Pike Flies?

[tacklerunner]

What colours are best in your opinion for pike flies? I have not fly fished for pike before but am all set up for it. I mainly tie bucktail flies for trolling for big rainbows and haven't ever used any rabbit fur at all before but I know lots of you use strips for pike flies. I don't neccessarily need to go that route if you think my methods are sound.

Here is the first sample I tied. It's about 5" long, has a front and trailing hook in size 3 connected with double strands of 30lb wire.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/tacklerunner/PikeFly.jpg

This is my basic hook set I use for tying flies for anything from 2 lb bows to 50 lb springs. The hooks will straighten before anything gives on these suckers.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/tacklerunner/IMG_0625.jpg

Looking for advice and opinions on colours, methods, materials etc. Thanks in advance.

TR

[jimbo1]

fly looks :)fine for pike i dont know about in ab but in uk we use a pattern called the zonker for pike a lot which is basically a strip of rabbit fur and ive used deer hair fry patterns with sucess as well

[tacklerunner]

Yes zonkers was the word I was looking for with the rabbit fur strips. Very popular here as well from what I've read.

[goldscud]

Have a look here:
http://ftp.shaw.ca/clives/pike_flies_gear2.html

[tacklerunner]

Have a look here:
http://ftp.shaw.ca/clives/pike_flies_gear2.html

Great local site. Thanks!!!

[WayneChristie]

I think your fly should produce good, Im really looking forward to catching some pike on the fly this spring. If spring ever comes.

[tacklerunner]

I'm just hoping all the snow and ice melts in time for icefishing season next year. :sHa_sarcasticlol::sign0161:

[greylynx]

I'm just hoping all the snow and ice melts in time for icefishing season next year. :sHa_sarcasticlol::sign0161:

We are into April, and you are from Calgary writing this.

I watched the news this morning, and Calgary got one tremendous dump on Saturday.

This kind of weather has to end.

[WayneChristie]

We are into April, and you are from Calgary writing this.

I watched the news this morning, and Calgary got one tremendous dump on Saturday.

This kind of weather has to end.

Im from pike country in the south, and we just got a huge dump of snow yesterday, I am starting to wonder if we will even have an open water season this year, other than all the flooded farm fields!!!!

[tacklerunner]

14 inches in SW Calgary yesterday!!! On the flipside, about half melted today.:sHa_shakeshout:

[chubbdarter]

What colours are best in your opinion for pike flies? I have not fly fished for pike before but am all set up for it. I mainly tie bucktail flies for trolling for big rainbows and haven't ever used any rabbit fur at all before but I know lots of you use strips for pike flies. I don't neccessarily need to go that route if you think my methods are sound.

Here is the first sample I tied. It's about 5" long, has a front and trailing hook in size 3 connected with double strands of 30lb wire.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/tacklerunner/PikeFly.jpg

This is my basic hook set I use for tying flies for anything from 2 lb bows to 50 lb springs. The hooks will straighten before anything gives on these suckers.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/tacklerunner/IMG_0625.jpg

Looking for advice and opinions on colours, methods, materials etc. Thanks in advance.

TR

keep it simple....the barred hackle will last for the first 3 seconds in a pike's mouth
use polar bear hair over deer...100 times more duarable
if you have the rod to chuck some wieght....add a twister tail to the trailing hook.....good flash and vibration and cheap and simple to replace.
also if your have the stick to chuck big flies....tie a tandem fly for the articulating swimming action.

monster mice are alot of fun to fish with and so is a ducky with legs. Both are tyed with spun deer hair but the hair is shorter so its tougher.
i tie a ducky with yellow deer hair on a single long 10xx shank and add double orange twister tail to the bend of the hook to imitate a ducklings paddling legs.

[tacklerunner]

keep it simple....the barred hackle will last for the first 3 seconds in a pike's mouth
use polar bear hair over deer...100 times more duarable
if you have the rod to chuck some wieght....add a twister tail to the trailing hook.....good flash and vibration and cheap and simple to replace.
also if your have the stick to chuck big flies....tie a tandem fly for the articulating swimming action.

monster mice are alot of fun to fish with and so is a ducky with legs. Both are tyed with spun deer hair but the hair is shorter so its tougher.
i tie a ducky with yellow deer hair on a single long 10xx shank and add double orange twister tail to the bend of the hook to imitate a ducklings paddling legs.

