Pike on a Fly

[Old Smoothound]

Hi all,

Just got back from a mornings fishing on one of my favourite Pike venues.

It was a bit grey this morning but thankfully the rain had eased during the night. I thought the River may still be clear soooo I had had it in my mind to do a spot of fly fishing for old Esox Esox....

Got to the River at 8.45am, set up my Daiwa Pike travel rod 7 weight 3 piece and my trusty Orvis Rocky Mountain large Arbour reel with a 7 weight floating line, my favourite line ....so versatile and positive to fish with.

I walked downstream for about a mile and a half, not too bad as was travelling light. Spotted a few "Pikey" swims on the way down so took a mental note and would fish thm on the way back up.


First swim tried nothing. I fan cast around the area but still nothing. Second swim decided to tie on a small Pike fly of only 2 1/2 inches.....sizes matters when fly fishing for Pike.

First cast.......let the fly fall through the water column counted too 12 then started a steady figure of 8 retrieve with a couple of jerky pulls for good measure..was just thinking about moving when Wham.....all went solid...... and the fun began....leaping thrashing shaking its head..... this mother was really at being hooked. One short run then I saw him just below the surface. Nice pike of about 6 lbs comes to the net...almost went A*se over T** into the river in my excitement. But the little beauty came up the bank.

Took a photo for the forum popped him back and walked on to another "pikey" looking spot. Nice swim this on the far bank there are overhanging trees a little push of water about 12 feet from the opposite bank so there would be a bit of slack water...just the kind of water that Pike love to lay in ambush in.

So I changed my fly to a Perch pattern a bit bigger at 3 inches, but what the hell, I may get lucky.

It was a difficult cast...... big upstream mend and laid the line in a "snake" pattern....let the fly sink to the bottom....couple of jerky pulls then slow figure of 8 and all hell breaks loose! This fish stripped 20 - 30 yards of line off my reel in a blink of an eye.....jesus, poor little Daiwa rod is bent double....I just managed to stop her running into some dead weed beds and turned her head back towards me. She tailed walked for about 6 feet accross the water she is really hacked off with my fly is in her mouth..... shaking her head.....diving down..... shaking her head again...christ what have I hooked I asky myself. Where's the bloody net!.... is another thought.

Funny how you think of these things in the heat of battle! The nets behind me to my left....she's still shaking her head at me.......I lean into her a bit more give her some more stick......I've got her head on the surface now....christ my hearts thumping....what a rush of adrenalin.

I slip the net under her and she's mine!


I can barely lift her out of the water and hold my rod at the same time.

Well guy's here she is in all her glory:




After that I walked and fished the rest of the river and caught a few more...not a big as her but scrappy little buggers all the same.

I ended the session with 7 Pike and all were returned safely to fight another day. A great mornings sport.
Might try fly fishing for Perch next!!

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Lovely read - felt like I had the rod in my hand

Nice pike mate and looking in great condition too

[pingu]

sounds fantastic smoothy
think you derserve a rest now

[Rob M]

Fantastic post Smoothy, so much information to digest. I admire anyone who can fly-fish with confidence, I fear that I'm such a cack-hand that I'd never be able to do it, must try one day

Rob

[fishypaul]

wonderful days fishing smoothie and a great read. well done mate

i've been meaning to get a bit of piking in for weeks,i really must go.

[Old Smoothound]

Thanks guy's,

I haven't been Piking for a while on a river so was well pleased with the result.

Pingu I have had a few now so and rested so bring on the Perch!!

[kiwimarty]

A lovely fish Shaun.

Well done dude.

Mart.

[fishingbonsai]

Brilliant report

Must give it a go, Orvis are giving lessons down my way in Chichester Harbour after bass. Been into Orvis shop locally looking at price of tackle, shocked, must talk to wife about a re-mortgage.

[wellyfish]

nice fish partner must try the fly fishing for pike sometime..

[Miles]

Congrats on a successful session - a good inspiration, since I too have thought about going after pike with fly tackle and never 'got around to it'.

I caught a small Perch once on a bloodworm under a sight bob, so it was really more like float fishing. Although I've not had a lot of success I'm interested in doing more fly fishing for non-trouty species. Look forward to hearing how you get on and good luck.