Just back from a weeks vacation near Roscommon, MI. Had a great time enjoying a spectacular week of calm weather to enjoy paddling the kayak in. The fishing would be whatever is was destined to be, and as it turns out, was well worth the effort expended!

If you could read a fish stocking memo between the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and the local Chamber of Commerce, it may have read like this..."Please send your fish stocking truck with another quarter billion rock bass again this year...our local campers and tourists lov'em!"

While trolling for Northern pike, or any other "largish" sized gamefish, the rock bass would keep you busy on a non stop basis. No matter what size the lure, rock bass were very eager to please. Typical time between bites averaged about 3 minutes, although sometimes it may be as long as 8 minutes. Lot's of fun, and they put up a good scrappy fight!

Typically, at least once or twice each day, I would finally get struck by a pike, which is what I had been hoping for. Only managed to catch 4, and lost several others halfway back to the kayak. The smallest was a 28 incher, and the largest came in at 37 inches. If you have ever caught a Northern pike, then you also know that they often will strike at just about anything if it looks edible. They put up a great battle, and as far as our local freshwater gamefish go, they are very close to the top of the list in my book!

I can imagine a conversation between two pike as they cruise thru the underwater weedbeds and pass each other by..."Hey there Jake...how is your day going?" "Not bad says Clyde, so far I've eaten a dozen yellow perch, 3 rock bass and several lake trout fingerlings". "Yep...about the same for me and it's only 9 am. Have a great day!" Pike are a blast to catch...no doubt about it!

Took in a few local sights around the region and explored some new places to return on future trips...both to fish, and to paddle.

Being away is fun and refreshing, but getting back home to your normal routine is always a welcome conclusion to an adventure as well!

Have a great weekend ahead folks!

Just back from a weeks vacation near Roscommon, MI. Had a great time enjoying a spectacular week of calm weather to enjoy paddling the kayak in. The fishing would be whatever is was destined to be, and as it turns out, was well worth the effort expended!

If you could read a fish stocking memo between the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and the local Chamber of Commerce, it may have read like this..."Please send your fish stocking truck with another quarter billion rock bass again this year...our local campers and tourists lov'em!"

While trolling for Northern pike, or any other "largish" sized gamefish, the rock bass would keep you busy on a non stop basis. No matter what size the lure, rock bass were very eager to please. Typical time between bites averaged about 3 minutes, although sometimes it may be as long as 8 minutes. Lot's of fun, and they put up a good scrappy fight!

Typically, at least once or twice each day, I would finally get struck by a pike, which is what I had been hoping for. Only managed to catch 4, and lost several others halfway back to the kayak. The smallest was a 28 incher, and the largest came in at 37 inches. If you have ever caught a Northern pike, then you also know that they often will strike at just about anything if it looks edible. They put up a great battle, and as far as our local freshwater gamefish go, they are very close to the top of the list in my book!

I can imagine a conversation between two pike as they cruise thru the underwater weedbeds and pass each other by..."Hey there Jake...how is your day going?" "Not bad says Clyde, so far I've eaten a dozen yellow perch, 3 rock bass and several lake trout fingerlings". "Yep...about the same for me and it's only 9 am. Have a great day!" Pike are a blast to catch...no doubt about it!

Took in a few local sights around the region and explored some new places to return on future trips...both to fish, and to paddle.

Being away is fun and refreshing, but getting back home to your normal routine is always a welcome conclusion to an adventure as well!

Have a great weekend ahead folks!

As always are your stories fishyaker well said and enjoyable. Even get for the talking Pikes.

You make it sound so easy like the fish were waiting on you. Good pics, great fishing, pretty scenery and a pic of your bride. Yep, that was a good vacation.

Just back from a weeks vacation near Roscommon, MI. Had a great time enjoying a spectacular week of calm weather to enjoy paddling the kayak in. The fishing would be whatever is was destined to be, and as it turns out, was well worth the effort expended!

If you could read a fish stocking memo to the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources from the local Chamber of Commerce, it may have read like this..."Please send your fish stocking truck with another quarter billion rock bass again this year...our local campers and tourists lov'em!"

While trolling for Northern pike, or any other "largish" sized gamefish, the rock bass would keep you busy on a non stop basis. No matter what size the lure, rock bass were very eager to please. Typical time between bites averaged about 3 minutes, although sometimes it may be as long as 8 minutes. Lot's of fun, and they put up a good scrappy fight!

Typically, at least once or twice each day, I would finally get struck by a pike, which is what I had been hoping for. Only managed to catch 4, and lost several others halfway back to the kayak. The smallest was a 28 incher, and the largest came in at 37 inches. If you have ever caught a Northern pike, then you also know that they often will strike at just about anything if it looks edible. They put up a great battle, and as far as our local freshwater gamefish go, they are very close to the top of the list in my book!

