrow hole it helps when they get to surface they almost pop out the hole. Trick is to punch the first one almost all the way trough and then punch the second hole trough then complete first hole. I found it really helped when they were not hooked very deep or kept getting off at surface. It only takes an extra 30 seconds and can make landing that once in a life time fish that much easier. Little life tips from little old men that make fishing easy.

[Landlocked_Newfie]

Two holes would be much easier to land a fish, but way more easier to walk into or drop something in such a big hole. I walk in my 8 1/4'' sometimes, cant imagine a 10 or x2 10's side by side. Personally I wouldn't do it with small kids around, when my son was younger he stepped in a 10'' right to his waist. If it were a bigger hole he may of became bait.

[cube]

An old wiseman once showed me a trick for landing big white fish and most other fish, is to drill two holes side by side and make one long narrow hole it helps when they get to surface they almost pop out the hole. Trick is to punch the first one almost all the way trough and then punch the second hole trough then complete first hole. I found it really helped when they were not hooked very deep or kept getting off at surface. It only takes an extra 30 seconds and can make landing that once in a life time fish that much easier. Little life tips from little old men that make fishing easy.

Interesting. I have fished with a couple of guys who like fishing whites with a hole no larger than 8 inches. They say they loose far less and if the fish does get off at the hole it can't turn around and get away like they can in 10 inch or double holes. They primarily sight fish for them as well.

[SNAPFisher]

Interesting. I have fished with a couple of guys who like fishing whites with a hole no larger than 8 inches. They say they loose far less and if the fish does get off at the hole it can't turn around and get away like they can in 10 inch or double holes. They primarily sight fish for them as well.

Yeah, it is a trade off for sure. I like the 10 inch for just the reason, better sight fishing. If I lose some, then that is just the way it is. Keeps you coming back with that bigger one that got away :)

[Zip-in-Z]

Mr. Snap ..... tks for sharing another great story and nice White with just as much excitement as that Super Bowl game yesterday.

Cheers

[Mike_W]

Great post curious what depth you are having the white success?

[SNAPFisher]

Mr. Snap ..... tks for sharing another great story and nice White with just as much excitement as that Super Bowl game yesterday.

Cheers

Thanks :)

Pigeon is fishing great right now. Last year was so tough on that lake. Interesting on the walleye, I caught well in the teens number wise and every size imaginable - all 3 tag classes were seen.

[SNAPFisher]

Great post curious what depth you are having the white success?

I start off shallower as in anywhere from 9-13 FOW. Some swear to fish more shallow but I don't because I've never found that to be the case. There is a turning point around 10 a.m. on Pigeon where moving out deep, as in 20 FOW or deeper seems to improve the day. So far so good.

[pikeman06]

Agree 100% with the short morning bite. Just can't figure the suspended ones out off the base of the dropoff. Seems like they just moving thru. Maybe farther out from drop off is the key. 20-25 ft I see lots. They just aren't 'tilting' and pecking away at the bottom like I wish they were. Maybe adjusting to pressure close to the drop and not interested in feed. Who knows.

[Fur]

Those catches look great and the feeds they are producing look better!
Nice job. Thx for posting.

[Soiler]

Agree 100% with the short morning bite. Just can't figure the suspended ones out off the base of the dropoff. Seems like they just moving thru. Maybe farther out from drop off is the key. 20-25 ft I see lots. They just aren't 'tilting' and pecking away at the bottom like I wish they were. Maybe adjusting to pressure close to the drop and not interested in feed. Who knows.

Try fishing them suspended up off the bottom Pikeman like halfway up. At the spot I target em on Pigeon, they're feeding as it comes up through the water column. When they're on the bottom, they don't seem to be feeding as much, but they are there.

[pikeman06]

I can get them to turn when they are suspended like that but just can't seem to get them to seal the deal. Using flourocarbon and the hooks I get the odd one with in the shallows with. Guess I just gotta plug away at them.

