Hi

just wondering where i can fly fish for pike in kent and also what tackle and flies to use as i have never done it before.

I current own a 9 foot 6 7wt x flite rod is this rod up to the task? and how would you set your tackle up and go about locating the pike?

Would love to go with fishing with an experience pike angler to learn the ropes as i find with fishing if your confident in what your doing you usally catch

any help would be very much appriciated
tony

Tony

http://www.pffa.co.uk/ is your first port of call... you'll find folk really helpful and you'll find the "how to" there as well! Best £10 you'll spend... your current rod may do small jacks in the short term at a push BUT not bigger fish or bigger flies... pike need careful handling in order that they go back well.

Sadly I'm no where near you but join the PFFA and join the forum and I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction!

David

ok thanks for your help

Handling is the key issue if you have not fished for pike before, to avoid damage both to yourself and the fish. "Chinning" pike takes confidence and proper technique, i would recommend you find someone experienced who can go out with you and show you the ropes. As for the outfit as suggested your current rod is undergunned for playing pike and also casting big flies. You probably need to look at closer to a 9wt I would have thought, and probably a SWFF rod or Pike outfit. I am sure Grommit had a cracking deal on ones recently he is probably worth getting in touch with if you can justify a new rod.

__________________
Around the steel no tortur'd worm shall twine,
No blood of living insect stain my line;
Let me, less cruel, cast feather'd hook,
With pliant rod athwart the pebbled brook,
Silent along the mazy margin stray,
And with fur-wrought fly delude the prey

I've had another think about my post and have to agree with Milo that altough good for small jacks your current rod wouldn't cut the mustard if a lunker suddenly decided to join the fray...

9/10 weight should be the weapon of choice if your waters are going to hold big fish... wcbflytying is doing the Esox Lucius fly rod at the moment for £150... then there are the budget but goos rods... Shakespeare Expedition £45 ish, the RonThompson MPX 8/9 - think that's about £60.... and the Vision GT Four SW 9 or 10# could be a good bet via Grommit...

Hope that helps

Regards tackle Offshore is right, your 7wt is not quite man enough for the job.

As for places to fish, thats easy. You will find pike in most waters in your area. A good place to start is with this EA fisheries link

http://publications.environment-agen...09BOXX-e-e.pdf

Not all fisheries will allow you to fly fish, I fish a carp lake near me in Oxford which only lets me on in the winter months, it is well worth ringing the club/fishery before you go.


jason

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjH7XAZCR2c

Whereabouts in Kent are you from?

I would strongly suggest having a chat with the owner of the friendly fisherman in Tunbridge Wells if you live near there. He has a great selection of gear for fly fishing for pike and also a hell of a lot of know how.

Dan

thanks for all the advice i live in chatham kent and will pop to tunbridge for a chat with the tackle shop you mentioned think that would be the best way forward.

Yeah handling is an issue and will need to address this before i go out and try to catch a pike.

How does the bigger flies affect your casting?