Toothy critters love flies by George Bernstein

So I received “Toothy critters love flies” last Thursday in the post and took it away with me to the summer cottage over the weekend and gave it a good once over.

I had know idea who George Bernstein was, but It didn’t take me long though to realize George is no slouch with a fly rod, and with 20 yrs experience behind him in targeting Pike/ Musky n Bass as well as eight (IGFA) World records, 2 being for pike, he certainly is more than qualified to write his own encounters for us to read.

He shares many of the same views I have towards pike on the fly, and I can understand why he has ruffled some feathers within pike on the fly community in the States with some of his comments and views. To be truthful I don’t think there is any one correct way to fly fish for pike as every individual brings their own techniques to the sport. That’s what makes pike n musky on the fly so innovative. Reading Georges accounts and experiences only fueled my passion for the sport even more. The 1st half of the book really covers his exploits & especially his adventures in Canada targeting big pike. And believe you me when I say George has caught more big pike n musky than most of us could wish to ever catch in a lifetime.

He then goes onto explain the necessary tackle needed to land big pike. Rods, Reels n Lines which generally can be found in most pike books these days.. I found The “Flies that work” chapter particularly interesting as well. I’ve banged on myself about the merits of White & red feathered marabou streamers for some time now which George swears by, and I found his comment about using dark flies in low light conditions equally rewarding to read as I have preached this method within the forums here only for them to get ridiculed. I did find his fly tutorials interesting but rather difficult to follow and would think for any novice fly tier would be nigh impossible to understand. This I have to say is my only gripe with the book as it sorely lacks a picture tutorial for these flies. In Georges defense though, I understand the costs involved when adding coloured prints to a publication like this, and anyway I found it quite refreshing to read a book which wasn’t cluttered with glossy coloured images throughout its pages. A selection of flies he uses can be found on the back cover and I have to be honest here, they are, if not some of the roughest and ugliest tied pike flies I have ever seen. Which just goes to show that flies don’t have to be esthetically pleasing on the eye to catch big pike.

For those in the States n Canada there are some particularly interesting articles on targeting large & small mouthed bass, Walleye which for us Europeans Zander/Pike-perch, Arctic Grayling, brook & lake Trout, and its full of tips and tricks on casting big flies as well as how to get the most action from your flies during their retrievals. ”Toothy critters love flies” is extremely well written and I highly recommend it for novice and seasoned pike n musky fly-fishermen alike, whether here in Europe or in the States & Canada. It can be ordered from an number of online book shops for $16,95 as well as from his blog or just email him at pikeflyguy@aol.com

So as I mentioned earlier I will be giving this book away to one lucky reader here on PikeFFArticles. All you need to do to put yourself in with a chance of winning “Toothy critters love flies” by George Bernstein is tell me how many (IGFA) World records George has held. Either leave your answers with your name and address in the comments section for this post or through the contact form in the right sidebar. Names will be put into a number generator and the 1st correct answer will be receiving this book. Entries must be in by Sunday 16th August.

Lastly I might add that I received no money from George for writing this review in fact I paid for its postage, just so I can have the privilege of reading this book. Thank you George for enlightening me in how you as a pikeflyguy target these great fish. Your a true gentlemen and I hope someday that our paths may cross. Tight lines to you Sir.

Passion for pike - by Ad Swier

I’ve been meaning to write this review for some time now as its well overdue so here goes All of you from the States and Canada that fly-fish for pike should be familiar with Barry Reynolds and his videos & books but many of you might not have heard of a gentleman called Ad Swier from the Netherlands and his book “Passion for Pike”, which is generally classed by most European pike fly-fisherman as the bible here.

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”.

Fly-fishing for Pike – by Michael Jensen

I was given Fly-fishing for Pike – by Michael Jensen a few years back and although I was happy to receive it I’ve always felt that its a book of two halves, with the 1st half of this book totally un-necessary. I’m not sure whether he was targeting the none pike fly-fishing fraternity or for those already well established in it?

