Hi,

I've been lurking around these forums for a while picking up tips here and there and i thought it was finally time to post to ask for some advice.

I've been Fly fishing for only about 4/5 months and i have had some great succuss on rivers and catch and release lakes usually taking 4+ trout in a session with my largest being just under 6lb and my average being about 3lb.

I have been looking more and more into the pike scene as i have only caught one pike in my life (a small 3lb Pike caught while bringing in a small perch about 10 years ago!). On my local complex there are 4 C&R lakes where one of them is a pike lake with a 20ft wide shelf which is shallow enough to wade on and get some good spots to cast at.

I spent most of Sunday afternoon launching a fly out which felt like I was casting a bin bag full of water on my 8 weight 9'6 rod. and I had no luck at all from the pike, after changing my fly a few times i picked up massive amounts of Perch which all fell to a large Cats Whisker but again these were not what i was after! I did however have 2 follows from pike on my larger fly & although they were only about 1lb each it did give me confidence that they were feeding but this fly was almost bigget than them.

My questions are as follows:

*The Perch and Trout in the lakes where i fish only seems to take/follow white lures, would the pike be following the same pattern?
*In the summer heat what times are best to fish for pike?
*What is the minimum size fly/hook I should use?
*I am using an 18lb leader with a 20 Wire trace, is this the right strength to be using?
*Would it be better to use WF 7/8 floating line or 8 Int Sinking line for Pike?
*Close into the Reeds or out into deep water?
*Slow or fast retieve?

Sorry i understand these are very basic questions.

Finally, is there anywhere in London anyone would recommend fishing for Pike on the fly?

I appreciate your help!

Check the PFFA web site. www.pffa.co.uk You'll quite alot of info from there.

Frithy

Pike like cover for ambush and small/bait fish like cover to try and hide from predators, so around reeds/weedbeds etc are good target areas. When you say "pike lake", is that deliberately stocked with pike? which sounds a bit odd, as predator numbers have to balance with prey fish numbers

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Hi,
Have a look here you might find it of interest..

A GHILLIE'S TALE

Kindest regards,
John

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I don't/won't tatrget pike in the summer. The water in shallow lakes is too warm and they gas up far too easily, many die from toxicity built up, even though they go back seemingly well at the time.

In higher altitudes and latitudes you can get away with it, or in deeper water where the te,mperature of the water doesn't get so high.

I use a #10, but a #9 is OK too. An 8 weight is really only suitable where there are jacks only - but can you GUARANTEE there are only jacks, on Burnmoor Tarn I think, yes you can because the fedding is far too sparse. Anywhere with good feeding there will be big pike. It isn't for the fishinig that I use heavier gear, it is for the welfare of the fish, something that should be our main priority regardless of the species we are targetting. Even a jack puts a full bend in the #10, but the additinal reserve of power is handy when you get into a bigger fish.




Join the PFFA, it is worth every penny and you get to fish some exclusive waters plus have access to people who have been fly fishing for pike for many years.