Projo Fishing: HotBytes

Ed Hughes caught this pike on Worden Pond this afternoon

What a memorable afternoon!

Ed Hughes came by around noon today to take his vehicle impaired friend fishing for pike on Worden Pond.

When we arrived, he handed me a No. 5 Mepps spinner with no wire leader. "You won't need wire,'' he said.

We waded into the warm water, and he said, "The key is to find the cool water. That's where the pike are. You'll feel it on your legs."

Within five minutes, Ed was connected to a beautiful pike in the 8- to 10-pound class. After he released the fish, he said, "That's it. I'm done until you catch one. I'll watch."

About three casts later, I had a strike. It felt like a 2- or 3-pound bass. I got the fish to within 10 feet of the rod tip. It was another pike, about the size of Ed's first fish. When the pike saw me, it bolted. After a few more fierce runs, the fish came to hand, Ed shot some pictures, and I released it.

In the next 30 minutes, Ed hooked and dropped two more -- and larger -- pike and had several short strikes. I had three short strikes and missed another.

They all hit in cold water. Ed said the fishing would be like this through August.

We fished for another hour without a tap.

"Let's give it a few more minutes," Ed said. Two casts later, he was into another pike.It was larger than the others.

"These fish are tremendous," I said.

"They're puppies," Ed said. "You should see the big dogs in this pond."

Next time.

 Tags  fishing freshwater pike ponds Rhode Island

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