Pike fly rod setup

[Ferrulewax]

If you go tfo the bc big fly rods are really sweet for large flies, granted they are on the more expensive side. I personally am not a fan of most of the redington predator rods- they are incredibly stiff and heavy, which is not a good combo for blind casting large flies all day. My first musky trip was with a 12wt predator and my forearm was sore for the next week.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Yes, recons are made here in Vermont. I think they are 500 to high 500’s depending on size. I interviewed for a job at orvis several years ago and got a lengthy tour of the rod factory from their head product manager. His take was that most people couldnt tell the difference between a recon and a helios. I can maybe convince myself I can feel the difference side by side, but Im not sure. Maybe someone who’s incredibly good casting, etc can feel the difference, but just fishing I cant. I have a recon 9wt that ive been very happy with for stripers, pike and throwing big bass flies.

600 now unfortunately

 

[thinhorn_AK]

If you go tfo the bc big fly rods are really sweet for large flies, granted they are on the more expensive side. I personally am not a fan of most of the redington predator rods- they are incredibly stiff and heavy, which is not a good combo for blind casting large flies all day. My first musky trip was with a 12wt predator and my forearm was sore for the next week.

Even nice 12wt rods get tough to use all day. At least for me. Predators are stuff but for pike fishing where you’re tossing g overweighted lines, large flies, steel leaders, softer flexing rods really suck.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Yes, recons are made here in Vermont. I think they are 500 to high 500’s depending on size. I interviewed for a job at orvis several years ago and got a lengthy tour of the rod factory from their head product manager. His take was that most people couldnt tell the difference between a recon and a helios. I can maybe convince myself I can feel the difference side by side, but Im not sure. Maybe someone who’s incredibly good casting, etc can feel the difference, but just fishing I cant. I have a recon 9wt that ive been very happy with for stripers, pike and throwing big bass flies.

Some mid priced rods have a fast enough action that you could mistake them for more expensive rods, I’ve never tried a recon but that may be a good example of one. The Scott wave is another, I’ve taken a wave 9wt on 3 different saltwater trips and everybody I handed that rod to wanted to keep it.

If you want to fish mid priced or lower priced rods though, sometimes it’s best to not even try the top shelf stuff. I have a buddy who swears by echo rods and claims they are much better than the price would suggest. I used an echo ion xl 7wt for a while and thought it was ok, I ended up giving it to another friend. Well, a few days ago, we were out on the boat looking for trout, I was using a Scott centric 7wt rod and my buddy had that echo ion xl. We switched rods for a bit…..the echo was in no way up to par with the Scott, not even close. After switching rods back my buddy was like “I don’t even want to fish with this echo any more”. He’s now shopping for a high end rod.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Even nice 12wt rods get tough to use all day. At least for me. Predators are stuff but for pike fishing where you’re tossing g overweighted lines, large flies, steel leaders, softer flexing rods really suck.

I will have to disagree with you there. A streamer specific taper like a TFO big fly, Gloomis IMX pro/musky, echo 84B, etc is considerably more comfortable to cast all day with heavy flies and sinking lines- I wouldn’t consider them soft by any means, but they have a more mid flex, but with fast recovery and plenty of power in the butt sections.

Heck, my 200$ orvis clearwater musky is lightyears better than my 12wt predator was for musky fishing. Stiff rods are fantastic for long casts and cutting through wind- but they don’t absorb any shock. For tarpon I would take the predator, for musky- the musky/big streamer specific tapers are where it’s at.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I will have to disagree with you there. A streamer specific taper like a TFO big fly, Gloomis IMX pro/musky, echo 84B, etc is considerably more comfortable to cast all day with heavy flies and sinking lines- I wouldn’t consider them soft by any means, but they have a more mid flex, but with fast recovery and plenty of power in the butt sections.

Heck, my 200$ orvis clearwater musky is lightyears better than my 12wt predator was for musky fishing. Stiff rods are fantastic for long casts and cutting through wind- but they don’t absorb any shock. For tarpon I would take the predator, for musky- the musky/big streamer specific tapers are where it’s at.

