Dan,

I like big, flashy streamers. I prefer synthetics and bucktail. ( Long bunny strips are a pain to cast once they get water logged, but are very effective.)

I don't try to match anything, except maybe the old 'light on bottom/dark on top' thing. One of my most effective pike 'flies' is a two hook articulated mess with large clumps of gold flashabou tied on each hook, using 50 pound nylon coated wire to attach the hooks together. You can see it ten feet down and twenty feet from the boat, and pike just kill it.

That being said, I've caught pike on so many different patterns that I'm inclined to believe that just about ANY fly that a pike sees when he's feeding, he'll eat....as long as it's not too small.

These are voracious and aggressive top end predators. They are not often subtle.

Buddy