So guys, how many of us are chasing pike on the fly on Corrib? Every now and then someone posts about it, but I’d be interested in how many fly forum members actually regularly or even occasionally go out chasing pike..

I have had some great moments this season after pike on Corrib. To be honest I am a trout man at heart and pike is second place when the trout fishing is good… The thing is that there are many periods on Corrib when the trout fishing isn’t good, (or at least it’s not good for me)...

I don’t know exactly what it is I enjoy about pike fly fishing. For me trout are beautiful, even a fish of 1/2 lb. I just love to catch them and remember so many beautiful trout with different colours, some beautiful golden trout and some bright silver, one looked almost purple in the water.!!..

With catching pike on the fly, I think it’s predominantly down to their sheer size and strength. The takes and tail walking is entertaining too and when a big pike wants to go almost nothing will stop it. Where else would you get fishing like that in Ireland? I’ve not caught any other fish so powerful in my time Salmon, trout and occasionally Sea trout fishing, although i've not had 20lb samon, trout or sea trout....

For the last few outings we have had at least 6 pike over 10lb.. I personally have had 1 over 20, and 3 between 12 and 15lb, and lost a fair few more… Really exciting fishing with floating lines and surface flies one evening last week… Only went out for 1hr and had 2 hook ups. Both hit the fly so hard it frightened the hell out of me. Both fish were doubles. I only landed one which weighed 14.5lb… The amount of water displaced with the take was amazing… I thought I had risen the irish equivalent of Nessy at one stage..!!!

All fish are released to swim away for another day…

I joined up the Irish Pike Fly Fishing Association (PFFA) a while back and enjoy attending their meets.. I am hopeful that in the future we can expand the number of members in the west. As far as i know there aren't many of us..

If anyone is interested in fly fishing for pike some day or evening send me a pm, or reply to this thread and we can try arrange a date… I can supply gear (rods, flies boat etc)… so if you don't have your own gear don’t worry about it.

Cheers
JJ

I have caught a handful of Pike on the fly on Corrib. I dont really target them as I used to do a lot of Pike fly fishing in Cork before the Euro's destroyed it. I dont get up to Corrib that often so when I do its trout I concentrate on. That said the Pike fight harder that the Shannon or Lee pike I have caught.
We had in Cork Pike fishing to rival anything in Europe, two pike fly fishing newbies caught a 22lb and a 24lb there first night fishing with me, the 24 was the first fish he ever caught on fly and the largest pike a 20yr + pike man had every caught. And all this fishing was destroyed practically overnight by eastern europeans

Wasn't the driver against the Fishing License headed by Lough Corrib fisherman. Whilst I wouldn't trust the Irish Governments (any of them, regardless of political creed) to formulate and implement an efficient and effective inland fisheries policy I thought the gentleman's activities were destructive at best.

I dont have a problem with the fishing licenses, if they were implemented and policed I would happily pay the money. The fishing license debate was before my time so I wont get into that.
However to fish the Lee in Cork you need a permit and the bailiffs are based at either end of the lake and still it was over fished and poached, and the bailiffs are active on the lake as I have come across them numerous times, I must question using fisheries staff to check permits on an ESB owned lake.

Pike on the Fly is the ultimate thrill, The Irish Bonefish. I am still stuck on the 5 - 6 lbs region however this should end soon... Normally I fish the Enre and Lough macnean along with some other smaller lakes and rivers.

U should get up to Corrib.. Of late we rarely catch pike below 8lb!!

myself and pike fly hope to get down at the start of october (fingers crossed) to see if we can beat last years pike. We get down twice a year to corrib sadly the days fly when we are there, 4 days is never enough for the sport that we have had over the last few years. Id be saying the same about the pike as youself jj everyone a stunning fish to be remembered

Sounds like there aren't too many members who tackle pike on the fly on Corrib......

I think fly fishing for pike will be huge in coming years.. It surprises me that more aren't at it. I've only came across a couple of folks at it on Corrib down the years, and more this year than all other years combined..
Might go out for an hour this evening...

cheers
JJ

I've been meaning to have a go for ages but not got round to it. I'm finding the trout fishing really challenging this year so maybe pike is the way to go. I met some traditional pike fishers on the lake on Tuesday who had done quite well - Dutch or German they were

Well Paul,

The pike are very active at the minute... Most days we have numerous hits with some big fish. the average has been over 10lb the last 4 trips with the best evening being 7 fish..... Very exciting with floating lines and surface hits...

Give me a bell if you feel up for a day or evening.. I'l sort you out with gear etc..

cheers
JJ