reelscalesfishing
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Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
Where are some good spots to get to on foot for Pike on the western side of PA? A few friends and I recently tried out the inlets to Conneaut lake and caught a small pike even with horrible (muddy water) conditions. I would like to fish for them in creeks as well because I think this would be fun. I've heard French Creek is good for pike but have no idea where to try or begin fishing it. Any tips and points would be appreciated. Anywhere along the western side of PA is fine from south to north. I posted this here because I know pike fishing is a lot better north. Thanks!
post edited by reelscalesfishing - 2016/01/13 20:29:46
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CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/14 09:39:06
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☄ Helpfulby reelscalesfishing 2016/01/14 12:22:57
I've caught a few floating French creek between sagertown and the log cabin. If your stuck on shore, might try around the firemans beach area on Conneaut lake in the spring before they dock the boats. Big weed bed there. From what I've read on here they can be had up on Presque isle as well, but I've never personally tried it. Good luck and let us know how it works out this spring.
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Divemaster
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/14 09:43:22
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☄ Helpfulby roygpa 2016/01/14 10:01:41
There's lots of northerns in Presque Isle Bay. The lagoons are easily accessible by foot although you might have to hack through some heavy weeds at times. The small pike (8-24" mostly) are what you'll catch in the lagoons. If you fish the main bay (which is better from boat to cover ground but still fish able from many public areas) you'll be more likely to catch a bigger pike (20-36"). Jerkbaits (3-8" long) have been the key for me so far but I've caught few on spinnerbaits.
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roygpa
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/14 10:05:18
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☄ Helpfulby reelscalesfishing 2016/01/14 12:22:50
Big northerns in Presque Isle Bay, as Divemaster says. I had my brother in law in my boat (about 20 years ago) there once and watch as a giant northern chased his bait. Look like a torpedo coming thru the water. As it got to about 20 feet from the boat, my BIL starts really really fast so the fish couldn't hit the lure. I asked why he did that and his reply was that he was afraid to catch the fish it was so big.
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FishinGuy
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/14 10:09:34
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Arthur, high point, yellow creek all have pike I believe.
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reelscalesfishing
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/14 12:26:18
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Thanks guys! I plan on making quite a few trips this spring and hopefully I'll catch myself some pike! All of you are talking about Presque Isle Erie right? haha What sucks is I was actually just there recently but I didn't have my Erie stamp for 2015. I have it for 2016 though!
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Divemaster
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/14 12:42:29
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reelscalesfishing
Thanks guys! I plan on making quite a few trips this spring and hopefully I'll catch myself some pike! All of you are talking about Presque Isle Erie right? haha What sucks is I was actually just there recently but I didn't have my Erie stamp for 2015. I have it for 2016 though!
Yes, Erie. Good luck whenever you go up this year.
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roygpa
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/14 13:35:21
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If you are looking for toothy critters Presque Isle, Erie also has monster gar, which like to sneak up to the side of your boat and jump, making a splash that makes you think your fishing partner has fallen out of the boat.
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CAPTAIN HOOK
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/18 11:31:52
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Dan Morey
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/21 18:08:13
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If you're looking for trophy pike (40+ inches): Kinzua or P.I.  If you just want to catch pike: Bull Dam. Tons of pike and plenty of good shore fishing spots. Fish are overpopulated and stunted, though. I've never caught a pike over 32 inches there (Biologists netted a 34 once), and anything over 28 is rare. Lot of sad specimens like this: 
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KingKool
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/22 20:39:24
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Allegheny River & Tionesta Creek up in Forest County are good spots...........
4 out of 3 people don't understand fractions.
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CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/22 23:02:29
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That 2nd picture is one skinny azz pike.
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Divemaster
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/25 10:56:40
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Maynard.G.Crabs
If you're looking for trophy pike (40+ inches): Kinzua or P.I. If you just want to catch pike: Bull Dam. Tons of pike and plenty of good shore fishing spots. Fish are overpopulated and stunted, though. I've never caught a pike over 32 inches there (Biologists netted a 34 once), and anything over 28 is rare. Lot of sad specimens like this:
So that's what I saw eating all the ducks in marina lake two springs ago!
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Dan Morey
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Re: Point in a good direction for pike where no boat is needed (western side of PA)
2016/01/25 22:56:02
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Could be, Dive! She's still out there now, putting on pounds and inches. My buddy saw a full-grown goose go down in the bay one time. It had a bad wing and was struggling on the surface, then boom...something pulled it under and it never came back up. There are some crazy stories in Fred Buller's book "Pike and the Pike Angler" about guys in Britain (circa 1860) using live moorhens for pike bait, successfully. Not to mention all those pike vs. fox legends. This is a 1723 engraving by Ridinger showing what they get up to at night. Based on an actual incident in Poland! Reminds me of that fox vs. catfish video they have on youtube. 
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