Fly fishing pike

[Guest]

Is anyone familiar with fly fishing for pike or ever heard of it? I've got into fly fishing and would like to hook into one with the fly rod. Is there certain flys to use or techniques for this? Any info on this is greatly apreciated.

[chief]

Top Water,

Lots of fly fishing for pike here in MN. Metro waters are crawling with pike. 'Tonka, Medicine, Waconia, Prior, Eagle, etc, offer all the 2-5lb. fish you could want. The glamour lakes up north, of course, offer a chance at trophies early and late in the year during the coolest water temps.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS:
1. Use an 8 or 9 weight rod with either a floating or sink tip line. You'll seldom need to fish deeper than 6ft. for most catchable populations.

2. Leaders can be tapered if you wish, but since you'll be throwing bulkier flies fairly short distances to fish that don't give a ****, a 4-5ft leader of 12/14lb test mono is about all you'll need. You "MUST" use a wire bite leader of some kind at the fly connection, or you'll never land a fish. I make six inch leaders of 12 or 18lb stranded wire. This wire is extremely thin, and leaders of this size and construction will still allow larger popping/diving bugs to float. I attach this wire directly to the fly with a haywire twist. The other end I haywire twist to a small barrel swivel. Typically, I pre-rig 5 or 6 flies like this at home. Then, when I'm on the water, it's a simple matter of quickly tying the swivel end to my mono leader. Quick, simple, effective. If you want to experiment and obsess about leaders--go right ahead, but years of experience have taught me that shorter is better, and fancy casting works no better than "chucking and ducking"
3. Any bright, gaudy streamer 4 to 5 inches long is a good choice. Clousers, deceivers, bunnies, catch a lot of fish. Big Dahlberg Divers, mega-divers, and mouse imitations are great also. Galyan's has most of these items, but if you want to visit a true "Pro Shop" for advice and selection, Thorne Brothers in Fridley is the place to go.
4. Location-wise I do most of my warm weather fishing above sunken weed beds. Cabbage is best, but milfoil and coontail will always hold some fish. If you can find these beds with 2 to 4ft of open water above them, you'll find fish. low light periods, obviously, are best. Good luck.

[saintmark]

So...................I thought I was the only crazy guy around that fly fished for pike. Fist start with the book "pike on the fly" by Reyonlds, see a library. Next follow the last post except for the wire leader stuff. go to walmart a 12lb, 8" steel leader 3 for $2.60. Yes you will corkscrew them but their easy to use and they'll work perfect.
next do you tie flies. If you don't you might spend a pretty penny on flies. I tie and sell them. Check feather-craft for ideas and the pike book. I've found the "reynold's pike fly and the "Left's deciever the best. You can buy lot's of stuff, but keep it simple Chartreuse and white combination. I've landed 1- 25 incher and 3 - 20 inches around tax day.
If you tie use a 2/0 hook at least. Don't skimp on the thread and lacquer.
And yes it's true, casting a reynolds pike fly is like casting a small brook trout.
Just fish the regular way.Give the pike fly a little time on the back cast and watch out. You can feel them sailing past your ear if your not careful. be sure to have at least 75yds of fly line backing. I was fishing the red river in ND near fargo and someone asked me what would happen if something took off down river. I said watch my $45.00 wf10f fine line go with it. So i changed to 100yds of backing and a $10.00 wf8f just in case. I'll go back to the good stuff in canada. would be happy to help if you have more question. StM

[Guest]

Yeah, accualy i do tie my own flies and live in the F-M area. I was wondering if there are any stores in the area that sell the tying materials(I'm low on thread) and i need to know where i can find out how to tie those flies you where mentioning.

[saintmark]

Start at the fargo public library and check out, pike on the fly. Scheels really sucks for materials. Feather- craft is about the best. I would be happy to help.
I bought one reynolds at scheel and copied that one. i actually tie a BarBouFace pike fly. strip of rabbit then maribou. Epoxy the head and stick on the eye thru the epoxy. Try 10th Ave bait. I have pike flies there you can buy cheaper then scheel and use as patterns. Both lefty's and reynolds. If you have a good supply of bucktail. the lefty's is a snap to tie. Good luck I'll check back later StM

[This message has been edited by saintmark (edited 05-23-2002).]