Thursday 30 April 2009
Spawning pike
Pike on the fly in Alaska
Here's some great top water footage from Alaska. This is the reason why I use Poppers and surface lures so much.For all you Hollywood & Bollywood Blueliners out there that wouldn't find this kind of fishing exhilarating, then you're heads not screwed on right. Blood courses through my veins watching footage like this. Enjoy!
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Passion for pike - by Ad Swier
Although there are some,……“Passion for pike” isn’t a book filled with tips & techniques or where to and when to fish for pike or even fly tying tutorials, but more of a mans journey into why Ad loves fly-fishing for this fantastic predator. And that’s what sets this book apart from the rest of the other pike on the fly literature out there. Sure he goes through all the tackle that’s needed from its inception to present day, tells about pike on the fly in other European countries, and writes about his strong feelings for Pike and their conservation but reading this book you truly do get a sense of what its like to target Esox luscious on the fly. This passion is also evident as well through his art, which I might add, grace many of the pages in this book through wonderful prints dotted around it.
Whether you’re a pike on the fly fanatic or just contemplating starting up in the sport and you haven’t read this book yet then I suggest you order it off the internet. Mark my words, It’s a fantastic read. With all the literature in our house I’m constantly asked by Lena, “Your not reading that book again, are you?
I’ll leave you with a small snippet from the book
“Now my Dad always taught me to be silent in Nature. He used to say “ You’re a guest here, so shut up and behave”, He used to recite a variation on something I also heard the other year during a long steep walk in the Comeragh mountains in Ireland. My guide Michael Desmond, then said, quietly: “Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints, Kill nothing but time”.
The Dirt Dog
The Dirt Dart from Richard Strolis on Vimeo.
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Out & About
In my defense though, water temps are barely above 3’c and there was plenty of ice still floating about. I did manage to see an Osprey & 2 White tailed eagles flying around, as well as numerous wading birds resting up in the shallows…..so not all was lost.
Go to the Google maps in the side bar to see where I was.Green markers with dots in the middle
Hipwader.com – Rob O’reilly
Rob O’reilly from Hipwader.com sent me these the other day of some of his own fish porn. He mainly fly-fishers for long nose and spotted gar in Southern Ontario which are native to the province's eastern lakes, and are very aggressive when the water warms.
He’s also dabbled in some Pike on the fly as well, as you can see by this fine looking snot-rocket. Rob writes Hipwader.com website which am sure many of you have read from time to time. If you haven’t, it’s a wonderfully produced site crammed with all soughts of information covering all aspects of fly-fishing, from fly tying tutorials to product & tackle reviews to destinations to fish. As he mentions on the homepage that its what you call a “Go to site”.
Anyway Rob thanks for these mate and tight lines
Monday 27 April 2009
Spawning pike
Click on the map to see a large version. Enlarge it then click & drag until you find the red rectangular area marked.Or go to my Google maps fishing report in the sidebar.Its the green marker with the dot in the middle.
On the fly
hope you’ll all be able to help out. Here is the website link so you have an idea whats involved "ON THE FLY"
Sunday 26 April 2009
Triggerfish steerable lure
So good are these lures that they have sold out and are waiting for new shipment to arrive at the end of this month. Check out the website by clicking the link above
Friday 24 April 2009
Swimtrue custom flies- by Graham Coombes
His specialty are flies that swim which makes tying them very time consuming, with attention to detail absolutely crucial his main objective is to keep the quality and performance of his flies to a standard you’d expect from a custom fly tyer. He also states that his patterns will work over a varied range of retrieval speeds, making them a great choice for many situations. He says he takes great care and pride in every fly he ties while striving to push the boundaries of fly tying with style. If you need proof that his flies catch big fish then check out this 52” Musky caught by Nick Pujic.
Personally I think you’ll be seeing a lot more from Graham here on PikeFFArticles in the months to come. Anyway why not stop buy his website and have a good look around.
Click on any of the images or links and they will take you straight to his website.
Tight arse Stripping baskets
Well I couldn’t be bothered to order a new one from northernflies.com especially when they want to rape me of Є49,95, and as I’m the ultimate tight arse pike fly-fisherman
I’ve decided to make my own one . So I drove down to the local hardware store yesterday and bought a basket Є1.65, 6 x 120 mm wall plugs Є0,80 & a clip strap Є1,20 all for the total sum of Є3,65
Some slight modifications like a rod holder (2 grooves cut into either side lined with electrical cable split and glued into place) and some holes drilled into the bottom to allow for drainage and there you have it. You’ll have to agree it doesn’t look half bad and I’ve saved myself a cracking Є46,30 in the process.
Here’s a handy DIY video for you to follow if you’re also a tight arse like myself.
Or you could go for this cheaper Russian home made contraption....the choice is yours.
Friday Pin up......After 12 beers!
