Howatt Goes Pike Fishing

Jeff Howatt, avid outdoorsman, math teacher, and registered Maine Guide, is one of our main characters in Hardwater. He's been ice fishing central and western Maine for close to forty years. Prior to this season, Jeff had fished exclusively for cold water species, particularly lake trout and brook trout. Admittedly, Jeff had never even seen a northern pike, even though these invasives have been in Maine waters since the late 70's. He referred to them as "fake fish" and predicted that catching one would be as boring as "shooting a decoy."

Well, he changed his mind pretty quickly after hooking and landing two pike within ten minutes of each other in late January, the second of which was nearly fifteen pounds. He was able to share the moment with one of his good friends and fishing buddies, Roger Bolduc. Below is the 14.7 pounder - the largest freshwater catch of Jeff's life.