Re: [Paddlewise] Pike, Pickerel, Hammer Handles, Slimey Beasts.

          Here in the Pacific Northwest, we catch a fish called ling 
cod. It is a toothy creature, averaging about 6-10 lbs, and somewhat 
resembling a pike, more than a barracuda. When you hook one of these 
primordial beasts, you need to yell out "help!". When your buddies 
show up, say something like "who's going to unhook this fish?". If  
they are smart, they will keep their distance ,and you will be in a 
pickle. It is then just you against Larry the Ling, mano y mano. Ling 
cod have extremely sharp teeth, and razor like gill covers as well, 
so handling them is a problem. To complicate matters, they can weigh 
over 30 lbs easily.
          When we do battle with Larry, each paddler is supposed to 
have a pair of pliers, gloves, and an onion or potato sack. I think 
you can imagine what these items are for. Unhooking a ling cod 
bare-handed is just plain stupid.
          Incidentally, one of our group likes to transport live 
Dungeness crabs in his lap while paddling, and he is still intact. 
Still, the thought of having to do some emergency sowing back at 
camp is not very appealing.	



> Date:          Sat, 21 Feb 1998 16:35:42 -0500
> To:            <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
> From:          "TomTotem..." <gadfly_at_isomedia.com>
> Subject:       [Paddlewise] Pike, Pickerel, Hammer Handles, Slimey Beasts...

> 	snip ref's about little minnow---------->
> 
> 		The post about a hungry pike me thinking about something that I've yet to
> find an adequate solution for.  That is, "How does one bring in a say, 30
> inch pike, when one is in a kayak?"
> 
> 	I know of a relatively accessible creek [for you Michiganders: "Crick"
> 8-)] that has a suprising population of Walleye, and Pike.  I met up with
> one of the latter...  It's a nice story-got a good grade on it in school
> even, but to shorten it:
> 
> 	I had my Aquaterra Caspia in a creek that was maybe 20 feet wide, and was
> suprised to catch three walleye in four casts...  it was the fourth fish,
> the pike that impressed me by actually towing me upstream... until that is,
> I got it out of the water.  I managed to measure it [tip of snout to the
> start of the tail fin] 27inches-really.   Problem was that I had a heck of
> a time getting the hook out of the beasties mouth without either injuring
> myself or letting go my paddle.
> 
> 	Later I regretted not keeping the fish.  [when told where I was fishing
> there were a number of folks, that were more than a bit skeptical]  I
> wonder, does anyone on the list have any experience/ideas about how to
> actually bring back one of these "toothy torpedoes"?
> 
> 	Tom...
> 
> P.S.  For those interested off-list.   I won't expect you to believe me any
> more than anyone else did...
> 
> 
> 	Tom Weese
> 
> Kirkland, Wa.
> 
> Three left turns often make a right...
> 
> <http://www.isomedia.com/homes/gadfly/>
> 
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Bradford R. Crain                             E-mail: brad_at_mth.pdx.edu
Dept. of Mathematics                          Phone: (503) 725-3127
Portland State Univ.                          FAX:   (503) 725-3661  
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Or. 97207
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