Pike fishing

[vmabuck]

So I went out for Pike for the first time this weekend. Three of us went to a secret location in the Rio Grande gorge. We didn't do so hot. One guy got a 2-footer and that was it for the day.

I will be going back. I feel the itch to have a Pike on my line...

Rio Grande Pike:

[Clema74]

very nice fish!

I'm new in pike fly fishing, I only caught little ones (about 50 cm). This one is very nice!

congrats!

What streamer did you use?

Can you tell me more about the streamer animation?

thanks!

[vmabuck]

That is not my fish, that is just an example of what can be had on the Rio Grande.

From my brief experience I would cast out perpendicular across a slower moving section of water and let the streamer sink as it swings across closer to the bank I am casting from then I would strip it in varying the intensity and amount of line. As your streamer gets closer to you let it come all the way to the surface and look for the "follow."

I was told to run the streamer through places that looked good for an ambush because Pike like to hunt their prey, they do not like it handed to them.

The flies we were using were variations of Bunny Leeches, Divers, some guide creations, and even some Tarpon flies. Basically it has to be a meal for it. I would also assume anything that resembled a small brown or Rainbow would work quite well if that is a primary food source, which it is on Rio Grande.

I have a lot to learn and I still have yet to have one on the end of my line.

In due time though...

[northcountryman]

Did you have to strip your streamer pretty fast to get a follow and/or take? Usually I find that pike and pickerel like a fast retrieve, sometimes faster than you can strip w/ Aflyrod!!!

[Clema74]

Thanks for the precisions.

[vmabuck]

[quote author=northcountryman link=topic=5015.msg38891#msg38891 date=1291677480]
Did you have to strip your streamer pretty fast to get a follow and/or take? Usually I find that pike and pickerel like a fast retrieve, sometimes faster than you can strip w/ Aflyrod!!!
[/quote]

I was stripping quite a bit faster and taking longer pulls than I would fishing for trout that is for sure.

I am thinking if you find the Pike and you find them in the right mood they will take most anything going at any speed.

That's just a theory though...