Pike fly rod setup

[thinhorn_AK]

I don't generally make a big deal out of buying American, except maybe in fly fishing equipment. Echo is made China/Korea if that matters to you/anyone.

I really like the feel of glass rods, but have only fished them in 5 weight, so I'm not sure if my appreciation would hold trying to fling much bigger flies.

Pike/muskie are on my list of species to pursue with the fly pole sometime soon.

Same, USA all the way with fly fishing gear.

 

[DLIP]

I’ve got a quiver full of Scott and Sage rods that are all great but don’t feel like you have to spend money to get performance.

There are some GREAT rods for far less money with less hassle if you ever break one (buy sections online rather than send your rod back and wait 1+ months for repair).

I’ve fished the TFO LK Legacy in 7 & 8 weight and it was a really, really nice rod. If I didn’t already have a Sage X in 8 weight I probably would have bought the TFO.

 

[Macintosh]

All of the higher end Orvis rods are made in the usa too, right here in Vermont. They may or may not be the best value but some pretty nice rods although up there in price. Their recon series is practically indistinguishable from their top of the line rods.

 

[307]

There are some GREAT rods for far less money with less hassle if you ever break one (buy sections online rather than send your rod back and wait 1+ months for repair).

The hassel part is really a big deal.

While teaching my daughter to row last spring, she turned the wrong way coming into the take out and caught a fencepost with the rod holders and broke 2 rods, one Scott and one Winston. In addition to having to fill out the paperwork, pay $75 (each) plus shipping (each) I was out over a $200 total, and the worst part is that I was without my rods for 2 months on the Scott and 4 months on the Winston.

Scott may have been a bit quicker than 2 months but it was still a very long time during prime fishing season. As much as I like the Winston rod, I won't buy another one due to that repair timeframe.

I'm really leaning towards Orvis Helios 4 for my next rod due to the ability to buy a tip and not have to wait months for the repair, and it's American made (not all levels of Orvis rods are made in USA). Seems to check all of my boxes, but they're definitely $$$.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The hassel part is really a big deal.

While teaching my daughter to row last spring, she turned the wrong way coming into the take out and caught a fencepost with the rod holders and broke 2 rods, one Scott and one Winston. In addition to having to fill out the paperwork, pay $75 (each) plus shipping (each) I was out over a $200 total, and the worst part is that I was without my rods for 2 months on the Scott and 4 months on the Winston.

Scott may have been a bit quicker than 2 months but it was still a very long time during prime fishing season. As much as I like the Winston rod, I won't buy another one due to that repair timeframe.

I'm really leaning towards Orvis Helios 4 for my next rod due to the ability to buy a tip and not have to wait months for the repair, and it's American made (not all levels of Orvis rods are made in USA). Seems to check all of my boxes, but they're definitely $$$.

It’s true. I broke a Scott rod and it was probably just a bit less than 2 months to get fixed.

The guy above mentioned the TFO LK legacy rods, those are really nice. I have a 6wt and it is cool to know if you break a section of it, you just get online, order the new section for 50 bucks and move on with your life.

For my Scott I had to pay their 65.00 repair/handling fee and probably 40.00 to mail it.

 

[dtrkyman]

St. Croix are over looked, particularly out west. I broke a 4 weight, sent it to them on a Tuesday and had it back the following Monday!

Now I was living in the Midwest at the time so I was close, but the service they provided was as good as it gets.

 

[Q child]

8-9wt, more depends on the flies you’re throwing than the fish. It’s a good excuse to pick up a decent saltwater in whichever weight you choose.

A floating bass fly line will probably do you. I’ve packed a sink tip before but never really needed it.

Tie your own leaders, joe cermele has some good “recipes”. I think I went 2ft of 40lb to 3 feet of 20lb to a foot of tieable wire that terminated in a loop with a snap. After you finish your knots, hit them with some super glue for good measure.

You can spend $800000 on pike flies or you can get some buck tail, bunny strips and feathers and make your own monstrosities that catch fish. I like deceivers, double deceivers and pike bunnies, but depending on your ability to spin deer hair some poppers or dahlberg divers would be cool.

The pike in my profile pic was on an 8wt with that leader setup and a shitty pike bunny I threw together. View attachment 898289View attachment 898290View attachment 898291

Jeez. Nice Fish.

