Not trying to hone in on someone's honey hole but if any of you have any information you'd like to share regarding a lake or two that a guy could try for some darkhouse spearing I'd appreciate it. Of course clear water and some pike are the two main factors.

I/m looking at a short day or two trip to the Eastern portion of SD later in the season/early spring, this year, or maybe next. Our ridiculous season closes here the end of February and the restrictions are nuts (typical MN regs...don't get me started).

Of course PM/s are welcome. I get it.

Thanks in advance....and hoping all the darkhouse guys on here are having a good year.

Calvin

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I grew up with a couple old timers that speared pike most weekends. We always went to Missouri River typically in the Akaska area. Stayed in about 15 foot or less so they could see the bottom. Always seemed to get at least a couple pike, sometimes a bunch.

Nice pics MJM! Those are GIANT...and pretty much non existent around here.

I always enjoyed your spearing vids in the past. Maybe I'm a looking at the wrong state

Same here! I have often thought about the picture you posted with 3 or 4 in the hole at once. I would like to try that just once!

I had a spot I could see 40-60 pike 3-5 lbs, in three-four hours. A few bigger ones mixed in. I would go and spear one fish a week, 6-15 lbs and just watch the rest of the time. I went 4-5 days a week just to watch. But it is pretty much fished out now. The last couple times I was there I would only see two to three fish in four hours and they were small. I have been lucky with the spearing I have had. The first year they opened spearing in ND my buddy and I got 13 pike with a 17lb average. We passed a lot of fish 15-18lbs for fear of dropping our average. It was the first year he ever speared. You have to set where the pike are.

nice fish mjm thanks for sharing

It called " retirement bucket list "

It looks like fun

Water Wolf
Cool pictures

Wow, that is really neat! Like your Jagd Terrior getting into the action.

Hey Mark ! NICE FISH !
What is the one sniffy is on ?
Looks more like a sucker .... or white fish ?
Thanks for the post !

The dog is sniffing on what we call north of the 49th.... a Mennonite Trout

Can't find that reference anywhere.
What is it AKA ?
Thanks

Looks like a white sucker to me. We get to spear lake sturgeon in Wisconsin, but the musky guys have stopped every effort to get a pike spearing season.

It is a sucker, and we can spear them and other ruff fish. So if they cruse through, I try to stick them. I had a beaver come through the hole a couple times down on the bottom. That might have been a fight if a guy would have speared him. A Game Warden showed up about an hour or two later the last time I saw him, I was kind of glad I let him swim. I am not sure you can spear beaver in ND. I do not eat the suckers or carp, I add them to the bait pile. The sniffer did not like fishing much, he was a hunter. But he saw a fair number of fish. Some before I did.

ive had muskrats come up through hole a few times ... one time i came to thr shavk. heater was on so the holes were open from the day before as perch bite was good... looked like someone was chewin tobbaco and spitting around the holes... mink had come in crapped every where ate 2 buckets of minnows,,, had to go to town 2 get bait an clean up mink poo..he got even with a trapper...lol
never tried spearing but this thread sure got my interest up

Man you’re killing me tossing out those tasty things! Some drawn butter and boiled in 7 up, they are one of my favorite fish. Makes a great change up from fried fish.. I’m sure they work well in the pile though I guess!!

Just a question but do you always let them go to the bottom? I always poked them and tried to take advantage of the 2 seconds where they are just froze to get them out the door. I always had a "back up spear" too for a bad hit or a big one. Big ones usually got poked a second time even though I have never had one come off.