Northern Pike-the Ultimate Fly Rod Gamefish

What qualities make a particular species the perfect fit for the fly rod? Fly anglers as a whole tend to favor a visual fishing experience, be it a trout sipping a dry fly, a bass inhaling a popper or a bonefish hunting a Clouser. The pursuit of pike definitely fits the bill. Esox lucius is an ambush predator, prowling shallow weed beds and sunken structure. Sight-fishing is the norm and there are few events in angling as heart-pounding as a big pike turning on the fly, following, and then engulfing it in an explosive burst!

Of course, we like to be rewarded for our efforts with a deep bend in the rod and a toe-to-toe tussle. Although they seldom breach, with pike, you definitely feel the weight and strength of the animal on the end of the line.

And then there’s the fly. Many of us prefer big, gaudy patterns that are easy and fun to create, and allow for the imagination to express itself at the vise. A pike fly may start out pretty, but with any luck, has lost some of its luster by day’s end!

Northern pike are extremely accessible, often overlooked, even scorned, by our fellow anglers, many of who are more concerned with other species. Pike can be found in many ponds, lakes, reservoirs and contrary to popular belief, coexist rather harmoniously with trout in many “Blue Ribbon” streams. Pack the 8-weight along and probe the frog water and sloughs between hatches. Many a slow trout day has been salvaged with an exciting pike encounter or two!

Pike tend to be more forgiving of our errant casts than persnickety trout, but don’t expect a seasoned fish to give you multiple chances. Carry a few big streamer patterns in white, black, red, and combinations thereof. Pike are not leader shy and a short, four-foot leader tapered from 30/20 lb. mono, with a 12″ bite tippet of knottable wire will resist that mouth full of formidable teeth.

Pike have been illegally introduced to many fisheries and oftentimes, there are no restrictions on harvest. This is a good thing as few fish rival pike as table fare. Once you get the hang of filleting around the Y bone, they make amazing fish ‘n chips, tempura, or fish tacos. When cleaning a pike, you never know what you are going to find in the belly of this voracious predator!