10-27-2006, 03:01 PM
Regarding flies, the bigger the better. My favorite is this big mouse fly that I have. Probably bout 4 inches long. Seems like the bigger the fly, and the more action it has, the better. THey will slam it.
As far as leader, you can buy thicker leaders, I got mine online, and then for tippet, there is a plastic coated steel wire, that you run through your hook, and then twist it back on itself, and melt it with a lighter, while squishing it with your hands, slightly, and it cools and bonds together. In my experience, you HAVE to use a steel leader. I've talked to some that don't, but I'm pretty sure they're not catching big pike. SOmetimes it's not too bad, but other times they will swallow ANYTHING.
For example, this past summer, just for kicks my brother tied on a HUGE 12-inch rubber trout to his spinning rod, weighed bout 2 pounds. First cast he caught a big northern that had swallowed the whole thing. We took it off after that. I don't like to use treble hooks with them, cause they're so agressive, the treble hooks do way too much damage to the fish.
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As far as leader, you can buy thicker leaders, I got mine online, and then for tippet, there is a plastic coated steel wire, that you run through your hook, and then twist it back on itself, and melt it with a lighter, while squishing it with your hands, slightly, and it cools and bonds together. In my experience, you HAVE to use a steel leader. I've talked to some that don't, but I'm pretty sure they're not catching big pike. SOmetimes it's not too bad, but other times they will swallow ANYTHING.
For example, this past summer, just for kicks my brother tied on a HUGE 12-inch rubber trout to his spinning rod, weighed bout 2 pounds. First cast he caught a big northern that had swallowed the whole thing. We took it off after that. I don't like to use treble hooks with them, cause they're so agressive, the treble hooks do way too much damage to the fish.
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