A Beefy Pike Fly Rod

[Wildfisher]

After using a Flextech 8 /9 weight at the last forum pike fly fishing outing I reckon it's just up to the job of chucking  huge wet budgies or even surface poppers.

Perhaps a very stiff  9 / 10 weight would be better.

Any recommendations?

[Inchlaggan]

I do not own one of these, but I tried one and did not find it wanting.

http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Fulling_Mill_GX-1094__10_weight_-_9ft___Gold_Series_-_4_Piece_Rods___-_Save_40_.html

[haresear]

What weight line were you trying to cast Fred?

Alex

[Wildfisher]

What weight line were you trying to cast Fred?

#8 WF floater and sink tip. Sink tip was horrible to cast and distance, the floater not much better with the big poppers.

[haresear]

#8 WF floater and sink tip. Sink tip was horrible to cast and distance, the floater not much better with the big poppers.

Before buying another rod, try a #9 or even a #10 Fred. I use a #10 on a rod rated for a #9.

Remember the rod has to cast the line, which in turn has to have enough beef to carry the fly out and turn it over.

Alex

[Malcolm]

It's worth giving Steve Parton a ring there's no one knows more about heavyweight gear than he does. I have one of his Imperator rods and nothing chucks a dead budgie better but you need strong hands to use it.

Malcolm

[Fishtales]

Never fly fished for pike but here are some tips from a mate of mine.

He uses a 9 foot #7/8 sometimes a 10 foot.

Wire traces :-  Drennan 7 strand soft wire
                      Kaliber wonder wire
                      Rio Leaders for Bonefish and Tarpon

For flies have a look at these.

http://members.shaw.ca/mrpike/flies.html

http://www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/flytying/pike_fly.html

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/cnangler/html/pike1.htm#flies

http://www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/patterns/flyvbait.html

http://members.shaw.ca/clives/pikeflyfish.html

[Allan Crawford]

http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=17230

I've been using one of these for the last year with a Rio mainstream 10 weight pike fly line floater and its my best setup yet. Its not a fast action but easy to make bend and delivers large flies with relative ease.
I'm now thinking that the fastest action rods are not the best for casting heavy pike flys.
As for lines, I go heavier cause I dont think you can generate as much line speed with big flys.
For a cheap pike line go a size heavier cheapish trout line and cut 5-7 ft from the front taper, experiment a foot at a time !
Just some of my observations, it would be good to meet other pike fly fishers and try there setups.

[haresear]

am keen to try this pike fishing...but tackle? apart from obvious traces on point I'm wodering if my 11'  #6 B/W Powerlite would work....based on fishing experience with a 3" collie which it handles well, and landing in a river a couple of 10lb+ salmon recently[fortunately, but rod coped!] It seems everybody speaks of very heavy lines as a prerequisite. Is the general idea to cover a lot of distance? Anything Ive read suggests pike can be pretty close in.......advice would be most welcome

It is a question of balanced tackle.
The heavy lines are needed to cope with the heavy and bulky flies used for pike fishing, not for distance casting. A 3" collie dog has very little weight or bulk and I wouldn't fancy restricting myself to using such small flies for Esox which generally like a good mouthful, even if they are caught on small flies at times.

I use a 9' 9" #9 rod with a #10 line. Even then I wish the rod was 9" shorter. It is hard work stopping the longer rod crisply to get the leader to turn over. I find the power of the rod handles big hard fighting fish which mostly are taken near heavy weed growth.

Alex

   

[Malcolm]

Tenfootfive,

No problem trying out pike fishing, especially for jacks, with anything you have.

However, while a 6 weight is fine for seatrout and salmon, I'd be inclined more towards 10 weights and above for pike. Salmon rods are good. The real issue is the big flies which are a real pain to cast with light rods especially in fierce conditions.  

Malcolm