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Welcome to the special section “BAM 35 Years.” We are presenting “cult” articles from the Motor Boats archive, starting in 1990. A journey through time among stories unobtainable today, even in the great sea of the internet! A dive into the world of epic moments in motor boating. We begin with one of the stories we were most passionate about.
From Boats by Motor 1992, No. 10, November, pp. 88-91.
It is a fierce predator, a terror of lakes: to catch pike, in America they created bass boats, very fast boats with two motors.
Originally designed for perch fishing, hence the name “bass,” bass boats are diabolical boats equipped for pike fishing competitions, popular in the States, made for the calm waters of American lakes and lagoons. Built of fiberglass with gritty metallic colors they have a very tapered shape towards the bow and are equipped with two different engines. A very powerful 90- to 200-horsepower outboard is placed in the stern and allows the best fishing areas to be reached in the shortest possible time, sprinting ahead of other competitors like a Formula 1 start. Another electric, pedal-controlled motor to leave your hands free is placed in the bow to move silently once you reach the fishing spot. Normally equipped with the most sophisticated fishing gear, it has very low bulwarks, both in the aft and forward areas to facilitate the shackling of fish, with carpeted decking that acts as a non-slip, lots of lockers for rods, catch and live bait, and a very capacious fuel tank. The helm station, in a sheltered position, is in the center at a lower level. Swivel fighting chairs can be installed at the stern and bow. A pike fishing boat is generally wheelable, with maximum overall dimensions of 2.20 meters for a length of 4.50 to 6 meters. The average weight of a 5-meter-long bass boat is about 500 kilograms, and the maximum applicable motorization is 150 horsepower.
The main powerplant of a bass boat is generally a very fast outboard of between 90 and 200 horsepower, prepared to offer maximum acceleration and thus burn opponents on time. The most commonly used models are the powerful V6 and V8, which are reliable and indefatigable. In fact, the function of this motorization is to make transfers on the water in the shortest possible time since, especially in sports competitions, whoever arrives first has the best chance of catching the most prey. The “start” of pike fishing competitions is given, as with Formula 1 competitions, on a starting line from which, at the signal to start, one launches oneself at full throttle into the areas marked by buoys. Once the fishing spot is reached, the second motorization located on the bow of the boat intervenes: electric and very quiet, it is controlled by a pedal to leave both hands free. It is a small electric motor that can be equipped with a power-lift, a practical support operated with a simple command from the steering console or from the bow pontoon itself that allows it to be put in an operational position and lifted onto the deck after use. This useful accessory provides added safety when entering shallow water because it acts very quickly on the power-lift; in this way, dangerous impacts against the bottom and possible overboard falls are averted and fishing concentration is not interrupted. The power-lift is operated by a tiny battery-powered electric motor but can be excluded when the battery is low, thus allowing manual power-lifting.
A highly coveted prey for sport fishermen, the pike is a carnivorous predator that can reach considerable size. Widespread in most streams and lakes, it defends itself vigorously when hooked. There are various techniques for being able to fish this fierce predator: with live bait, which is less sporty but more natural, or with artificial bait. Let’s start with live bait fishing, which is primarily a wait-and-see fishery. Once a place where pike are presumed to be hiding is identified, a live minnow of any species (roach, rudd, carp, etc.) is delicately baited on a hook of the appropriate pattern and size for the bait itself, arranged differently for fishing in standing or running water. The float will hold the bait at the desired depth. The live bait will try to break free by attracting the pike with its movements. Grabbed with a sharp blow by the predator, the bait will be carried to a shelter: at this point it is important to keep the line as released as possible to allow the pike to swallow the bite; the float will signal the movements of the pike and the line. Now you can retrieve slowly, taking care to keep the line constantly taut. Dead bait fishing, on the other hand, is one of the most exciting and effective techniques, but it is very difficult. It consists of surveying the possible locations of
The pike’s natural habitat, as mentioned above, is the lake, which has a subdivision of vertical zones like the sea named respectively: littoral, pelagic, deep.
Littoral: runs along the entire perimeter of the lake and is itself divided into two zones.
(a) The shore step or shallow shoreline, bounded landward by the shore and on the lower side by the well-lit zone, called the euphotic zone, where photosynthesis processes take place.
(b) The sublittoral zone, the lacustrine belt that encloses waters with a high temperature gradient, that is, it divides the warmer waters above from the colder waters below. The lower limit of the sublittoral zone coincides with the beginning of the poorly illuminated environment called aphotic.
Pelagic zone: extends off the littoral belt and affects the remaining lake surface up to the limit of the euphotic zone.
Deep zone: is present only in sufficiently deep lakes and coincides with the poorly lit aphotic zone. It includes the portion of the lake directly in contact with sediments, called the benthic zone.
Lakes have very different characteristics and feeding patterns because they are more affected than the sea by the land around them. There are nutrient-rich lakes, called eutrophic, which are found in very fertile regions, while in less fertile and colder areas there are oligotrophic lakes, that is, they contain few nutrients. Pike, of course, prefer eutrophic lakes. In winter, pike swim at different depths and then move to the bottom vegetation in summer. But pike can also be found in the quieter bends of some streams, where vegetation provides a valuable hiding place for its fierce predator ambushes. Because there is an incredible amount of small, medium and large lakes as well as lagoons in the United States of America, which are ideal habitats for pike, a specific type of fishery related to this species has developed considerably.
There are several species of pike: these include common pike, American pike, and Florida pike.
Esox lucis (Common or European Pike)
Morphology: has elongated body with flattened spatula-shaped head and broad, large, flat snout. The jaws are large with powerful teeth curved backward; the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw. The dorsal and anal fins have rays, are located far back and are similar in shape while the caudal fin is concave. Coloration is olive green or dark green with light spots tending to yellow.
Esox americanus americanus (American pike)
Morphology: small member of the pike family has elongated body, long head, large, flat snout, large jaws with powerful teeth; lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw; eyes look forward and upward. The caudal and anal fins are similar and located at the same height; the tail is bifid. Coloration ranges from olive green to dark green . Dimensions: Can reach up to a maximum of 37.5 cm. Distribution: Great Lakes, United States from Maryland to Georgia and in the northern and central parts of Florida. Its ideal habitat is marshes, creeks and grassy bottoms, as well as soft substrates. When ferreted, it is very pugnacious. Sport fishermen enjoy catching it immensely. Its meat is edible but not particularly tasty.
Lepisosteus playrhinchus (Florida pike).
Morphology: long, cylindrical body, long, well-toothed mouth, very backward and single dorsal fin, rounded tail, overlapping diamond hard scales. Brownish olive-gray coloration with spots on the head.
by Roberta Limardo
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