Capt Hook.......when my daughter was growing up we would watch Hook quite a few times a year and the mention of that name would bring shivers of fear and delight across her. And why not, pointy, large, and sharp it was a sinister instrument of pain.

Fast forward to this past summer in woodland Caribou. The target was musky and hopefully a few trophy pike. I am a believer in the big bait=big fish theory having seen it play out multiple times. As a consequence I brought quite a selection of big baits. Most were in the 10 inch range and often sported 3 gangs of 8/0 treble hooks. I was not ignorant of the potential of wearing a big hook with a thrashing fish on the other end and the catastrophic consequences which might ensue so I took prudent precautions. A boga grip to handle fish at boat side, 10" shimano needle nose pliers (excellent product BTW), a Lindy glove which is darn near impenetrable and even a superior pair of side cutters for worst case scenario.

The bigger fish I had no problems with since I would paddle them to shore and get out but twice with 26" pike I came a hairs breadth of wearing a big hook in spite of all my care and precautions. Both instances blood was drawn and how I didn't end up impaled is a bit of a wonder considering how sharp those hooks are.

What to do? How nice to catch catch fish on jigs where you can just reach out and grab them with no worries. I love running the big stuff so my solution is gong to be removing 2 gangs of trebles and run a big single saltwater hook off the rear and perhaps leaving the middle treble, I haven't decided yet. I have to do something different thats for sure........Anyways, since I advocate running big lures I wouldn't want someone to take my advice and have a disastrous result.

Hook!.....brings back some good memories,

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Peter Pan was idolized by my son in his younger days. How many take peanut butter on canoe trips? If you do, is it Peter Pan?

Peanut butter is a HUGE staple on all our trips! 

We eat it for breakfast on bagels and for lunch on tortillas.

Out peanut butter of choice is JIF creamy, but we'd probably like almost anything.

puckster

I wouldn't choose big jerk baits for a canoe trip. Got a picture of your tackle box? Bucktails are probably heavier but hey, they leave more room for batteries! ;)

db wrote on Sep 17^th, 2014 at 6:23am:

I wouldn't choose big jerk baits for a canoe trip. Got a picture of your tackle box? Bucktails are probably heavier but hey, they leave more room for batteries! ;)

Ha! leave more room for batteres, good one considering I am now a slave to a depth finder................ ("feed me").

Hey how about a picture of the lures I took? You guys would probably get a charge out it. Its all in Michigan, I will have it back in November.

db wrote on Sep 17^th, 2014 at 6:23am:

I wouldn't choose big jerk baits for a canoe trip.

Db your the second person who told me they wouldn't use a jerk bait on a canoe trip (KF being the other) but I found I could work it quite effectively using the equipment I was using. I actually never used the rod to move the lure but rather the reel. A big reel (shimano tranx) with a high speed gear ratio was the ticket and blasting 2 or 3 handle turns kicked the lure around nicely.

The reel was filled with 100lb power pro/130lb fluorocarbon leader which I personally thought was overkill but guys on a muskie forum extolled its virtues. The reel handled 100 perfectly with my only significant backlash coming on my first cast (easy does it lad). Now the reel will see significant duty off shore as my bucktail jig go-to outfit......... Oh yea baby, come to papa ;)