2013 Episode Synopsis
by Charlie Wray

Episode 226: Freedom Pike

Today, the Mercury Marine Destination takes us up to the top end of Reindeer Lake in Saskatchewan. If you are looking for monster Pike and wonderful service, Lindbergh's Reindeer Lake Lodge might be just what you are looking for www.fishreindeerlake.com or 1-843-552-2838. This massive lake offers hundreds of hot spots, and the fish just keep biting year after year, but even on a lake this good, sometimes a few lure choices really shine. Charlie tested the new Freedom jig head in Florida earlier this season, but this was the first real test on freshwater fish, and it was obvious from the first cast at just how well this jig was going to work.

The Freedom jig heads are currently available in four different styles and several different weights. The Rouge is a football shaped jig, the Zodiac is similar to a ball head jig, the Stealth is a flipping jig /stand up head with the line tied directly on the nose for a weed free presentation, and the Hydra is a swimbait head. It was the Stealth used today, matched up with a 5 inch plastic swimbait, and slinked through the thickest weeds without hanging up. It was obvious that this was the winning combination today. There is one outstanding feature with all Freedom jig heads; they are designed in such a way, that hooks can be interchangeable. With a simple twist, one hook can come off, and another on, either to replace a worn out or damaged hook, or a different style hook altogether depending on how you plan to use it.

This same loop that allows you to interchange hooks, also gives another advantage, the action is incredible. Since the hook moves freely and not locked solidly into the head like on other jigs, it allows the plastics to look more lifelike. The hologram head on the Freedom moves and shakes one way as the plastic shad shakes another and the entire presentation looks alive. So alive does it look, that all the hits were directed toward the Freedom Stealth head, obvious from all the scratches. With over 100 Pike on one Freedom Stealth jig head, and several replaced hooks from twisting Pike, the head still had most of the reflective finish and both eyes still in place, quite amazing considering the damage the Pike's teeth can do.

Charlie normally loves thick Seaguar leaders in most situations like this, even for Pike and Muskie, but with this presentation being engulfed completely, and the front half being targeted, wire was needed to eliminate frequent re-tying. Tuf-Leader is an amazing wire by Western Filament that ties incredibly easy with any simple knot. This is a braided stainless steel wire with a spectra core. Very easy to tie, flexible, soft enough to grab to maneuver fish at boat side, and doesn't kink like single strand wire. Absolutely perfect for this situation, and using a loop knot to tie on the Freedom, allows the plastic shad and Freedom head to swim naturally. The Freedom Stealth head is also balanced so you can drop to the bottom and it will work as a stand up head, perfect to tempt big lazy Pike. A hot tactic is swimming the presentation for 10 feet, then letting sink to bottom for a few seconds, then cranking for another 10 feet and so on. It is hard to work this rig wrong. To get a little more out of your plastics, once they are torn from use, try now inserting the hook through the side into fresh plastic so the shad is sideways. The paddle tail is still working and at times, this works better than rigging the shad upright.

When dealing with plastics, you must keep in mind that hook sets need to punch the hook through the plastic, and also have enough force to stick into the tough boney mouth of the Pike as well. Mustad Ultra Point hooks are about as sharp as you can get, directly from the package without sharpening, and the 6/0 Big Mouth Tube Hooks were ideal for this. With the size of the Pike this set up was attracting, there was no time to mess around. With heavy duty machine cut Dura brass gearing and 11 ball bearings, the Okuma Serrano Baitcasting reel was perfect to handle the task. Especially loaded with 50 lb test Seaguar Kanzen braided line. Seaguar has been known as the leader in Fluorocarbon, but has recently come out with a beautiful, thin diameter, smooth casting braid. With such a thin diameter, why not move up to 50 lb test to absorb the shock of the powerful hook sets, and to give a little extra when the big Pike want to bury in the reeds.

No sense having all that power on your side, and a rod that can't handle it. One of the lightest, strongest rods Charlie has ever used, not just Okuma, but from any manufacturer, has been the Okuma C3 Carbon Cone Concept Rods. Sensitive, light and powerful rods that can handle the toughest jobs and this Okuma C3, has been a go to rod for Charlie on all his Pike trips.

On northern Fly-in trips, weight restrictions keep gear to a minimum, so why bring a separate rain coat when your normal, everyday jacket can be used as your raingear anyway. Viking makes beautiful jackets and coats that are 100% waterproof, and from some of the storms Charlie has weathered in Saskatchewan and other trips over the last two seasons, they are truly 100% waterproof and comfortable. The Tri-Zone also has a fleece lining for the cold mornings that can be zipped out and worn separately when it warms in the afternoon. Matched with Viking pants or bibs, and you will be all set for whatever conditions are thrown your way. Funny weather in Northern Saskatchewan, it can be sunny one minute, 10 minutes of pouring rain the next, and back sunny. All day can be like this, be prepared.

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