Got a dozen or so pike flies tied up last night. The ice is starting to melt in the bays, shouldn’t be too long now before I’m out after them. These are clousers tied on a 2/0 saltwater hook. I put them next to one of my ‘regular’ sized clousers on a size 6 streamer hook.
I’m going to tie up some giant wooly buggers today too. Starting to get pretty pumped. I might even get to go after some tiger muskies in a local reservoir too. If anyone else has a good pike pattern, please feel free to post a pic or two.
Hook: Mustad size 2/0 saltwater
Thread: Monofilament thread
Body: Bucktail with some flashabou that extends just past the tail.
Neat flies; can’t wait to see pics of some of the beasts you catch on them. Got Jaw spreaders and long nose pliers to get those flies back from all those teeth?
I am also waiting for a chance at some Pike. Soon as we have ice-out I’m ready. was talking about this weekend but I just heard we are expecting 6-12" of snow. Another nor’easter.
Jed, I feel your pain, it’s been a really long winter here this year too. We almost his 60 up here today though! Unbelievable, I didn’t think that was going to happen for quite some time. I’m sure we’ll have some more snow before it’s all said and done though. Hope it misses you.
I’m ready, got the wire bite leaders all set to go too, although I read about someone using fireline for a leader. I think I like that idea, might be a lot easier to work with than the wire.
Scott, I do indeed sir. Though, I might see if I can talk my brother into lipping one like a bass though, lol (funny story associated with that comment).
Oh, it’s not my fault (one of the few times). We were trout fishing once and he had a nice fish on and asked if he should lip it like a bass. I advised him against it because, unlike bass, they do have teeth that are quite sharp. Of course, he didn’t listen, and I’m sure just about every fisherman for a mile in both directions could hear the scream when he stuck his thumb in its mouth and lifted it out of the water to show me. I would like to say that I didn’t laugh, but I did…hysterically!
Then, he’s horribly terrified of pike. He’s somehow been bitten just about every time he’s handled one, dead or alive! He was up here a two winters ago for Christmas. I took him out ice fishing and I caught a nice pike through the ice. I don’t know how the heck he did it, but after we got home and were starting to fillet it, he would up with several gashes on his hand from the dead fish!
First, welcome, if you haven’t been already. I’ve only caught one little hammer handle pike in about 24 years of fly fishing. I’m in an area now that seems to be ripe with them, so I’m going to be giving it a serious effort this year. Thanks for the kind words.
That mouse pattern looks good. I’ve tried for pike with deer hair popper, but never had any luck. I would imagine that they would work quite well though, especially for the big ones.
I have found that you just cannot beat bunny flies. I chase pike here locally as well as way north in Canada where the monsters live and I have always done very well with bunny flies. Last couple trips, others at camp tried my Pike Bunnies and came back at the end of the day begging for more. The guides also ask that I leave what I have left when flying out : )
Some complain they are hard to cast but I disagree. I was casting them easily with a SA Magnum Taper Shark skin in 8WT all day long for a week with no problem. Red head/white tail, orange head/chart. tail, black head/chart. tail, chart. head/black tail all worked very well. On the last trip of all the anglers, all the big fish, including a 52" fish (I didn’t catch it) were taken on my pike bunnies. The other real bonus is they are so darn easy to tie and who doesn’t like easy AND effective : )
I’ve got some of those tied as well. I’ve been using them for quite a few years actually, but still with no luck, lol. I will most likely be chucking all sorts of big flies this spring, but bunnies included. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll have to get some black and chartruese…I like that color combination.