I can imagine a conversation between two pike as they cruise thru the underwater weedbeds and pass each other by..."Hey there Jake...how is your day going?" "Not bad says Clyde, so far I've eaten a dozen yellow perch, 3 rock bass and several lake trout fingerlings". "Yep...about the same for me and it's only 9 am. Have a great day!" Pike are a blast to catch...no doubt about it!

Took in a few local sights around the region and explored some new places to return on future trips...both to fish, and to paddle.

Being away is fun and refreshing, but getting back home to your normal routine is always a welcome conclusion to an adventure as well!

Have a great weekend ahead folks!

Just back from a weeks vacation near Roscommon, MI. Had a great time enjoying a spectacular week of calm weather to enjoy paddling the kayak in. The fishing would be whatever is was destined to be, and as it turns out, was well worth the effort expended!

If you could read a fish stocking memo to the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources from the local Chamber of Commerce, it may have read like this..."Please send your fish stocking truck with another quarter billion rock bass again this year...our local campers and tourists lov'em!"

While trolling for Northern pike, or any other "largish" sized gamefish, the rock bass would keep you busy on a non stop basis. No matter what size the lure, rock bass were very eager to please. Typical time between bites averaged about 3 minutes, although sometimes it may be as long as 8 minutes. Lot's of fun, and they put up a good scrappy fight!

Typically, at least once or twice each day, I would finally get struck by a pike, which is what I had been hoping for. Only managed to catch 4, and lost several others halfway back to the kayak. The smallest was a 28 incher, and the largest came in at 37 inches. If you have ever caught a Northern pike, then you also know that they often will strike at just about anything if it looks edible. They put up a great battle, and as far as our local freshwater gamefish go, they are very close to the top of the list in my book!

I can imagine a conversation between two pike as they cruise thru the underwater weedbeds and pass each other by..."Hey there Jake...how is your day going?" "Not bad says Clyde, so far I've eaten a dozen yellow perch, 3 rock bass and several lake trout fingerlings". "Yep...about the same for me and it's only 9 am. Have a great day!" Pike are a blast to catch...no doubt about it!

Took in a few local sights around the region and explored some new places to return on future trips...both to fish, and to paddle.

Being away is fun and refreshing, but getting back home to your normal routine is always a welcome conclusion to an adventure as well!

Have a great weekend ahead folks!

Awesome trip and pictures Yaker. Rockys can be very annoying when they tear up your soft plastics, but are definitely good fighters. Pike are also tackle wrecking machines. I've had them destroy Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits, and scape the paint off of Crankbaits. They're almost as good fighters as Smallmouth, almost. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Thank you Fredfish! I was glad to be only using hardware for baits...as I agree completely about how those fish can obliterate softgear! The pike are quite ferocious, and I was very lucky to get decent hook ups without using a wire leader. A lot of times I think a pike ambushes their prey crosswise to maim it, and then they gulp it down. Several of my catches had the hooks sunk in on the outside of the lips...which to me indicates that they struck the lure sideways. That sure helps with releasing them...especially while sitting in close proximity.

I kind of wish I had taken more pike photos, but I am always leary of spending too much time being pre-occupied with the camera and also making sure I don't get one leaping into my lap!

Just back from a weeks vacation near Roscommon, MI. Had a great time enjoying a spectacular week of calm weather to enjoy paddling the kayak in. The fishing would be whatever is was destined to be, and as it turns out, was well worth the effort expended!

If you could read a fish stocking memo to the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources from the local Chamber of Commerce, it may have read like this..."Please send your fish stocking truck with another quarter billion rock bass again this year...our local campers and tourists lov'em!"

While trolling for Northern pike, or any other "largish" sized gamefish, the rock bass would keep you busy on a non stop basis. No matter what size the lure, rock bass were very eager to please. Typical time between bites averaged about 3 minutes, although sometimes it may be as long as 8 minutes. Lot's of fun, and they put up a good scrappy fight!

Typically, at least once or twice each day, I would finally get struck by a pike, which is what I had been hoping for. Only managed to catch 4, and lost several others halfway back to the kayak. The smallest was a 28 incher, and the largest came in at 37 inches. If you have ever caught a Northern pike, then you also know that they often will strike at just about anything if it looks edible. They put up a great battle, and as far as our local freshwater gamefish go, they are very close to the top of the list in my book!

I can imagine a conversation between two pike as they cruise thru the underwater weedbeds and pass each other by..."Hey there Jake...how is your day going?" "Not bad says Clyde, so far I've eaten a dozen yellow perch, 3 rock bass and several lake trout fingerlings". "Yep...about the same for me and it's only 9 am. Have a great day!" Pike are a blast to catch...no doubt about it!

Took in a few local sights around the region and explored some new places to return on future trips...both to fish, and to paddle.

Being away is fun and refreshing, but getting back home to your normal routine is always a welcome conclusion to an adventure as well!

Have a great weekend ahead folks!