Yeah darter, I was looking at some frog patterns. I don't know if I could "chuck a duck" but could definitely troll one. I built a 9ft 8wt rod last year (not a spey rod) and got a Snowbee 7/8 large arbour reel with 5 extra spools all loaded with backing and lines from dry to sink tip to 30lb braid to mono. I'm 6' 2" and about 240lbs so I've got the power to cast it if my crappy shoulder holds up. A 20 lb Gerrard from Kootenay Lake is on my bucket list with my homemade fly rod. Hopefully one day. Thanks for the ideas.

[Speckle55]

:)

[Speckle55]

Yep Kootenay Lake Bucktails will work on pike too..same hook packages of eight or one at a time.. imitate minnows or kokanee. differn't colors

[Dust1n]

Keep your fly simple. you can tie duckpatterns for fall pike and mice aswell.
i like zonker/bucktails and marabu. hackles and marabu wont last to long thoghso choose materials that are hearty. for retreive use retreives that mimic your imatting forage,

[chubbdarter]

Yeah darter, I was looking at some frog patterns. I don't know if I could "chuck a duck" but could definitely troll one. I built a 9ft 8wt rod last year (not a spey rod) and got a Snowbee 7/8 large arbour reel with 5 extra spools all loaded with backing and lines from dry to sink tip to 30lb braid to mono. I'm 6' 2" and about 240lbs so I've got the power to cast it if my crappy shoulder holds up. A 20 lb Gerrard from Kootenay Lake is on my bucket list with my homemade fly rod. Hopefully one day. Thanks for the ideas.


http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/azzrocket2/001-31.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/azzrocket2/002-28.jpg

[fishpro]

Those flies look good. I'll just add a couple comments. First, I would recommend you take the mono off your fly reel, with the way it stretches and then slowly expands to recover from the stretch it will push your spool wider and damage your spool. Also, for flies that size I would consider tying them without the trailing hook. Simple reason is the pike will normally inhale the entire hook anyways and that second hook just increases the chance of hooking them in the gills. There's no reason those flies won't catch fish though.

[jimbo1]

flies look great ive used floating deer hair fly and mouse patterns for pike with sucess before and what a rush when you see the fish explode onto your fly on surface!:)

[Tyangelo]

Now I'm no fly-fisherman...But can I suggest a pattern that resembles a small child?

[tacklerunner]

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/azzrocket2/001-31.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/azzrocket2/002-28.jpg

Polar Bear or synthetic??? You know how that syntethic really long hair holds up? I just know the synthetic will stay dry and keep the fly light. Also any theory on why most of the pike flies I've seen online have red heads on them?

Those flies look good. I'll just add a couple comments. First, I would recommend you take the mono off your fly reel, with the way it stretches and then slowly expands to recover from the stretch it will push your spool wider and damage your spool. Also, for flies that size I would consider tying them without the trailing hook. Simple reason is the pike will normally inhale the entire hook anyways and that second hook just increases the chance of hooking them in the gills. There's no reason those flies won't catch fish though.

Thanks for the tips. I've decided that a long shank single hook is the way to go. I'm no pro caster either and they idea of chucking these big flies and have that trailing hook whiz past my head isn't too comforting either.

[chubbdarter]

Polar Bear or synthetic??? You know how that syntethic really long hair holds up? I just know the synthetic will stay dry and keep the fly light. Also any theory on why most of the pike flies I've seen online have red heads on them?



Thanks for the tips. I've decided that a long shank single hook is the way to go. I'm no pro caster either and they idea of chucking these big flies and have that trailing hook whiz past my head isn't too comforting either.

pb.....no other hair for my koot fish
doll hair has no life to it....pulls like a wet mop. has no hollow core
red is known to be a stimulting color for alot of game fish

[tacklerunner]

pb.....no other hair for my koot fish
doll hair has no life to it....pulls like a wet mop. has no hollow core
red is known to be a stimulting color for alot of game fish

Your box is full. Tried to PM you.

[chubbdarter]

Your box is full. Tried to PM you.


yes i can give you some PB.....hahahhhhahhha

[tacklerunner]

yes i can give you some PB.....hahahhhhahhha

Lol...lol... I'm looking for a source where I can buy some larger quantities. Hard to find. Can you refer me?

[tacklerunner]

More simple?

