Seventeen or so years ago when I started at The Tribune, I made a goal to catch every sport fish the state had to offer. The northern pike piqued my interest the most. For a home-grown Utahn, the thought of catching the warmwater monsters I saw in magazines seemed like an elusive dream.

And, for the past 17 years, that is exactly what it was. As I continued to cross species after species off my list, the pike become more and more ominous.

When I heard that Yuba -- the very water that produced the current state record -- was kicking out pike on a regular basis and that biologists and anglers felt the predators needed to be harvested, I quickly jumped at the opportunity.

Besides, I never turn down an opportunity to fish with the likes of Ray Schelble and George Sommer. The pressure to catch a fish was made even more intense by the fact that we needed a pike picture to go along with the story.

It wasn't long into the day that I took out the marker and crossed off pike. George and I were tucked into a back bay about an hour into the fishing. He was trying to untangle a spinner rig because we thought we might try that when I had a fish explode at the surface as I pulled my crankbait out of the water.

I only saw it for a split second and I thought I saw some silver, so I assumed it was one of the chubby trout that are caught at Yuba. With George still focused on the tangles, I took advantage of the open water, and on my next cast, the rod was pulled harder than I have felt in a long, long time.

I was so focused on getting the fish in the boat that I didn't take time to appreciate the fight, but once we had it in the net, I couldn't contain myself.

Ray and Tribune photographer Rick Egan were on the other side of a ridge and said they could hear me yelling in excitement, even if I did sound like a seagull.

I appreciate every fish I hook, but it was a rush for me to feel so excited about a fish, and I could tell that my enthusiasm was a little contagious. George dropped the spinner rig and started throwing his crankbait with more determination.

About two hours later, he was rewarded when a fish at least a foot longer than the 28-incher I managed to get in the boat took him on a wild ride. The bruiser showed himself once and then ran under the boat twice before breaking the clip on the steel leader.

Pike are back on my list -- I just changed the rules to catching one larger than 40 inches.

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BRETT PRETTYMAN can be contacted at brettp@sltrib.com or 801-257-8902.