Technique 1: Fly Fishing for Pike
A Fishy Tale Everyone loves a good fish story. Legend has it that in
1230 Emperor Frederick the Second attached a copper, engraved ring on a
pike and put it in a lake at castle Lautern in Germany. In 1497, the
fish was hauled in still wearing the tag and weighing 550 pounds at 17
feet long. Hmmm. A pike living for over 200 years? No -- it was a hoax.
But it still makes a really great fish tale [source: National History Museum]. |
Fly fishing for pike requires a little more practice and skill than either live bait or spoon fishing, but the time invested in learning the technique can pay off in big catches.
Fly fishing is traditionally done from the water's edge or standing in the water, though it can be done from a boat. This technique involves the use of an entire outfit of specialized equipment including rod, reel, fishing line and lure. While traditional fishing relies on the success of the lure or bait to attract a bite, fly fishing relies on casting technique.
Instead of casting a lure and reeling it back in, with fly fishing you cast a fly (a brightly colored, lightweight lure that floats on the top of the water. Then you continuously raise and lower the fly on and off the water in a casting technique called stripping.
Handle with Care Pike should be handled with extreme caution when out of the water. The
pike's frame cannot actually support its own massive weight without the
buoyancy of water. Try to keep pike in the water when removing hooks.
Also remember to watch your fingers because pike have extremely sharp
teeth and a heck of a bite. |
When fishing for pike, use a forward-floating, heavier (8- or 9-pound) weight line and rod and a large fly. [sources: Akl, Macnair] Remember to situate yourself far enough from your target area to easily cast while not spooking the fish with your presence. Pike are known to strike flies at the last second, so do not be surprised to see the fish break the surface of the water going after your lure [source: Akl].
Fly fishing is a perfect technique for catching pike for a number of reasons:
- It is specifically designed for shallow-water fishing.
- Flies are so light that they rarely ever spook pike.
- The quick motion and bright colors of the fly stimulate the pikes' aggression, making them very likely to strike. [source: Barta]