[fenske]

hey soiler its fenske slayed whites with you at gull the one day with greg just wondering if you could send me the gps on the deep water SPOT. met you out there last year. txt to phone 7802183250 thanks bud

[chucklesthe3rd]

-_-
so jelly

[SNAPFisher]

Might as well continue this thread :)
Went back to Pigeon on Saturday. Started of shallow hoping to see whites again. None, nothing. :(
Oh well. But the pike were there:

https://s25.postimg.org/737g2568v/File_000_7.jpg

Headed out deeper and fishing for about 1.5 hrs with seeing nothing. Some fish on the flasher here and there but nothing. Usually Pigeon dies off at 11 a.m. but this time it was not the case. About 11:30 had something go through on the flasher and look down to see a nice white trying for the hook a couple of times. Of course I'm concentrating on the hook when the 2nd hole, jaw jacker and a wire worm, goes off. There is that second or two where you really aren't sure what happened. I jump up and grab the rod...no bend. I'm thinking it is gone but I feel the weight. Then the fight. 5-6 good long runs on this one. I figured I had my 7 lber. Turned out to be 4.4 lbs. Still a nice fish for sure.

https://s25.postimg.org/grlec6uhr/File_001_5.jpg

Keep on fishing and every 10-15 minutes, one or more whites would come through. I had the jaw jacker go off again. Jumped up, reeled, .....nothing. First miss. So that is 2 for 3 so far on the JJ. After that, had constant action up until 1:30 or so. Came close to landing that 2nd and 3rd fish so many times...but it was not meant to be. Packed up by 2:30 p.m.

https://s25.postimg.org/r5hmropun/File_002_7.jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/6ze4ssu73/File_003_(6).jpg

That is 3 for 3 on trips to Pigeon. Great year for fishing! With the burbot spawn coming up, will be focused on other lakes so will not likely make it back to Pigeon for a bit.

[Soiler]

We had another good day. Managed to land 3 myself. The best is a touch over 5lbs.

[Soiler]

The big heave does have some cool ice in it now to.

[pikeman06]

Awe c'mon guys...been workin 6 days on and one off 12 hrs a day since Jan 2nd. If I see any more fat whites I gonna tell someone to eff off. Thought I could make er till breakup. I think I thought wrong. Nice work guys you deserve them.

[SNAPFisher]

We had another good day. Managed to land 3 myself. The best is a touch over 5lbs.

Nice! :)
That is a good one for sure. Congrats.

[invasion]

Great story and beauty white I'm sure you'll be back again real soon lol

[quadmaster]

Nice Fish

[trophybook]

How's the access to the ice? It was 17° here yesterday , my creek was flowing fast into the lake.

[SNAPFisher]

How's the access to the ice? It was 17° here yesterday , my creek was flowing fast into the lake.

I haven't been back since the weekend but I'm sure it is great....other than the ice heave but otherwise the ice was 3 inches from bottoming out on the auger and very tough stuff. Temps next week will return it to just fine.

[trophybook]

Checked it out , it's a mess . Like you said we need some colder temps.

[Sracette]

Those are 2 beautiful fish. I only dream of catching something like that some day, I just got into Ice Fishing 3 weeks ago but I am going full bore. I already can't wait for next season! Nice job

[sharpstick]

Those whitefish burgers look fantastic, any chance of getting your recipe?
congrats on the fishing, and best of luck with the 7lb'er

SS

[wildbill]

Nice!

[SNAPFisher]

Those whitefish burgers look fantastic, any chance of getting your recipe?
congrats on the fishing, and best of luck with the 7lb'er

SS

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=12072&highlight=whitefish+fish+cakes

I don't fry them. They absorb too much oil. I just bake them at 350 for 10 minutes and then under the broiler to brown them a bit. Much better than fried. Also, instead of the corn flake crumbs you can coat with whatever including panko, shake n bake, cornmeal, etc.

[sharpstick]

Thanks Snap, I will give them a try, they look fantastic.

Cheers,
SS

[genno]

I'm headed to pigeon tomorrow morning gonna try our luck at mulhurst. Last month I went to pp only a couple fish.


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[genno]

Only 1 pike at pigeon today saw no other fish, nice clear water though. Everyone else around me caught nothing little disappointed will be my last ice fishing trip to pigeon.


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