I don't basically fly fish for Pike deliberately but I have caught a fair few whilst playing the Rudder game for (hopefully) better sized trout."

Steve, while you were catching these pike did you experience many bite offs on takes from other pike or experience pike biting through the line when playing them? I only ask because there seems to be two distinct camps. One advocating the use of wire in the leader and others who use hard mono. [there is another camp who advocate braid, but that is another story] Your experiences may help shed some light on this controversial topic. I notice you sell hard mono leaders complete with a clip on your web site so maybe that is a clue?

With me it usually winds up with the Pike winning the first couple of lures and then I go over to around 12" of hard nylon ( 40lb Mason) with swivel on one end and spring link on the other .

No they don't get bitten through - I have to use wire cutters trimming the ends of knots.

The benefit is that the stuff sinks at much the same rate as ordinary mono and doesn't actively seek out bottom weed to attach itself to . And it doesn't kink at all!

We got into it basically as a result of doing the tarpon and snook things in Florida - deep fishing - it doesn't much seem to put the trout off - having said which I fished once with Fred Wagstaffe at Rutland and was alarmed by the hideous nature of the multistrand wire traces he was using ( around 30bs and appallingly tied off with bits of wire strands hanging off the ends ) we wound up at 5 all for the day ( and none of them Pike !) - I seem to remember, all Browns over 3 - and in his case taken on things uncastable with violently waggling tails - basically Redgills and size 3 Delta eels with bits of feather attached . ( Fred didn't cast much - his back was bad - just dragged with around 40 yards of lead all damned day ! )

Each to his own , I prefer the Hard Mono - they tell me all the Muskie Specialists in the USA use it too - but never having been I can't confirm that one !

Steve P

hi steve having bought loads off you in the past do i use the prices on the online catalogue cheers pal davy

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fishing or the wife she is history orry dear]

No , the gent who did it went to the USA and I can't alter the d..med thing - email me on spartonfly@btconnect.com and I'll backflip you the latest price list - you can use the website for the pictures tho !

Best wishes

Steve P

Appologies don't want to hijack the thread just a quicky for Steve am I right in assuming you are the same steve parton who writes for TFF thank you.

Alan

Alan yes he is , 2 Partons named Steve would be an over kill

Read some of his fine articles here ,
http://www.sexyloops.com/sparton/nor...onstyle4.shtml

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

Thanks for the reply Steve. I have purchased a couple of brands of the multi-strand wire/braid stuff. Namely, Power Pro & AFW surfstrand. I got these as I read on here that pike WILL bite through mono [even the hard stuff] but was a tad unconvinced which is why I asked for your experiences. I will try the wire but if I find it kinks unduly, knots come undone etc then I will be ordering some of your stuff to compare. Thanks again for the reply.

ACW many thanks.

Alan

I am a big fan of Steves been buying good kit from him for 20 or more years
and have always enjoyed the gossips when ordering .

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

Spruce,

Try and avoid the uncoated multistrand wires for flyfishing. The stuff simply can't cope with the rigours of flycasting and ends up fraying and kinking.

I've spent a few years now trial and error with all sorts of wire and my recommendations would be either single-strand Titanium (AFW) in 40lb b/s or a nylon coated wire such as Loop Pike Wire or Surflon Micro Supreme 7x7 26lb b/s. Both types are knottable (although with the titanium I'd recommend a clip for attaching the fly) and avoid the need for a swivel which just adds unwanted weight.

The titanium is very kink resistant - I managed to get my trace caught round the engine prop when playing a fish last Autumn, not only did it remain intact and I landed the Pike but it didn't even kink! The nylon coated stuff (Loop/Surflon) is more susceptible to kinking but is extremely easy to use and very supple. Just start with a long trace at first (24" or so...) and if you get a fish that does kink it near the fly, just cut off and re-tie (use a jam knot). You will get several fly changes before having to replace the trace. Hope that makes sense?

Dougie