hi

New to pike fly fishing and am after a pikie fly fishing outfit i have seen a ron thonpson mpx + 8/9 weight pike rod with a reel flies and line on sale at garry evans web site for £78.

Does this rod sound any good or will it be too cheap and require me to buy a replacement fairly soon afterwards which tackle would you recomend and how much does it cost as am on a budjet.

Thanks Tony

A pal of mine was in much the same position as you recently!

First of all I'd recommend joining the PFFA - Pike Fly Fishing Association - and go out with someone that knows what they are doing... pike are far from hardy beasts!

Second research on here as to the best gear you can find... the Ron Thompson rod is fine BUT you'll soon appreciate that it does have short comings and you'll out grow it and everything else that comes with the kit!

A 9/10 weight rod will a) chuck bigger flies and b)get the fish in quicker so you can get them back sooner.

You may want to look at the Esox Luscius fly rod... see wcb on here for that or the Vision GT 4 SW and for that Grommit is your man. Pitsford Pirate should be able to sort you out with a 9/10 weight floater. 25lb Seagaur Flourocarbon and some American Fishing Wire Surflon 20lb and you are about sorted... oh a reel the 7/9 Airframe will do you to start off with!

Hope that helps....

PS Forceps and an unhooking mat!!!

Fully agree with Offshore but would recommend a specialist 'pike' line with a more aggressive front taper to help chuck and turn over big flies.
Quite a few threads about rod actions here, I find a mid action easier to cast than a tip as it helps cushion the big thump that a heavy fly makes when changing direction at the start/end of each casting stroke.

Andy

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GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

Only reason I suggested Pitsford was the word BUDGET... otherwise yes BUT that would add on another £40+ quid

Possibly not as much as £40, I'd say nearer £25 (Rio pike line comes in at around £45). I started off with a standard taper 9wt and while the difference when I went over to a pike taper was not quite a religious experience it did help.

Cheers

Andy

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

Coldwater Striper bass line at Tacklebargains.co.uk fits the bill. Less than £15!!

i just got a few rio main strems for £29.99 each and great lines very good but on the tackle side i would go for a reel with a good drag on it because if you get something big you want to be able to lock up on it and get it in fast and back save some of the budget reel wont let you do this or will burn the cluch out like i have found out the hard way... if you google pike fly lines you will get one of these lines of the many stores ....i would say your are better with the right fly line too, as its esay to cast the big flys with the short head.

hi thanks for all your help

i have joined the pffa but have not been able to log onto the forum as of yet.

How can i contact grommi wcb and pirate do they sell these rods and bits?

Also does anyone know the best places to go kent?

Tony - PM a chap called mcfriter on here he's PFFA sec

rod: a 9' #9 with med or med-fast action is ideal. good examples are Vision GT 4 SW Med Fast, Harrison #9/10 blanks built up, TFO Lefty Kreh Professional #9. for value, Airflo Bluetooth XT, Ron Thompson MPX+ and Shakespeare Salt/Atlantis (though this is only #8 or #10) all good

reel: Scierra Avalanche/Okuma Airframe in 7/9 is a great buy at the moment, and very good for saltwater too, with very cheap spare spools. might need to use gelspun/dyneema braid backing in 30-50lb to get enough on with a WF9F

lines: get a floater and intermediate/slow sinker to start with. Masterline toothy critter is ideal taper and only £15 or so. also the Airflo cold saltwater bass lines at similar price. wouldn't recommend surflon wire personally as it seems to be rather delicate in unusual ways - still searching for the 'ideal' trace material

for fishing in/near Kent you have the Medway and Rother as good places to try. start around/below the locks/weirs & bridges. I had a 17lb fish last Thursday on the Medway - quite a shock! will take the bigger net today...