pike in the Bow...

Justbyfaith · #1 02-12-2013, 12:17 AM

Thought you Pike hunters might want to see what the pike look like from the Bow River. The two females were exceptionally FAT! I didn't have a tape with me, but was able to use the measurements from my fly rod to get a close estimate on length. The smaller one was just over 30" and the other was just under 36". I happened to get stupid lucky and catch them both this afternoon. The first one came in quite easily, but the second one game my arm a run for the money! Both fish were released and had plenty of spunk left in them.

They were both caught at Frenchman's hole.

Guitarplayingfish · #2 02-12-2013, 12:45 AM

Nice catch! That must have been a surprise!

Those are good sized fish, the trout must be skittish in that area.

Thanks for sharing

surface2feather · #3 02-12-2013, 05:09 AM

Nice looking fish there. Congrats.

grinr · #4 02-12-2013, 07:10 AM

Nice gators....catch'em on streamers??

DiabeticKripple · #5 02-12-2013, 07:16 AM

What's all the blood from? Deep hook set?

Not gonna bust your balls I'm just curious.

Nice fish

Justbyfaith · #6 02-12-2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitarplayingfish

Nice catch! That must have been a surprise!

Those are good sized fish, the trout must be skittish in that area.

Thanks for sharing

Ha! You bet they were a surprise! Actually the other fish weren't too skittish, that afternoon I caught two decent rainbows in the same place and lost a few more smaller fish (species?). I did see one seriously beat up whitefish limping around in the hole- which probably made a good dinner for one of the pike.

....No worries, at the time I was trying to figure out why as well. The blood looks far more serious on the snow than it was. Y'know, I honestly don't know what it was from. She was hooked in the lip with a small streamer. Maybe the line got wrapped around, it was from a different injury (that fish looked beat up), or from fatigue? Any way, she took a sec to gather her breath and bolted the heck outta there.

... Yep, Streamers, small (2") sculpin pattern.

cmcclung · #7 02-12-2013, 12:33 PM

She does look pretty beat up. There are chunks missing from a few fins.

SimonB · #8 02-12-2013, 12:39 PM

Wow ! thats wicked ! I would have never guessed big pikes like this would hang around in the bow ! Ive seen a bunch of little Jacks over the summer ubt nothing bigger than 6 inches haha ! Where abouts did you get those gators...i know i know secrets but just general area will do !

thanks !

SimonB · #9 02-12-2013, 12:40 PM

Never mind .....after reading the post properly i just noticed you mentioned the location ....im a little retarded sometimes ....

Albertafisher · #10 02-12-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonB

Never mind .....after reading the post properly i just noticed you mentioned the location ....im a little retarded sometimes ....

Everyone makes mistakes man, no big deal!

SCHOOCH · #11 02-12-2013, 03:01 PM

Very Nice........thanks for posting!!!!!

SimonB · #12 02-12-2013, 03:32 PM

Quick question for you JustByFaith: what kind of tippet did you have on there to land those gators ?

ddafoe · #13 02-12-2013, 04:15 PM

I know that in the bowness area there are huge pike in the summer.

vital shok · #14 02-12-2013, 06:44 PM

Just wondering what area of the river frenchmans hole is located. I never heard of that not looking poach someone's spot just wondering

bubba 96 · #15 02-12-2013, 07:53 PM

Buddy of mine pulled a 17 lb out of mckinnion flats, a couple of summers ago, they are definitely in there....

rycoma · #16 02-12-2013, 08:00 PM

I used to catch big ones up by bearspaw dam years ago haven't been there for a long time.

Justbyfaith · #17 02-12-2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonB

Quick question for you JustByFaith: what kind of tippet did you have on there to land those gators ?

SimonB,
I was just using my regular streamer gear, I think the 100% fluorocarbon tippet was my only saving grace. I ordered the stuff online and it has been indestructible. If you're interested- Togens' fly shop-50m for 5$. The 8lb was plenty to turn those pike with a fly rod. I used the same tippet all day; ripped out branches (lots), caught a couple decent rainbows, and bent two hooks...Didn't loose a fly all day. I'll never go back to mono.

SimonB · #18 02-13-2013, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justbyfaith

SimonB,
I was just using my regular streamer gear, I think the 100% fluorocarbon tippet was my only saving grace. I ordered the stuff online and it has been indestructible. If you're interested- Togens' fly shop-50m for 5$. The 8lb was plenty to turn those pike with a fly rod. I used the same tippet all day; ripped out branches (lots), caught a couple decent rainbows, and bent two hooks...Didn't loose a fly all day. I'll never go back to mono.

WOW ! Thats wicked ! Im definately going to get some of that stuff ! Do you find it difficult to cast and turn over flies without the taper ? Or do you just tie in the flurocarbon after you tapered leader? Porbably wouldnt use that stuff for dries in the summer eh ?

Thanks for your help !

fish gunner · #19 02-13-2013, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonB

WOW ! Thats wicked ! Im definately going to get some of that stuff ! Do you find it difficult to cast and turn over flies without the taper ? Or do you just tie in the flurocarbon after you tapered leader? Porbably wouldnt use that stuff for dries in the summer eh ?

Thanks for your help !

I keep my old tapered leaders , then cut them back to about 3'. Then just ad 2' of whatever tippet , for pike I have 30lb floro and wire pre tyed .

SimonB · #20 02-13-2013, 09:16 AM

YEah i have some of thatt RIO bite wire tippet but its a spool and i havent figured out an effective knot to tie to the tippet and the fly ...im kinda scared to use it ...

Justbyfaith · #21 02-13-2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonB

WOW ! Thats wicked ! Im definately going to get some of that stuff ! Do you find it difficult to cast and turn over flies without the taper ? Or do you just tie in the flurocarbon after you tapered leader? Porbably wouldnt use that stuff for dries in the summer eh ?

Thanks for your help !

Yep, no problem. Maybe I should start selling fluorocarbon eh? ha!

I use a flat fluoro leader in winter. 10-12' long. I'm no expert, but I say the sink rate/less underwater drag outweighs the small amount of benifit you'd get from a taper when fishing small nymphs or small streamers (with a floating line). I just open up my loops a little more.

As for drys and fluorocarbon tippet-It's funny you mentioned it. It's a top priority of mine to give it a go this spring. A retired guide and I were having a very similar conversation and he swore up and down that a mono leader and fluoro tippet will catch more fish with dry fly's. Always something new to learn eh?

J

SimonB · #22 02-13-2013, 04:57 PM

Oh yeah ! One thing ive learned about fly fishing is that it never ends ! Which is why its awesome ! Any way...last summer i was using 3X fluro tippet with dries but always went with mono for flies smaller than 14 ....By the way im probably hitting the Bow tomorrow and if not on friday ! Im gonna try that 10-12 foot flat leader !

Thanks for the help !

BobLoblaw · #23 02-13-2013, 05:14 PM

Nice!

Those two piggies ain't missed many meals...

Fishingaddict · #24 02-16-2013, 09:57 AM

Heres a rookie question (i have only fly fished 5 times) when you fly fish for pike do you use a steel leader like in spin cast fishing or how do you stop them from biting through the line? thanks

Mutter87 · #25 02-16-2013, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishingaddict

Heres a rookie question (i have only fly fished 5 times) when you fly fish for pike do you use a steel leader like in spin cast fishing or how do you stop them from biting through the line? thanks

They make wire style fly line.

Fishingaddict · #26 02-16-2013, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mutter87

They make wire style fly line.

thanks