 

[Q child]

I've fished 8 wts for them. I've never caught anything too big, but I have gotten a few decent ones. They hit like demons, but I've found the fight pretty lack-luster. They kinda just drag like a log while you reel them in. I'm primarily a salmon fisherman, so I just brought a lightweight salmon setup and was fine.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Buy this…

https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/redington-predator-fly-rod.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=bing_shopping&msclkid=feef4c738a4f1f10760a242e5f01f0e8

 

[Windigo]

Jeez. Nice Fish.

45”, PB. And like my 3rd on the fly lol

 

[Windigo]

I've fished 8 wts for them. I've never caught anything too big, but I have gotten a few decent ones. They hit like demons, but I've found the fight pretty lack-luster. They kinda just drag like a log while you reel them in. I'm primarily a salmon fisherman, so I just brought a lightweight salmon setup and was fine.

Like logs until you need them to chill out so you can unhook them, then magically they’re demons again.

 

[oreortyx]

Several years ago, I bought a Orvis Recon 8 weight for a Canada canoe trip planned around pike fly fishing. Pretty sure the Recons are made in USA. The rod seemed to me to be perfect for pike. Looks like those are running about $600 retail. If you do stick with a lower priced rod, I know Redington has a fine reputation and you shouldn't hesitate to wiggle one of those if you have a chance.

Also, for inspiration if not action, look up a fella in Sweden by the name of Andreas Andersson (eg, Instagram). He ties some amazing pike patterns. I did my best to tie up a few based on his patterns, and they worked super good. I really liked the deerhair patterns, but he has a few all synthetic that weight almost nothing. I tied a few that were 6 inches long but still cast easy with the Recon. That said, I bet the bunny streamers, etc, mentioned above work just fine, too.

Make sure you pick up some steel tippet. I also found the tools designed to keep the mouth open while you fish your fly out of the dragon's maw to be quite helpful. Those 1 billion poky teeth are terrifying!

 

[Windigo]

Several years ago, I bought a Orvis Recon 8 weight for a Canada canoe trip planned around pike fly fishing. Pretty sure the Recons are made in USA. The rod seemed to me to be perfect for pike. Looks like those are running about $600 retail. If you do stick with a lower priced rod, I know Redington has a fine reputation and you shouldn't hesitate to wiggle one of those if you have a chance.

Also, for inspiration if not action, look up a fella in Sweden by the name of Andreas Andersson (eg, Instagram). He ties some amazing pike patterns. I did my best to tie up a few based on his patterns, and they worked super good. I really liked the deerhair patterns, but he has a few all synthetic that weight almost nothing. I tied a few that were 6 inches long but still cast easy with the Recon. That said, I bet the bunny streamers, etc, mentioned above work just fine, too.

Make sure you pick up some steel tippet. I also found the tools designed to keep the mouth open while you fish your fly out of the dragon's maw to be quite helpful. Those 1 billion poky teeth are terrifying!

Jaw spreaders are pretty damaging to their mouths. Fine if you’re keeping em for the fry, but I wouldn’t use them on a fish I wanted to release and make more fish.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Jaw spreaders are pretty damaging to their mouths. Fine if you’re keeping em for the fry, but I wouldn’t use them on a fish I wanted to release and make more fish.

I have some dr. Slick pliers that are longer sort of like needle nose pliers but longer, they are great for getting the fly out of a pikes mouth.

 

[SuperSeal110]

I run a 'Loomis NRX in 8wt. It does well on bass, pike and salmon. 9wt or 10wt might be a lil better at throwing the BIG steamers.

 

[switchback7]

8 wt

 

[Q child]

Like logs until you need them to chill out so you can unhook them, then magically they’re demons again.

Oh right. Forgot about that part. Yeah, hissing water dragons made of teeth.

 

[Q child]

45”, PB. And like my 3rd on the fly lol

Hell yeah. That thing is awesome. Well done.

 

[Whaledriver]

Wow very nice of ya sir!! I am hard on gear and cant be trusted.... I appreciate the offer though!!

 

[Macintosh]

Several years ago, I bought a Orvis Recon 8 weight for a Canada canoe trip planned around pike fly fishing. Pretty sure the Recons are made in USA. The rod seemed to me to be perfect for pike. Looks like those are running about $600 retail.

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.