Hey there lads,
I'm hoping to get into fly fishing for pike this summer and am totally lost as to how I am to set up my line.
I checked it out today...backing, line, tippet (?), leader, fly....I think I got the order right of how I am suppossed to do it. How much of each am I putting on? What order do I put it on? What strength should each be?
I have no idea what strength my rod is but I think it's just an average one, nothing too special. Just looking for a little guidance to sort out how I should be spooling my line.
Thanks all, hopefully I can have it set to go and tested in the upcoming long weekend!
MW
line set-up for pike flying
-
MuskieWannabe
- Bronze Participant
- Posts: 344
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: Carleton Place
-
Bass assassin
- Bronze Participant
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:09 am
- Location: Kanata
MW,
I too hope to get out and catch a pike on the fly this summer. Todd B will undoubtedly have some great tips for you. But maybe this will also help.
backing, line LEADER, then tippet, lure. Typically you can use a high strength tippet known as a Shock tippet. simply its something strond at the end of your leader...like power pro or high lbs test line. You can get a pike rig at Lebaron. I picked one up but the steel leader bent after snagging some weeds. Not very durable.
Here is one set up that I found is you are into tying your own leaders:
36inch 40lb then 24 inch 25lb 24 inch 15 lb, 12 inch 12lb, 12 to 18 inch of steel coated wire or power pro.
Any others with ideas? I would love something simpler.
BA
I too hope to get out and catch a pike on the fly this summer. Todd B will undoubtedly have some great tips for you. But maybe this will also help.
backing, line LEADER, then tippet, lure. Typically you can use a high strength tippet known as a Shock tippet. simply its something strond at the end of your leader...like power pro or high lbs test line. You can get a pike rig at Lebaron. I picked one up but the steel leader bent after snagging some weeds. Not very durable.
Here is one set up that I found is you are into tying your own leaders:
36inch 40lb then 24 inch 25lb 24 inch 15 lb, 12 inch 12lb, 12 to 18 inch of steel coated wire or power pro.
Any others with ideas? I would love something simpler.
BA
MW,
Your backing is dependant upon your the fish you're targeting, your line weight and your reel capacity. On a normal 6wt reel you can put on 120 yards of 20lb Dacron.
As for leaders, I agree with BA that the wire bite guards are not worth the money. You're better off making your own using PowerPro, Tyger Leader or Berkely's coated wire. Personally I'm giving 30lb PowerPro a try this season.
Because you'll typically be throwing large flies, getting your line to turn over can be a real pain, so it's better to keep your leaders short (< 5').
17lb (30") - 14lb (12") - 30lb PowerPro (18") - 30lb snap connector (snap only, not the snap swival type) You can find the snaps at Sports Action and LeBaron.
If you don't already have a loop-to-loop connector for your fly line I would suggest picking one up or tying one on yourself. Makes changing leaders a snap.
Cheers,
Todd
Your backing is dependant upon your the fish you're targeting, your line weight and your reel capacity. On a normal 6wt reel you can put on 120 yards of 20lb Dacron.
As for leaders, I agree with BA that the wire bite guards are not worth the money. You're better off making your own using PowerPro, Tyger Leader or Berkely's coated wire. Personally I'm giving 30lb PowerPro a try this season.
Because you'll typically be throwing large flies, getting your line to turn over can be a real pain, so it's better to keep your leaders short (< 5').
17lb (30") - 14lb (12") - 30lb PowerPro (18") - 30lb snap connector (snap only, not the snap swival type) You can find the snaps at Sports Action and LeBaron.
If you don't already have a loop-to-loop connector for your fly line I would suggest picking one up or tying one on yourself. Makes changing leaders a snap.
Cheers,
Todd
-
Bass assassin
- Bronze Participant
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:09 am
- Location: Kanata
-
Moosebunk
- Diamond Participant
- Posts: 3306
- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 3:29 am
- Location: A Superfishery Near You.
MW, there are tonnes of books on fly fishing, but one that helped me get started and provided alot of good info was
"FLY FISHING. A TRAILSIDE GUIDE." by John Merwin.
Talks about everything from casting, rods, reels, line, accessories, flies, brief history, wading, fishing species such as trout, pike, panfish, bass, salt and freshwater species, and the knots. It's a normal sized book that could be carried with you for reference if needed when out fishing
Fly fishing like fishing has many particulars, but this form seems to take on even more at times. To even get the right start I must forewarn that you should really exhaust yourself by tailoring your needs at the very beginning so to find it easier, more rewarding, and less expensive in the long run.
Just my two cents bud, but, if you were to let the gang here know what weight fly rod you have and it should be indicated around the handle or on butt section, and where you are expecting to catch pike with it; being that little lake snot rockets can be quite different than St. Larry's lunkers, that would be a beneficial start. Then matching lines and so on would be easier, and I'd love to help you get set up right. Catching fish on the fly is truly a fantastic way to angle fish.
"FLY FISHING. A TRAILSIDE GUIDE." by John Merwin.
Talks about everything from casting, rods, reels, line, accessories, flies, brief history, wading, fishing species such as trout, pike, panfish, bass, salt and freshwater species, and the knots. It's a normal sized book that could be carried with you for reference if needed when out fishing
Fly fishing like fishing has many particulars, but this form seems to take on even more at times. To even get the right start I must forewarn that you should really exhaust yourself by tailoring your needs at the very beginning so to find it easier, more rewarding, and less expensive in the long run.
Just my two cents bud, but, if you were to let the gang here know what weight fly rod you have and it should be indicated around the handle or on butt section, and where you are expecting to catch pike with it; being that little lake snot rockets can be quite different than St. Larry's lunkers, that would be a beneficial start. Then matching lines and so on would be easier, and I'd love to help you get set up right. Catching fish on the fly is truly a fantastic way to angle fish.
-
Mike Lennox
- Silver Participant
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2005 7:09 pm
- Location: ottawa
- Contact:
hello muskiewannabe
for pike i use 20 pound test berkely vanish flourocarbon for pike. It works great and i no longer get broke off pike pike. For flies i use a very large charteuse and white clouser woth a floating line. You can also use large chartruese wolly buggers, bunny leeeches or devievers :with a sinkming line." With that selection of flies you can also pick up some crappie and bass.
good luck with the pike muskiewannabe,post a report if u have some luck,
YFF
for pike i use 20 pound test berkely vanish flourocarbon for pike. It works great and i no longer get broke off pike pike. For flies i use a very large charteuse and white clouser woth a floating line. You can also use large chartruese wolly buggers, bunny leeeches or devievers :with a sinkming line." With that selection of flies you can also pick up some crappie and bass.
good luck with the pike muskiewannabe,post a report if u have some luck,
YFF