Fly-fishing for pike, |Cold Lake/Bonnyville area
 

My son and myself are experienced fly fishermen, but new to pike on the fly. My son caught a couple last year on the fly and we want to do more fly fishing for pike this year.
Any recommendations for good fly fishing lakes for pike in the Cold Lake/Bonnyville area. We fish from a 12 ft boat and don't mind using back-roads to get to good fishing.
We scouted out Bourque Lake, Ethel and Hilda Lakes and wonder if these are heavily fished and worth trying? Medium lakes with good weed cover and drop-offs would be our preference.
Also what patterns do you use for pike? We have Dahlberg Divers, Poppers and big muddlers, in sizes #2 and #4.

Haven't fished that area since I was a kid so can't help you there but as far as patterns, my two favorites are the half & half (synthetic version) and the popsicle leech. These are two killer patterns at Wab.

Cheers,
Doc

What weight rods/line you guys using for pike?

we are using 9wts and I am just building a couple 10/11 wts for this summer

Are you guys using shooting heads or weight forward lines e.g. bass bug tapers?

I use weight forward lines Cortland 444, Cortland Pike and Rio (forget the trade name) have worked well for me....8-9Wt rods. I tie up some big streamers and have had good luck with them.

LC

Ken sent me a pm, but I am not able to pen it. Can you try again. Cheers. Jim

I also use Cortland 444SL lines and have a 9wt Wulff Triangle taper that turns over air resistant flies such as the Bomber for Atlantic Salmon quite well.

Just another thought, speaking of bombers, these can make a good surface commotion fly and we have used them on big brookies in Labrador. Wonder of they are any good for pike as I have a lot on hand.

I checked out the RIO web-site and the line is just called Rio PIKE. It looks like a casting machine. Has a 40ft casting head with a 30ft main body with a whopping 305gr for a 10wt. Going to ask for one for my birthday!

I am pretty sure thats the Rio line I am using....

Here is a thread I started a while back with a pattern I use....both with and without the weighted head on the fly....

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...pike+flys+work

Here is another one I know works....smallest pike on the fly yet for me :)

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/...h/P1010649.jpg

LC

I use the Rio Pike line and find it works very well for turning over large flies.

As for flies, the bombers will work, and also try to get some bigger flies as well. I like using big 5-7 inch streamers for pike. If you tie your own, try and get some yak hair, the stuff is great for bike flies and is quite aerodynamic for casting. I like chartreuse/white as well as red/white flies.

Full sinking? Sinking tip? Thanks.

I use floating....not sinking, runs about 4-8 inches below the surface.....the hook and leader will give it all the sink you need IMHO.

LC

I was thinking of a floater and using sinking heads as needed. I usually use a 7ft 5.6 07 Ips RIO loop connection sink tip.

The other question is leaders. I bought a couple "Toothy Critter" leaders to try out. As well I I have made up a few 7 strand coated wire leaders in 4ft and 6ft lengths. If you are using the wire leaders should you add a shock portion to the leader as well, as I guess some pike can hit real hard.

I read an article a while back saying Bunny Leaches in white and chartreuse were good produces for pike in Ontario. Think I will tie some up tonight. I am thinking of use #2 wide gape hooks and attaching a weed guard. Incidentally, my son caught his pike last year on a leech pattern.

I use a 40lb low stretch sal****er Mono made by a company called "Triple Fish". I don't worry about the "shock" from a fish hitting as when I am stripping in the line I will usually feel a hit (unless they run at you) and I let the rod do it job....thats just my opinion.

I just check my leader for abrasions every fish and tie a new one....shorten mine as needed.

(PS....I love how sal t water hits the old censorship list :))

LC

I have some RIO Redfish-Seatrout salt****r leaders I bought for Florida a couple years back. The Florida Seatrout are a bit like pike in that they have a lot of sharp teeth. These are only 20lbs in 9ft, but I think I will try them out on the pike as I never did get to use them for seatrout down there.

Fished the area this past summer and had a blast catching pike. I'd say you'd have good luck right around the provincial park boat launch at Cold Lake. Lots of pike around and the odd big girl in there

yes, I have seen people fishing in the shallow area off the boat launch towards French Bay. Water is only 4-5ft in places and a lot of weeds. We sailed into that area a couple of years back in our sailboat and foound it too shallow for our boat, but that would make it a good area for fly fishing. We may just give it a try as it is only 5 minutes from my house.

I use 12" of Rio's wire tied with a blood know to a 30lb leader, the wire leaders can sheer your loop to loop connections.
For rod I use a Redington 9wt Predator lined with the Rio Pike line

what size of hook? and is that a sal****er hook you are using? Seems that anything bushy or with a lot of action on the water may work.

I believe it is a mustad "eye level" 3/0 hook. The streamer I have in the picture total length is more than half the length of that hungry little guy....

LC

It should be alot of fun. One question though. Casting won't be an issue but how many pike will knock themselves out trying to hit that fly through the ice?
:):)

Ethel and Hilda are good bets. Tucker, Crane, Beaver, would be others.

Fished Tucker with bucktails and had no end of fun :sHa_shakeshout:

I have never tried fly fishing through the ice. What do you need to cast accross a 10 inch hole? :sHa_shakeshout:

Do you mean Beaver River?

Is there good boat access at Tucker? Sounds like a possibility

Just finished one 10 wt 9ft rod for pike. Built it on a Diamondback blank that I had sitting around for a while. It is a fast action.

I used Jungle Cock feathers (genetic) as an inlay and added a fighting butt I made up from AAA cork and burl. Added a butt plug to the butt to finish it off.

Yes there is, on the south side at the campground. May want to watch it if you are taking a boat bigger than the aluminum car toppers, as the launch is small and shallow (that being said, I have seen larger boats out there). Good Luck :)