To each their own I guess. I’ve found the 8wt predator to be a great pile rod even though I moved on from it. I would never spend money on a 12wt predator though. Heck I wouldn’t buy a 12wt anything unless I was fishing for GTs. Last time I went tarpon fishing, the guides were all using 10 and 11 weight rods.

I’ve never tried that g loomis imx Muskie but I had an 11wt imx v2 saltwater rod that I really didn’t like, that thing felt like a broom stick compared to other 11wt rods I’ve tried. All that said though, I’m a good enough caster that I’ve never tried a rod I could t get the hang of if 15-20 minutes.

 

[Ferrulewax]

To each their own I guess. I’ve found the 8wt predator to be a great pile rod even though I moved on from it. I would never spend money on a 12wt predator though. Heck I wouldn’t buy a 12wt anything unless I was fishing for GTs. Last time I went tarpon fishing, the guides were all using 10 and 11 weight rods.

I’ve never tried that g loomis imx Muskie but I had an 11wt imx v2 saltwater rod that I really didn’t like, that thing felt like a broom stick compared to other 11wt rods I’ve tried. All that said though, I’m a good enough caster that I’ve never tried a rod I could t get the hang of if 15-20 minutes.

I promptly sold the 12wt predator for a 11wt tarpon rod and a seperate dedicated musky stick. Task specific tapers are the biggest jump in rod technology IMO in the last 10 years. A great tarpon rod seldom makes a great musky rod. Same with a bonefish rod and a trout streamer rod.


I did have a 7’11” 6wt predator that was a fun little rod for bass and bream. It’s entirely possible that the 8wt and 12 predator are very different tapers. So I do not doubt that was a solid pike rod. Plus, trying new stuff is half the fun.

I think should OP or anyone else pick up a streamer specific rod they may be pleasantly surprised- if the goal is blind casting overweighted lines. And heavy/bulky flies. I am a fairly young guy but I can definitely feel the difference in my joints and muscles at the end of the day.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I promptly sold the 12wt predator for a 11wt tarpon rod and a seperate dedicated musky stick. Task specific tapers are the biggest jump in rod technology IMO in the last 10 years. A great tarpon rod seldom makes a great musky rod. Same with a bonefish rod and a trout streamer rod.


I did have a 7’11” 6wt predator that was a fun little rod for bass and bream. It’s entirely possible that the 8wt and 12 predator are very different tapers. So I do not doubt that was a solid pike rod. Plus, trying new stuff is half the fun.

I think should OP or anyone else pick up a streamer specific rod they may be pleasantly surprised- if the goal is blind casting overweighted lines. And heavy/bulky flies. I am a fairly young guy but I can definitely feel the difference in my joints and muscles at the end of the day.
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I agree and that is one thing about the predator, redington sort of sells it as an all around rod rather than a pike/tarpon specific rig.

I have found though that in the 6 and 7 weight range, some of the saltwater rods do make excellent streamer rods. In fact after I got my 7wt Scott centric, I called Scott and talked to him bartchi, I told him I had plans to fish at Jurassic lake lodge so I wanted a heavier duty rod that would be mostly used for freshwater, he instantly told my to try the sector 7wt, I guess it was sort of intended for light bonefish work or heavy streamer work. That rod is amazing, it’s an absolutely blast to fish with on big water.

My buddy uses a Winston air max 2 which is sort of the same thing, designed for light bonefish stuff or heavy streamer fishing, another amazing rod that makes anybody a better caster.

With that said though, I probably wouldn’t use my 8wt maverick (bonefish/small tarpon) for trout fishing, maybe pike though.

I do like taking out the 7wt centric/sector pair they are both great rods I struggle to think of anything I’d like better. They are both 1k fly rods though so I guess that’s to be expected although I’ve tried the Asquith and didn’t really like it, I also tried the avantt 2 7wt and thought it sucked, it’s like a 7wt designed for dry fly fishing….wtf is that all about?

 

[Whaledriver]

Wow thank you all with the great responses!! Anyone swing an 8 wt Aetos? They seem to get decent reviews. I have a 5wt 7' for small high country creeks and like it. The 8 would be a different ballgame I imagine. Or maybe spring for a USA made route? Recons do seem nice.