Old snaggle tooth strikes again...

Do you think a resposible angler would introduce beginners to this way of thinking?


Guideline

Matt Hayes’ Guide to Fly Fishing for Pike Part 1

"When I started pike fly fishing, because my casting was poor (no sh!t) I naturally assumed that only the most powerful fly rods would be needed to deliver the large flies that I was using. Initially, I used only 10 weights (described as #10). A nine foot, ten weight rod was my weapon of choice (described as 9’ #10 in the fly world). I have since come to the conclusion that in most situations, a lighter rod is easier to cast and is just as capable of delivering the large flies. Nowadays, for most of my pike fly fishing I use a nine foot, weight nine rod (9’ #9). For smaller pike on drains, canals and small ponds I am happier to use a 7 weight. I will sometimes use a 10 weight for casting really large flies for big pike on reservoirs. The weight of the rod that you use should be dictated by the size and air resistance of the flies you are going to cast – the bigger the flies and pike, the more powerful the rod.

Nine feet, 7 weight (9’ #7): perfect for jacks and low doubles of drains, canals and small lakes. Will cast smaller flies up to 4 inches (10 cm) long."

In contradiction to the group experience of the PFFA...

"Fly fishing for pike demands the use of powerful rods in order to cast the heavy lines needed to present large flies. A 9 or 10 foot rod designed to cast a 10 weight fly line will also possess enough backbone to subdue large fish. Pike which landed and returned to the water quickly, and with the minimum amount of fuss, will recover much more quickly than fish which are played to a standstill on light tackle...
This is especially true in warm weather when oxygen levels are low, and in Trout waters where pike attain specimen size much more quickly but tend to have a shorter life span because of their bulk.

There is no place in modern angling for line class fishing where credit was once given for landing specimen fish on the lightest line possible."

What Matt fails to address is the following fact: in close confines targeting pike of any size, a rod is needed with back bone to guide/muscle a fish out of reeds, snags and weed structure which they naturally dive for when hooked in small waters...

So when old Matt is giving his pearls of wisdom, he obviously forgot to mention the fighting behaviour of an ambush predator when it seeks to drive it's way down into such structure when hooked. How the hell does a 7wt rod control a pike in any situation including smaller Jacks?... especially when in summer weed chokes alot of waterways where pike hide and can cause drag and strain on your leader?

and hes gettin paid plenty to talk rubbish like this.

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I HATE BUNGS.........

I agree Alex... Matt is no ambassador for one of the fastest growing methods of catching pike. This sort of bile reflects badly on a facet of fly-fishing that allot of people have worked hard to promote in a positive light over the past years.

I'm surprised Guideline would publish such material in enlightened times, where a pike welfare (as a premium sport fish) is paramount. Monkey say... monkey do me thinks...

Monkey Magic.......

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I HATE BUNGS.........

Matt Hayes? Guide to Fly Fishing for Pike Part 1 : Guideline

Matt Hayes? Guide to Fly Fishing for Pike Part 2 : Guideline

There were some right purlers in Matt's heavily accented English here are some faves (in no particular order):


I cannot emphasise enough how important to approach pike fly fishing with the right mentality. Those whom take up the fly rod simply because they are obsessed with getting on trout reservoirs to catch big fish will miss the whole point and they will rarely become good fishers.
Rather, you should take up pike fly fishing to learn to cast, enjoy the fishing and to see and feel the pike as the fish that it is – a truly world class sporting species. You never know, it may inspire you to try other forms of fly fishing and become a true all-round angler!


This first power rush is one of the defining moments in pike fishing: the line zips through your fingers, the water boils and the pike surges away leaving a furrow in the water!




