Pike Flyfishing Information Needed

[Ladykiller]

Well Ol' Weezer does not know it yet, but I have the itch to give pike fishing a try with the flyrod this spring/summer and I am gonna drag him with me. Now what i need to know from you guys is what type of flies should I ty, what color, hook size, all that good stuff. Also what time of the year is best and where I should concentrate my efforts. I have fished for pike before, but want to know if it is different really with the flyrod. Oh, one more thing. What type of line and what weight rod will work? I want to use my six weight with either sinking or floating and I think that will be plenty fine, unless I hook into a really large gator!

[mechanical head]

Ladykiller, you can pick up a pretty decent pike fly assortment from cabelas for about 30 bucks. Some of the patterns are better than the others, but they all work for both bass and pike. Check out cabelas.com and go to the flyfishing section. Now as the rod goes, I use a fast action 7 weight sage, that handles most any northerns I catch. As far as fly lines, its depends on you, match your rod with the line, if you plan on fishing near the suface, definitly a floating line. Tippets, don't have to be real picky here either, you know them gators, once they decide they want it, they take it. I fish mainly with courtland big game tappered leaders, but you can tie your own to, I have in a pinch. Line connecting my fly, I rarley run lighter than 14-17 mono or 10+ fireline. Ice out in the spring and late fall are the best times for the fly rod angler, but smaller pike run the shallows all summer long. Find a heavy populated lake of northerns in the spring and you and Weezer will have fun.

[ESOX]

One of my favorite activities! In use an Orvis 8 weight saltwater taper (extra fast)with a sink tip line even in skinny water. When they are in shallow a good quick strip usually works best and the sink tip will help keep you from skimming the surface with your offering, and gives you the ability to punch out a good cast into the ever present spring winds. As far as flies,I usually tie my own streamers on 1\0 4x hooks. You can also pick up saltwater streamers from Manns. I usually use the shortest 14# mono leader that will cast well, with 6" of black sevenstrand as the terminal connection. Up your way around ice out, try the bays around the Wildfowl Bay State Wildlife Area, or the large flat south of the rivermouth in Caseville. EDont just zoom into bays and start looking, you've got to sneak in and stalk them. Concentrate your first look in the northeast corner of any bay. Good Luck!