Thursday 23 April 2009
Paying your dues
Wednesday 22 April 2009
Vision in Flyfishing gear
To be honest I haven’t used their rods yet but they do have a range of equipment for us pike on the fly angler. Their GT four SW Medium fast looks particularly good and
They write that “It turns your damp pike fly like a leaf in the wind. The T-35 carbon allows more action all the way from the butt, so heavier flies and lines in a blizzard are just a piece of cake for this rod. For calmer days we have expanded this collection with a new lighter 7 class nine footer”.
Vision Big mama fly lines
Made to deliver your super size fly through a hurricane. The short front taper loads your gun right away with a tight loop, the long rear taper allows you to force the package anywhere you want it.
Vision Pike wire leader: 30 lb
Vision Pike leader is made from their Wireline tippet material and tapered heavy duty monofilament leader. They are attached with tippet ring. This makes it easy to change the wire tippet when needed. The overall length of the leader is 7 feet. Includes one extra tippet ring.
If you’ve never heard of Vision products before and need proof that there equipment can stand up to the rigors of catching big pike on the fly, then here we are. Former lure fisherman Roni Selen is now a pike fishing enthusiast and part of the Vision World team. When he’s not working as a fisheries official or writing articles as a freelance fishing journalist he just loves to chuck big flies into heavy wind in nasty weather, 'cause he says that’s when the big ones are biting.
“Big Pike Fly Challenge 2008”
Click the hyphenated “here” to watch some fantastic pike on the fly footage from last years vision pike on the fly competition held in Stockholm’s Archipelago.
Click the medium version for your P.C’s
I am in now way sponsored or have I been asked to endorse any of these products from Vision. I just find their products worthy of a feature on this blog.
Tuesday 21 April 2009
The "legy" Deceiver by Németh “nini” István
Monday 20 April 2009
Big Baltic Pike
A big thank you goes out to Janne who features in a lot of these Images. He writes his own fishing blog from Sweden called “Team Örebroarn “ and was gracious enough to let me use these images of him proudly showing us some of his own pike porn. The site is in Swedish but it does have Google translate anyway. If you’d like to see more images then go to his flickr page.
Don’t get me wrong Canadian & North American Pike are big but I have to say that Baltic pike are up there with the best. The one thing I can say about Baltic Pike and that is they fight harder than their freshwater cousins. You really do know when you have one on the business end of your line.
8,7kg - 107cm
8.7kg
103cm - 8.5kg
7kg
17.2kg
6.4kg
9,1kg
Sunday 19 April 2009
Marabou articulated muddler - by Richard Strollis
The Marabou Muddler from Richard Strolis on Vimeo.
Articulated Muddler from Richard Strolis on Vimeo.
Saturday 18 April 2009
Wipe & Clean
On a more lighter note for this Saturday morning.
Friday 17 April 2009
Muskie on the fly - by Robert S Tomes
Wild river press has just released “Muskie on the fly” – by Robert s Tomes. Although I have never fished for this species I know many of you in the states have. If its anything like “Mastering Pike on the fly” – by Barry Reynolds then it’s a definite must for all you muskie on the fly fanatics.
This is what Barry had to say about it.
“At long last—a book that deals with this exciting
and often overlooked game fish. Guru Tomes knows
how to tackle this legendary fish of 10,000 casts
and now he shares his secrets with us. Muskie on
the Fly will shorten your learning curve. Whether
you chase muskies with a fly or conventional gear,
this book is a must!”
B a r r y R e y n o l d s
Friday Pin up......After 12 beers!
Thursday 16 April 2009
Readers fish porn
2 for the price of 1
Wednesday 15 April 2009
Dying rabbit fur
Tuesday 14 April 2009
Pike & Predator flies
Dave (Mcfluffchucker) Lindsey has just uploaded new pike flies for sale. Why not drop by and have a look around at Pikeandpredatorfishingflies
New Perch flies (II)
Monday 13 April 2009
Readers fish porn
He uses an 8 wt rod with a Franco Vivarelli gold star reel, orvis 9I line and big flies! and he says he never uses wire but a fluorocarbon shock tippet (60- 80 lbs) only.
Thanks for these Bill and nice to meet you mate.
If any of you have any pike on the fly fish porn you would like to share with us here on PikeFFArticles then get hold of me through the contact form and I will email you right back. Send a short description of where you fish and what tackle you use as well.
If it looks like a shit hole where he's fishing then you wouldn't be wrong. Have just been sent this video footage of the same place .
Cobwebs dusted
Woke up yesterday morning with a hangover from hell from the previous nights family gathering. Copious quantities of alcohol and good food made getting out of bed nigh impossible but I was determined to dust off the cobwebs once and for all with a short session before breakfast. The water is still way too cold for me to be positive about catching any pike……..maybe in a week or so conditions will improve enough, although pike here still have the spawning period to contend with - (Well that’s what I was telling myself)
Anyway
Go to the Google map in the sidebar to check out where I was fishing.The Pink marker with the dot in the middle on the west of the island is the last place fished.