Pike are played as much with the reel as they are with the rod. As the pike flies away, release the fly line under moderate tension by allowing it to slip between finger and thumb that gently squeeze the line. If the running pike does not take all of the slack line, your task is to get the fish ‘on the reel.’ To do this, clamp the line with your rod hand by trapping it against the blank while batting the spool of the reel with your free hand. Once the fish is ‘on the reel’ you can play it more effectively. Many pike will tail walk at this stage in the fight. Keep the line tight and enjoy it! You must always keep the line tight and make sure that there is a bend in the rod to absorb the shocks down the line caused by an aggressive fish. However, if you want to beat the pike quickly, do not raise the rod until it takes on a horseshoe bend. Rather, keep the rod low and while not pointing it directly at the fish, semi-point it so that the rod has a gentle, not an acute bend. This will cause the pike to have to fight the drag on the reel and it will tire more quickly. Even thirty pound plus pike can be tamed within a few short minutes if you fight them this way.


The chances are that if you are reading this you are already a full or part-time pike angler. Several years ago, the ‘serious’ pike fishing fraternity condemned fly fishing for pike largely because they were jealous of a few of us whom were going out and catching big pike on ‘their’ waters.


The last point sums it up. Pike angling clubs weren't 'jealous' at all; just fearful of some fly anglers hooking large twenty and thirty pounders on totally inadequate fly tackle like erm #7 outfits! Ah well!

A good find Joey1 - could it really the "buck-toothed one", as stated, in the images?

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Save the softmouth trout

I have just read this, and Matt does clearly state he only advocates a 7wt rod for targeting small pike up to low doubles . I don't see a problem with this , trout of this size are regularly caught on tackle as light or lighter and without the added benefit of a strong leader. The argument about horsing fish out of cover , well I have caught plenty on fly and they never tried to retreat into cover when hooked.
Matt was making the point that tackle should be balanced to the size of fish you expect to catch , every fisherman may encounter a large fish whilst using light tackle ,that does not mean you should always gear up for the heaviest possible fish .
Bob

Why must we use a weight 9-10 rod for pike, answer -TO CAST BIG FLIES.
If you are not using big flies then reducing the rod rating is acceptable.

The rods today are mostly carbon of some sort ( not split cane or fiberglass) and can give a lot of STICk as you say, regardless of rating. The weekest link in your cast will break first, if that is adequate for the job then no problem. The higher breaking strain of the weekest bit the more preasure we can apply, We wouldn't use a 8lb leader, would we, no we beef that bit up to match the quarry that we are after.

Everyone seems to concentrate on the rod and it's rating but there are other factors to consider in the overall set up.

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A wise man can learn from a fool but a fool can't learn from a wise man.

The weekest link in your cast will break first, if that is adequate for the job then no problem. The higher breaking strain of the weekest bit the more preasure we can apply, We wouldn't use a 8lb leader, would we, no we beef that bit up to match the quarry that we are after.

Everyone seems to concentrate on the rod and it's rating but there are other factors to consider in the overall set up.[/QUOTE]

if any one in Uk waters can put more than 7lb of presure on a fish then they are doing some thing very wrong!!!

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Tomo

www.unchartedwatersthefilm.com or email jatstanic@aol.com for your copy

I think it shows how carefull you need to be when publicising such statements weather on the net or in magazines if read and taken the wrong way wich it can be on the internet or even in magazines i understand what bobc is saying but it can be taken totaly the wrong way as well buy guys new to the sport who dont know any better venues like say chew will see a influx of anglers fishing with tackle that wont be up for the job of landing a fish over a low double not to menstion a 20lbs pluss or even a 30lbs pluss fish and possibly a very large amount of specimen pike could die as the result of bad angling practice and handling Mr hayes comments wich would not only ruin one of the countrys top venues for the sport but would all so ruin the fishing on other venues and ruin all the hard work of clubs involved in protecting and people involved in and looking after our sport not just for today but for the future and give the sport a real bad name that it dont need

I don't hold any brief for Matt Hayes or against him, but I agree with BobC that Matt is being somewhat unfairly criticised here. The following is the full extract of his Pike FF tackle suggestions. What exactly is there to argue with ?

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton