Pike on the fly...

[mistergixer]

A while ago i started this thread asking for advice for someone beginning fly fishing for Pike.
Following on from the excellent advice in that thread, i kitted myself out with a 10ft 8/9 rod, a reel and a WF8 floating line (i ignored the advice about a sinking line, as the weather is warmer now and i've had plenty of surface takes on lures recently).
It all arrived yesterday (excellent service from City Tackle), and after a few chucks in the back garden i'd got the (very) basic idea of casting.
So, today i went down to the local arm of the G.U.C at Winkwell, Herts - i chose the area there as it is a) fairly open in parts, and b) has some lovely weed growth which is an ideal spot for Pike's ambush-style predatory behaviour (i've had good success there recently with lures).
Whilst my casting certainly has plenty of room for improvement, i was doing 'ok' and getting better with every cast - i could manage around 30foot casts by the end of the afternoon, although accuracy wasn't great.
I'd put on a medium sized (by Pike fly standards)black palmer-eyed 'Dog Nobbler' and was working it well through the weed beds - i found stripping the line by hand took some getting used to.
Anyway, i eventually got a take, which was very subtle, and quite different from the wallops i'm used to when lure fishing - at first i thought i'd snagged some weed, until the reel started to scream!
As you can see from the pics below (sorry about the quality, only had my mobile with me), it wasn't the largest Pike in the world (i'd guesstimate around the 4lb mark), but boy, what a scrap! It gave me the proper runaround, and no mistaking! A Jack of that size would normally be bullied to the bank in a matter of seconds on the sort of heavyweight gear used for lurefishing, but i had a proper battle on my hands!
It eventually came to the bank, i landed it by hand and unhooked my rather mullered Dog Nobbler from its jaws. After supporting it in the water for a short while, it gave a good kick of its tail and disappeared back into the murky water it had come from, in as good a condition as before i had hooked it.
Magic stuff.

If you'll pardon the terrible pun, i'm well and truly hooked on this fluff and feathers business!

Anyways, some pics of the fish:
https://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj243/Andy_B_photos/Photo-0108.jpg

https://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj243/Andy_B_photos/Photo-0110.jpg

Lastly, a Dog Nobbler, like the one i used:
https://dognobbler.bizland.com/store/media/O113.jpg

Thanks to all who gave advice in the original thread, i am a very happy chappy this evening.


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Space Monkey #7
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[Dischord]

Good catch mate, that line looks insanely thick for river fishng though??
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2012 KTM EXC 250

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[mistergixer]

It's WF8 line - it was recommended to me because Pike flies are generally pretty large, and heavier line makes it easier to land the fish more quickly, thus preventing them 'gassing'.
I was fishing on the Grand Union Canal, but i'm off up to the Lake District in a week or so and hoping to hook something a little larger.
____________________
Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
Mistergixer's videos on YouTube

[Kwaks]

Addictive isnt it


Get some red in those flies
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[mistergixer]

[stinkwheel]

[Kwaks]