6" Whitefish Fry with Bleeding Gill

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/tacklerunner/6inchWhitefishFrywBleedingGill.jpg

[chubbdarter]

Lol...lol... I'm looking for a source where I can buy some larger quantities. Hard to find. Can you refer me?

how much? what length?
yup there is alot of hoops to jump thru and alot of documentatin unless your sitting on old supplies

p.s. a ten inch pb fly sells for over 150 bucks

[jeprli]

I tie them double zonker style, with a wrapped marabou collar(or finn racoon), it has crazy pulsating action, can't wait to chuck one of these. Wrap some heavy mono or cord to form a head, use epoxy for glue.
I know they will not last long, but they will catch fish.

http://i55.tinypic.com/kc0avt.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2udx2tu.jpg

[Daceminnow]

how much? what length?
yup there is alot of hoops to jump thru and alot of documentatin unless your sitting on old supplies

p.s. a ten inch pb fly sells for over 150 bucks

the poor fella in front of the fish tank at BP has a new bald spot ever time i'm there!

[Muskeg]

my all time favorite for Pike are Hollow fleye style and Clousers, top water is mostly Gurglebugs out of foam in various sizes mostly because they're a pleasure to cast all day. when I spot a big guy or feel like relaxing I'll go deep and use a fast sink with Finn Raccoon bunnies. As for colors... I carry a lot of everything and switch it up when I don't get a strike within 15 mins. always carry the usual
blacks, whites, yellows, red and white.. use a good amount of flash.
My top colors are Chartreuse and black or chartreuse and white.
link to some flies of mine..
http://walleyesandflies.blogspot.com/search/label/Pike%20flies
Have a good spring everyone!

[tacklerunner]

the poor fella in front of the fish tank at BP has a new bald spot ever time i'm there!

:sHa_sarcasticlol:

[chubbdarter]

Yep Kootenay Lake Bucktails will work on pike too..same hook packages of eight or one at a time.. imitate minnows or kokanee. differn't colors

your running a fly with 8 hooks?




p.s. Dace your a clown.....i never touched that Bear......but thanks for the hot tip.......havent you learned not to give away hot spots?

[Daceminnow]

your running a fly with 8 hooks?




p.s. Dace your a clown.....i never touched that Bear......but thanks for the hot tip.......havent you learned not to give away hot spots?

i never mentioned anything about any bear. plus all the long stuff has been gone for months.

[Dust1n]

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/azzrocket2/001-31.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/azzrocket2/002-28.jpg

More simple?

6" Whitefish Fry with Bleeding Gill

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/tacklerunner/6inchWhitefishFrywBleedingGill.jpg

i fished bassicly those patterns with slight adjustments and tweeks buti the whitefish fly works well in fall! and in summer when baitfish are heavey. the big white ones look like they would be better for bully lol but yeah they would great on sylvan for the monster pike in there

[chubbdarter]

i fished bassicly those patterns with slight adjustments and tweeks buti the whitefish fly works well in fall! and in summer when baitfish are heavey. the big white ones look like they would be better for bully lol but yeah they would great on sylvan for the monster pike in there

thanks for the expert advice......I'll try that

[tacklerunner]

how much? what length?
yup there is alot of hoops to jump thru and alot of documentatin unless your sitting on old supplies

p.s. a ten inch pb fly sells for over 150 bucks

Just 1 fair sized hide around 120 - 150 sq/ft with a 6 inch average length or so. Something that's never been walked on. Preferably a vintage pre-1972 skin. Got a few laying around? ;)

[chubbdarter]

Just 1 fair sized hide around 120 - 150 sq/ft with a 6 inch average length or so. Something that's never been walked on. Preferably a vintage pre-1972 skin. Got a few laying around? ;)

sorry i cant help you...average length is 5.75 inches.
good luck

[tacklerunner]

sorry i cant help you...average length is 5.75 inches.
good luck

That's pretty respectable still for a short guy. :sHa_sarcasticlol:

[chubbdarter]

That's pretty respectable still for a short guy. :sHa_sarcasticlol:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj134/azzrocket/21012.jpg

[Dust1n]

thanks for the expert advice......I'll try that

your kiling me chubb lol hahaha

[densa44]

Jimbo is right. If you've got a good heart and aren't embarrassed if you wet yourself a big elk hair mouse tossed into the groceries and then hang on.

Tie it weedless and put on eyes. Trim the head with scissors.