Pike on Hougton

[fairview253]

My buddies and I iced 13 pike during the 2nd weekend of Tip-up town and not a one of them was legal to keep, all between 18-23". Is this a common theme on Houghton Lake? All caught on Golden Shiners. Nothing hit the larger sucker minnows. The whopper that won the fishing contest was all of 31" (Pike). What the heck.

[Burksee]

I fished that same weekend. I was out from the Houghton Lake (Orange) Marina on the south side west of "Lyman's" on M-55.

We were out from 3pm til 8pm, fishing for crappie and walleyes and got a about 6-8 of those smaller (15-23") pike too. All on dead sticks with the larger "Blues" we had out for "eyes". Also got a couple of nice largemouths about 2lbs apiece. And oh,yea we finally got a few nice crappie about 9 to 12 inches after dark. It was great just catching fish!

[Brown Trout]

I lived on Houghton Lake last winter, and fished it often. I probably caught around 30 pike, and not one of them was a keeper (a couple were close). They are still fun to catch, keeps you warm on a cold day, well mentally warm anyway.

[gottafish]

lots of small pike being caught this year, however my buddy got one 37.5", 14lbs. this past weekend......some guys in a red jeep had just removed their permanent shanty form that site, there were a couple of 10" holes cut there, he set out a tip up and got it a half hr later.......

[TeamPolarisracing]

my buddy fishes that lake a lot he has a cottege there and when he does cathc them they are about 17- 21" long.

[Fish-or-Die]

I fished Hought on Friday Jan 31 in front of Lymans. I've never had that many flags go up in my life. Between 3 of us we could not keep up with the flags. We landed 18 pike and lost several others that either snapped the line or got away with the minnow. Didn't have steel leaders on all the lines that's why we broke. Funny thing was out of 18 pike only one was a keeper. 26 inches. Every other one was between 19 to 23 inches. Went two weeks ago and had the same thing happen, lots of fish but no keepers.

[fairview253]

Any of you ever try Surflon knottable stainless steel fishing wire? I gave it a whirl this season as leader on my tip-ups and have been utterly ecstatic with the results. I would never go back to conventional steel leaders again. $9.00 for 5 meters but worth it. Any other thoughts on Surflon, drop a line.

[Fish-or-Die]

Never heard of it. Where can I get it?

[fairview253]

Surflon is made by American Fishing Wire and can be found at Cabela's (that's where I got mine). It is with the saltwater fishing gear, not with the rest of the steel leaders. Its durability is remarkable. You can check it out online at www.cabelas.com.