Pike Fishing

[BTCA]

Hi everyone, what is the common rod weight(s) used for Pike in Calgary or in Alberta. Will a 7wt saltwater rod be sufficient?

[muha]

Unless you plan to consistently haul in 20lbers it should be more than enough.

[ÜberFly]

Yup that'll work nicely!!

[lad]

Hi everyone, what is the common rod weight(s) used for Pike in Calgary or in Alberta. Will a 7wt saltwater rod be sufficient?

Size of the Pike won't really matter it is the size of the fly you want to cast that will determine what weight rod you want to use.

If it was me going I would like an 8 or 9 weight rod for big long flies that you could still cast when the wind came up. If you start to have trouble shorten the leader as much as possible(3 foot leader is good) or trim the fly as much as possible with your seven. Size 12 boots.

[SanJuanWorm]

I use an 8 weight. I fish some big ass flies though.

[BigFoamy]

8w here for pike as well.

[BTCA]

Thank you everyone, at times I am having troubles with big flies. So I think my safest bet would be the 8wt.

 

Lad, that was a very nice Pike, thank you for sharing the picture.

[SanJuanWorm]

I usually hook my back at least once per trip. Barbless helps.

[BTCA]

Noted: Barbless hooks.

 

What you guys use for bite leaders?

[ÜberFly]

For the past few years, I have been using a standard steel (spin casting) leader and 3' - 4' of 20 lb mono.

[SanJuanWorm]

^^ what he said.

[BTCA]

Do you use a large tippet ring or a swivel between the leader and the wire?

[ÜberFly]

These leaders already have a swivel, but if using "bite tippet", yes I would use a swivel as hinging and turn over are a non-issue when fishing for pike.

 

Do you use a large tippet ring or a swivel between the leader and the wire?

[BTCA]

What do you think about Rio Toothy Critter leaders?

[ÜberFly]

They are AWSOME! But you don't need to spend the money!! I find the plastic coated steel spinning type leaders last a lot longer then the "bite tippet" which seems to kink-up after a few fish/knots... I can never seem to un-kink even though there are supposedly a few techniques out there to do so.

[hydroman]

6wt for poppers and 8 wt for streamers is my preference.

[BTCA]

Uberfly, I found this product and it looked close to what you described.

 

http://catstaillures.com/shop/leaders/leaders/

 

and I thought I saw a single strand titanium leader as well.

 

hydroman, thank you. I do have a 6wt that I can use.

[jksnijders]

They are AWSOME! But you don't need to spend the money!! I find the plastic coated steel spinning type leaders last a lot longer then the "bite tippet" which seems to kink-up after a few fish/knots... I can never seem to un-kink even though there are supposedly a few techniques out there to do so.

 

 

Believe it or not those kinks in the leader actually impart a very sweet response on a stripped streamer, giving it a really erratic wounded look in the water. My only concern with the spinning style is that after alot of casting and a few fish they can come apart. I've made the mistake before and lost a slab due to a poor condition leader that either pulled at the snap or swivel or just broke.

[ÜberFly]

Yeah Titanium is space aged!!

[Spurly]

I use the Titanium 7 strand, they are only about $6 and last a long time, also quite kink resistant compared to other leaders

[BTCA]

Thank you for such great responses.

About the fly lines, I guess any aggressive tapers will do?

[BigFoamy]

Ty-gear, toothy critter, bite, I've used it all and it all works. I like to keep it as none gear related as possible.

[BTCA]

After more reading and videos watching, I think I am going to start with Titanium. There is one particular brand that interests me which is the Knot 2 Kinky Titanium. All the users are saying that these Titanium wires won't kink and easier to tie to mono and swivel.

 

By the way, what test wire rating that usually used? I am probably going with 30# 4ft mono or FC leader.

[lorney]

Use the Berkley Nylon coated wire. You can make your own leaders with it any length you want. I have never had one break or come apart on me. Just make a loop at the end, twist tag end around main leader wire and melt together. 30ft spool costs about $4-5 and you can buy the Berkley snap swivels to go with them if you want to change flies.

[BTCA]

Thank you Lorney I'll into that.