Pike on the fly

Large game fish can be taken on tackle that includes a fly rod

By Karl J. Power

The northern pike is probably the meanest, most contemptuous predatory fish in fresh water.

Pike are known by the Latin name, Esox lucius; while the French-Canadians of Quebec refer to the fish as brochett, and some older anglers refer to northern pike as "bean sides."

Fly fishermen, however, who target the great northern pike simply call the fish "awesome."

When you hook into a large northern pike on a fly rod, you don't have it -- it has you.

About all you can ask for when a pike is on the end of your fly line tippet is that it tires itself out before you do. It also can come down to whether or not someone can start the boat to follow the fish before the fly reel runs out of backing.

You can't stop a northern pike on a fly rod when it “makes a run” away from you. All you can do is palm the reel in an attempt to slow it down before it reaches the end of the line and snaps your leader, tippet and fly.

According to Austin Gagnon, owner of Stramond Lake Lodge in Quebec, Canada, "We've had at least 20 World Record pike and walleye taken from our lake since I bought the lodge 20 years ago."

"In addition to the main lake, we have several smaller lakes that hold some trophy-sized pike. A lot of the fly fishermen prefer those lakes because it's a lot easier to find and fly fish for large northern pike," Gagnon said.

For more information on Stramond Lake Lodge, log onto their web site at www.stramondlake.ca - or telephone (819) 662-3007.

While many Canadian and American, including Pennsylvania, lakes hold large northern pike, the unique voluntary trophy fish program at Stramond makes taking large pike, walleye and lake trout a greater possibility.

MYTHS DISMISSED

Many anglers believe that, in order to take a large, toothy northern pike on a fishing rod, you must use heavy rods, reels and line, as well as a steel leader.

This simply is not true.

Granted, northern pike have some very sharp teeth, and the roof of their mouths are a mass of razor-sharp hook-like smaller teeth designed for holding the fish they grab in their jaws.

Most flies that take a northern pike hook the fish along the side of the mouth, and as long as the rod tip is kept high and the tension of the line maintained, the likelihood of the fish biting the line in half are minimal.

The large teeth, designed for grabbing and crushing, are cone-shaped, and not sharp along the sides where the line and fly usually is attached to the fish.

Far more northern pike escape both conventional and fly lines from a break-off as opposed to a bite-off.

FLY ROD RECOMMEDATIONS

Your typical Pennsylvania trout stream fly rod is not sufficient enough to take a 10- to 20-pound northern pike.

Suggested fly rod weights are in the 8- to 10-weight rods with matching lines. Nine and 10-foot rods are best for large northern pike.

In the early season, and also when fly fishing for walleye, weight-forward sinking line is best. Often you can catch walleye in the same areas where you cast to pike, so a line that places the fly in deeper water is recommended if you want a mixed bag of pike and walleye fishing on the fly rod.

Later in the summer months, when pike take up ambush points along the edges of weed lines and points on a lake, a floating line may be a better choice. The weight forward lines, however, are best used for the ease of casting -- especially with the heavier than usual flies needed to attract the larger fish.

BIG FLIES-BIG FISH

Fortunately there is no real science to tying pike flies, other than using a large hook and plenty of material. Streamer patterns that imitate a baitfish are best.

You can be creative in colors and patterns, as long as the streamers are at least three to four inches in overall length -- and tied on a size 2/0 or larger hook. Long-shank hooks are best to allow a base to begin tying materials, as well as a longer piece of steel that will be hooked near the cluster of sharp hook-like teeth on the roof of the pike's mouth.

Lead wraps around the hook shank and weighted bead-eyes make the streamer sink faster. If more weight is needed, use one or more lead split shot crimped to the line -- preferably a longer tag-end below the fly as opposed to attaching it to the leader in front of the streamer.

At least 12-pount test leader tippets should be used.

Plenty of crystal-flash and flash-a-boo enhance the attracting power of the streamer -- as do bright colors such as red, white, blue and chartreuse.

While early season weighted streamers work well, Dahlberg-type surface streamers tried with spun deer hair make great topwater flies.

Surprisingly, the tan-colored hair from the tail of a golden retriever also works well for northern pike, and is exceptionally good for walleye.

Long casts, with a stripping in of the line and jerking action of the rod tip will trigger most strikes -- and the hook set must be made with a long sweeping action of the limber rod. Very sharp hooks are imperative for a quick hook set into the tough jaws of the large fish.

WALLEYE ON FLIES

While northern pike and other large game fish are a thrill to catch on a fly rod, walleye, which often share the same lake areas, also are very sporting on the long and limber rods.

On a fly rod, even a 16-inch walleye feels like it's 24-inches or larger when fly fishing is the choice for the day.

It is, however, usually easiest to locate the schools of walleye first by trolling or jigging with conventional tackle -- then switching over to the fly rod to fish over the group of schooling walleye.

Sinking lines and weighted streamers are always the best line and fly choices for the deeper-swimming walleyes.