Pike Fly Fishing
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Jason Skilton
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:00 am
- Contact:
Pike Fly Fishing
Do we have anyone PAC members to practise the dark art of flyfishing for pike?
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Mark Leathwood
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2017 1:04 pm
- Location: Winsford, Cheshire
Re: Pike Fly Fishing
By the look of things Jason, not many.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect there are two distinct groups of anglers who fly fish for pike:
1. Fly fishing enthusiasts who fish for multiple species on the fly and view pike as a worthwhile alternative to game or sea species.
Judging by the amount of coverage given to 'alternative' species by game fishing magazines in recent years, this would seem to be a growing area. There is work to do here in terms of promoting pike conservation because the advice published (often about tackle) is often very poor and sometimes downright dangerous to the pike. I've often written letters to the magazines and, although the response is usually favourable, they rarely publish anything which is critical of their 'expert' writers. I was a founder member of the Pike Fly Fishing Association and I very much hoped the PFFA would take an active stance in promoting pike welfare in game fishing circles. I resigned from the PFFA last year because it's current leadership has no interest in getting involved in anything other than the social side of fishing - which is fine, but not for me.
2. Pike anglers who attempt to take up fly fishing because it either facilitates access to waters which contain pike but where fly fishing is the only method allowed, or who simply fancy having a go at a different method.
I think the anglers in this second group often find fly fishing for pike to be a bit of a struggle, possibly through not choosing the most appropriate tackle, or not knowing how to cast - although an hour with a qualified casting instructor would sort that out in most cases. The majority of PAC members seem to be from a bait fishing background and, to them, fly fishing really does seem to be too great a departure from the methods they know and trust to catch pike.
I love fly fishing, and I've caught some good pike on the fly over the last 20+ years. However, it is but one method and, to my way of thinking, it very definitely has its time and place. More often than not fly fishing for pike isn't the best method but, on the days when it is, it is a fabulous way to fish.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect there are two distinct groups of anglers who fly fish for pike:
1. Fly fishing enthusiasts who fish for multiple species on the fly and view pike as a worthwhile alternative to game or sea species.
Judging by the amount of coverage given to 'alternative' species by game fishing magazines in recent years, this would seem to be a growing area. There is work to do here in terms of promoting pike conservation because the advice published (often about tackle) is often very poor and sometimes downright dangerous to the pike. I've often written letters to the magazines and, although the response is usually favourable, they rarely publish anything which is critical of their 'expert' writers. I was a founder member of the Pike Fly Fishing Association and I very much hoped the PFFA would take an active stance in promoting pike welfare in game fishing circles. I resigned from the PFFA last year because it's current leadership has no interest in getting involved in anything other than the social side of fishing - which is fine, but not for me.
2. Pike anglers who attempt to take up fly fishing because it either facilitates access to waters which contain pike but where fly fishing is the only method allowed, or who simply fancy having a go at a different method.
I think the anglers in this second group often find fly fishing for pike to be a bit of a struggle, possibly through not choosing the most appropriate tackle, or not knowing how to cast - although an hour with a qualified casting instructor would sort that out in most cases. The majority of PAC members seem to be from a bait fishing background and, to them, fly fishing really does seem to be too great a departure from the methods they know and trust to catch pike.
I love fly fishing, and I've caught some good pike on the fly over the last 20+ years. However, it is but one method and, to my way of thinking, it very definitely has its time and place. More often than not fly fishing for pike isn't the best method but, on the days when it is, it is a fabulous way to fish.
R.O. Cheshire Region
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Jason Skilton
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:00 am
- Contact:
Re: Pike Fly Fishing
Cheers Mark, seems like your the only fluff chucker on here 
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PhilWilkinson7021
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2017 9:50 pm
- Location: Dartford, Kent
Re: Pike Fly Fishing
Sound good Mark, it's something I'd like to have a go at proper some time, I do use Pike flies but on a lightweight lure rod and have caught well on that method in the past.
Phil.
Phil.
Always remember it's called Fishing not Catching.
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Ryan Hosick
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Feb 29, 2020 3:15 pm
Re: Pike Fly Fishing
Hi guys,
It’s a lethal method and by far the most enjoyable to catch with imo!
Ryan
It’s a lethal method and by far the most enjoyable to catch with imo!
Ryan
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PhilWilkinson7021
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2017 9:50 pm
- Location: Dartford, Kent
Re: Pike Fly Fishing
Thought I'd comeback to this post as I have done some Pike fly fishing now and really enjoy it. I attended a Pike fly fishing event towards the end of last year that was held at Tydd Gote and was really well attended and several Pike came out. Hopefully I can do some more shortly.
Always remember it's called Fishing not Catching.