Pike/river question

[jeremy L]

This is kinda a hard question to answer i think:

How many pike would/could live in a certain amount of water?

The pinnebog river is where i usually go to pike fish and the question refers to a certain part of this river. This area of the river is around 5-8 feet deep and has a bridge going over it. Its about 70 yards long and about 50-60 feet wide, and on either side of it the river narrows greatly to about only 35 feet wide, if that, and 2-4 feet of water. There is a good current along the bank of this hole on one side of the bridge, then as the river passes under the bridge the current moves to the other side of the river and runs along the other bank. there is slack water were the curret isn't and a few weeds and one or two small logs in this hole. There usually isn't a hole lot of bait fish around, but there are small bass/rockbass a few chubs, maybe some small hammerhandles and lots of frogs along the banks that the bigger pike could feed on.

So, my question is about how many pike could live in this section of river? i usually can get one or two pike and a smallie or two out of it after fishing it for a hour or so, but it would seem to me more would be in there. Do you think that there are more pike in there and i'm just not catching them or is it that there the conditions just are not good enough for more then a few pike.

Thanks!

[Can't Touch This]

All depends how big they are, if they are all hammer handles(>24) Then i would say up to and over 100 fish could live in there. But, i would think it will vary, obviously, it sounds like a good spot, but, i wouldn't bet there is more than 20 fish in that hole. JL< if you want to bigger ones, put on of those dink perch under a bobber;)

[ESOX]

The Pinebog is too warm in summer to hold Pike of any real size. As far as numbers of them, that would simply be a factor of habitat, forage and fishing pressure.

[jeremy L]

ESOX, About how big do you think pike could be in there during the summer? We have gotten them up to 40-45 inches in may, but during the summer most run 15-30 inches. Do you think thats about as big as they come in the summer? that water does get warm, and i know the BIG pike like cooler water.

[ESOX]

Those fish in May were Huron fish, holding over from the spawn. Some of the bigger lake fish will stay in there till the water hits the lower 60's, then its back to the lake. 30" is about as good as I would expect in summer. Now if you cold find a cold spring or feeder creek, there is a definite possibility of a nice one being around even in mid summer.

[jeremy L]

yeah, i really don't consider any of the pike in the river true river fish, i think 99% of them head for the lake or mouth come late fall. The river justs gets too low in winter, last year alot of places froze to the riverbed.

I guess i try a little harder in the spot in times to come and i will post some pics of the bigger fish i hopefully;) get.

[Termie33]

I dont fish much for pike, most of the pike i catch are just an accident when im fishing for something else, but heres the little i "know" or think i know. I agree with Esox for the most part about the water temp, bigger ones seem to like cooler water. ALthough i have caught some nice pike in 70 degree water, but thats rare. Small pike seem to not have a perferance to me. Also, It seems to be(i could be wrong) that you dont find many big pike in one area. Due to their nature, i think the Big ones are a little more solitary, so id think a seek and destroy tactic would be better then fishing one small area. Just a few things ive noticed, dunno how true it holds, take iut for what its worth.