If it was marketed with beginners in mind, then maybe he could have spent more time elaborating on the differences in the tackle used, shooting heads, lines, rods, reels wire or heavy mono traces a little more (Which to be truthful has been written about by so many other pike fly-fishermen), yet if it was written for those already targeting pike on the fly, why spend half the book explaining to us what we already know. Instead he would have been far better off devoting the whole book about pike flies, especially with regards to their history, the different materials used in them, techniques to fish them as well as improve slightly on the sometimes shortened tutorials.

Don’t Get me wrong this is a wonderfully visual book, crammed packed with stunning photography with over 21 tying tutorials to choose from….I just feel there has been a fantastic opportunity lost here along the way. If you have this book already, then maybe you will know what I am talking about.

I’ve heard through the grapevine though, that a book on Pike flies is in the offing & being penned by a well known Pike fly-fisherman as you read this. If it will be anything like his first book then were in for a treat. I just hope he takes all that’s good about the second half of this book and improves on it with some history about pike flies, Why they are made the way they are? & why we use the different materials in them? etc etc.

Mastering Pike on the Fly: Strategies and Techniques - By Barry Reynolds

You know everyone I know bangs on about Ad Swiers “Passion for pike” as if it’s the Holy grail of pike fishing literature. Don’t get me wrong……there’s no question it’s a fantastic read, and I will talk about it next review, but if you are just starting out in the sport or have been fly-fishing for pike and just need a little inspiration, then the best pike fly fishing book available without a question of a doubt - "for me" - has to be, Mastering Pike on the Fly: Strategies and Techniques - By Barry Reynolds This book goes with me where ever I go. Barry truly does understand everything about Pike behavior and is evident by his writings in this book.

It covers all aspects from where to locate pike depending on what season you are fishing for them & what kind of waters you are fishing on? How & where to locate pike with regards to structures & cover. How different water temperatures effect a pikes metabolism, spawning times, as well as feeding habits and what flies to use & how to fish these flies. If you don’t improve as a pike fly-fisherman after reading this book then you should stop, and rather take up knitting instead.

Barry tells me he spends around 100 days a year targeting pike on the fly and has caught 30 pike in excess of 50 inches or 30lbs on the fly & his current personal best now stands at 54” and 37.5lbs. This book truly has been written by a true master of the sport. Thanks Barry for allowing me to use this image of you as well.

The Book of Pike (II) by Henry Cholmondeley-Pennell’

A while back I found a flip book on the Internet called “THE BOOK OF THE PIKE” by ‘Onnie Warren Smith’ and found it quite an interesting read. Well, I have found another with the same name but by a gentleman called ‘Henry Cholmondeley-Pennell’ written in 1865. His love of pike fishing is evident in his writings and there are a number of wonderfully drawn images of tackle he used through out the book as well. He mentions Pike on the fly all be it 2 pages worth but his drawing of a pike fly he used - to some moderate success I might add, particularly interesting.
Click on the flashing thumbnail to go to the flip book where you can then download it for later reading if you want. Just click “Details” and it will take you to the page

"THE BOOK OF PIKE" by O.W Smith

"Reaching the field of operation, I sent the light craft along just within casting distance of the fringing weeds and grass, for it is never the part of wisdom when doing any fishing to 'stretch the cast," to cast beyond control. A moderately long line should be cast. I know of no fishing where ability to lay a long line is a greater asset".

"For the way to fight a great pike on a fly-rod is to fight him. Never let the fish conduct the battle: that is the prerogative of the fisherman".

A few weeks ago I came a cross a flip book on the web called “THE BOOK OF THE PIKE” by O.W.Smith written in 1922 and every evening since, I have truly been immersed in his quest for his love of Pike Fishing. His chapter on Pike fly fishing (chapter 8 page 88-101) was particularly interesting especially his tussle with a monster pike and his archaic methods for subduing it after the long a fight. Ahhh! Gone are the days when one could take a 32 revolver with and shoot your quarry in the head before dragging it on board you boat.
It’s a good read for both Pike anglers and Fly-fishermen alike.
”CLICK” on the thumbnail and you will then be able to download the whole book for later readings.