Flies
(See this page----for some specific fly patterns.)
There are many published fly patterns for pike, and most fly shops carry a few local designs. Any number of four- to six-inch-long streamers (and larger) of colorful synthetic hair and flash filaments, will catch pike when they are feeding.
My two favorite color combinations include gold flash filaments mixed with orange artificial hair, and chartreuse and yellow artificial hair, again with a few flash filaments. I like these because they catch pike and are bright and colorful. But when the "sledding gets tough" my "go to" fly is a whitefish pattern like those shown in the second fly image here. They have light-coloured undersides, dark backs and a few silvery flash filaments.
Red and white, and yellow and red are also popular colours for pike flies.
All of the flies shown on this page are tied on 3/0 to 5/0 hooks--mostly Mustad 34007s.
A word about the 'eyes." I believe that the eyes help trigger inactive or "shy" pike. Almost all of my streamers have eyes as show, and (I believe) there are many days that they pay off. See here for discussion.
Some anglers prefer long streamers of up to eight or 10 inches, but such large flies tied with artificial fibers can result in false hookups–a fish on for a few seconds then gets off. Apparently the teeth temporarily tangle in the long fibres, then pull free because the jaws aren’t anywhere near the hook at the head of the fly. A common solution for this problem is to add a second hook (called a trailer or stinger) to the back end of the fly. However, it is more difficult to remove a fly with two hooks, and there’s a greater chance of an unsuccessful release. I’ve tried huge flies and find that more pike stay connected to smaller streamers–meaning no more than about six inches long.
Again, my ideas differ from many pike pros, who insist that big eight- to 10-inch flies are a must for catching trophy pike.
Return to the main pike pageTie or buy pike streamers with artificial fibers that do not hold water. Natural tying materials like rabbit fur and marabou feathers look great below the surface, but they absorb lots of water and can be quite difficult to cast because of the added weight. If you use rabbit fur and other water-holding materials, dress the flies a light as possible.
Most of my pike flies are now tied on No. 4/0 and 5/0 hooks like Mustad 34007s. Weed guards made from thick monofilament are helpful when fishing through weed beds, especially later in the year. Some patterns use stiff bucktail hairs that cover the hook and reduce weed interference. Brass or ornamental eyes add flash, and the extra front-end weight presumably adds fish-attracting action to pike flies. And no one can deny that those eyes look damned cute.
All hooks should be debarbed for ease of removal from pike. You will also appreciate the ease with which an impaled debarbed pike fly will slip out of the back of your hand. (The voice of experience. . .)