Fly Fishing for Pike !?!?!

[Red_Stag_87]

Hi ppl,
have decided to have a go at fly fishing for pike.
and was wondering wat i need . i have a nice bob church trout special rod. good hardy reels and floating line. now what sort of flies do i need and what should i do about a leader and trace. and last but not least whens the best time of the day canditions and year to have a bash at them.

cheers

scotty

[aks19]

okay, a 9weight rod is essential, not just for casting but to handle these big powerful fish they could break your rod or worse tire the fish to death on a lighter, 24" of wire trace is a must about 20lb tend to do it, with a swivel at one end to this tie your leader of about 25-28lb, then on the other end a clip to clip teh flies on to, for flies a good site is www.diptera.com this will show you a ot fo teh patterns and how to tie them, the sea patterns are good for pike, I dont know about conditions i tend to get most takes at dusk but that may just be me, i fish all day usually. good luck and dont forget the unhooking mat!

[Red_Stag_87]

cheers , so thats a 9 strengh rod (wat sort of line would you recomend) line 25lb leader then a 24" wire trace with a clip then a big pike fly.
i will be fishing on a ***** humongus loch 8 mile long nd about 3/4 mile wide. full of trout and pike. id say the lochs name but im not suposed to for some reason as its nice and quiet and got some specimen pike and trout in it soz.
where should i be looking to cast and what sort of retrieve should i opt for?

regs
scotty

[Red_Stag_87]

does any1 else have any super catching tips for a fly fishing for pike novice.
any tips much appretiated
regs

scott

[Norfolkboy]

Wait for Old Smooooooothound, he's a guru

Nice tips from Aks

[aks19]

erm............ retrieves tend to differ upon the day start deep and slow working your way up into the higher levels i tend to find pike stay deeper than trout but they can be found in the upper levels especially in teh warmer days in the margins, as for features look for places that the pike can ambush their prey with ease, drop-offs, gully's, bay entrances/exits, erm....... predator watercraft is needed, a little trick that i doubt is legal so i probably should say it have never tried it myself except when deadbating and lurefishing and it just occured to me why wouldnt it work on flies, dip it in fish oil, smelly attractor adds a bit of taste as well always a big + if you can add that little something to give you the edge but check that the loch peeps allow it and if you get done you've never heard of me :s, lol, erm.... I've rambelled on far too much probably said things that i need'nt have but o well thats life.


I'm gona shut up now ;)

[Old Smoothound]

Nice tips from AK.

There is not much I could add really, except to say find what the prey fish are and that is what the Pike will be feeding on. It does vary from season to season,. At my local lake circa 1400 acres they feed on Roach and PErch with small Trout as a side dish.

In Spring they tend to be 2-3 inches then 4-6 inches in Summer with Autumn and Winter prey fish in the 5-8 inch range. But I have also caught Pike on Flies that are 15/16ths of an inch long in competitions for Trout so they will strike at anything that "invades their Space".

In Summer you will get strikes from fish at the surface on poppers and floating flies and also deeper in the water, but in Winter it's a bit more tricky and you will need to "bump" the flies along the bottom to get a reaction from the Pike.

Water craft is by far and away the most important factor, find where the fish are lying up and waiting to ambush and then but a prey fish fly over their nose and "BINGO" your in.

For fly patterns buy or tie ones that look like prey fish ..perck, Roach Rudd etc and also try silver sparkly ones from time to time. In coloured water use Orange or Black flies for maximum effect.

Keep working your flies through the water column and you will hook up with the supreme fresh water predator.

Good luck

[Red_Stag_87]

Originally Posted by Old Smoothound

Nice tips from AK.

At my local lake circa 1400 acres they feed on Roach and PErch with small Trout as a side dish

garnished with a light sprinkle of parsley and a drop of whiskey eh...lol

good stuff chaps ill try and cram as many of your tips in as poss and ill post bak on what happens.
thanks again
scotty

[aks19]

good luck!