The pike quest……continues!

by Alistair

Where is this obsession going to end – it started out with a hankering for some Summer Pike around a month ago (that was when I last went after trout if you remember). Then after catching a couple of nice Pike I wanted to get a double figure fish…now I feel my old cheapo rod is not up the job and want a new sexy one and with a bit of luck it may be here for the weekend – mucho thanks to Loop.

Well my dear readers I finally got my wish. I caught a double figure fish on my own tied silver EP fibre fly – will put a picture up at some point – the fly that is. The take was quick and the pike put up a fair scrap..

My rod was bent almost double – I still feel it is too soft and am looking forward to testing out and reviewing the loop rod…

Something that I have read about and have now come to understand is the difficulty in estimating the size of pike in the water – also I suppose the difference in their fighting abilities. When you see a pike in the water and you are trying to land it, the beast may not actually look that big however when you are putting your hands near its jaws suddenly it gets a whole lot bigger – when you get it on the bank (rarely as you should unhook the creatures in the water) you can then fully appreciate the size of the fish – enormous sleek camouflaged dinosaurs that they are – they did not last a couple of million years for nothing I suppose. Ironically a bit of bad handling and they go belly up pretty quick so a bit of time is always needed to make sure they are fully recovered before they go away and sulk for a bit.

Of course my fishing buddy Campbell then blew my one out the water and only caught an even bigger one – this one was weighed by some very nice chaps who were dead baiting nearby – they gave it a good 14lbs.

It is funny catching these big Pike. There seems to be a whole lot of nervous giggling involved – like yes – you have caught an enormous fish but soon you will have to get the forceps out and get your fly out of its teeth. Campbell only caught this one due to getting his lucky hat from the car…

Talking of enormous teeth – check these babies out…

That was on a Pike skeleton we found – now tell me you don’t need a wire trace for these beasts?

Ironically I also caught my smallest pike on the fly – this cheeky wee monkey..

Some of the guys deabaiting were using bigger baits than that – hmmmm could I cast it? Now there is a thought – casting a deadbait with a fly rod – I suppose it defeats the purpose – probably the start of a rocky rod that ends with weekends camped out with bivy tents and little remote controlled boats – Yegads it even sounds appealing when I think about it…..control, control control….must use control before total obsession takes hold…

Of course – now I have caught a doubler (just) my quest is becoming more intense – now I want to catch one in the teens – a high teen at that. Oh yea baby – there will be blood involved I am sure!

37 thoughts on “The pike quest……continues!”

  1. Nice work on the big Mama. So true on estimating the size of the fish. Sometimes the littler ones hit so much more aggressively that you think you’ve got a monster, while the big ones kind of casually suck in your fly and swim a little bit before even realizing they’re hooked. And the way they lull you to sleep when you bring them in, rolling onto their side only to tear off when you try to grab the leader. I had to cancel my last pike trip of the season, so now I have to wait until spring to get after them again or get my fix reading your blog. Keep after them.

  2. Nice one Alistair.Go for a twenty pounder next!
    I will be after the pikies soon,but still making the most of whats left of the trout season.It will be over far too soon (sob).
    But still,pike and grayling to keep us occupied in the winter 🙂
    cheers
    Paul

  3. Sweet fish.

    Now you have me thinking I need to add another species to my list. I saw a few pike in Alaska but the guide didn’t have any wire leaders or I would have had to cast at one.

  6. Hey Pete – Do you not have any Pike lovally to you? or do you have to travel a distance?

    Paul -Last year I struggled with PIke on the fly around about the middle of December – you go deadbaiting for the beasts?

    Murdock – be careful – it started out as just a wee bit of fun for me and now has spawned an addiction!!!

    Dean – Given half a chance I reckon it would eat me!

    Alex – thanks for commenting – I am assuming this is your first time commenting?

  9. I caught jacks on the fly right through last winter from the canal,but didn’t fish any lochs. Used to do a lot of deadbaiting for pike but find it pretty boring these days.Will probably have a few bait fishing trips over the winter, if you get some action it can be great fun.
    Cheers
    Paul

  10. Red Devil is a classic pike spoon (I think) its red and white striped, north american too.

    looking forward to hearing how the Loop Rod pans out.

  11. Paul – Hmmmm – Jacks right through to January – maybe I did not use enough energy – looking forward yo hitting the canal again actually 🙂

    Campbell – “Red Lightning” it is then 🙂

  12. a micro pike lol nice double ur in the club GOOD STUFF have u tried that place i told u about is that the trout fishing oot the windy lol

  13. Alistair,

    I have chain pickerel, the poor man’s pike, in a few lakes nearby, but not in numbers enough to really get after. There are also some places within a few hours drive, but my family has a summer place on some prime pike water that’s seven hours away, with no airport close enough to cut the time by flying.

    Although now I’m turned on to a place that holds muskellunge, pike’s bigger badder relatives, within a reasonable drive. And I’m told the bite heats up in October. It’s enough to tempt me to leave the saltwater for a day or two.

  14. “Alex – thanks for commenting – I am assuming this is your first time commenting?”

    Nope, just no link with my name anymore. 😉

  16. Andy C – Not been there yet – maybe sometimes soon – hav eyou been back?

    Pete – I know that chain pickerel dont grow as big as their Northern Sisters however my understanding is that they are just as aggresive – might mean you dont have to chuck monster flees – also could be noone fishes them in your nearby lake – that would be a bonus!

    Alex – Good grief – I feel like my cousin just changed sex or something 😉 Tell me – do I give out the same old bullshit?

    Kbarton10 – One wrong slip and your finger does not stop bleeding for hours!!

  17. I also find it difficult to estimate the size of a pike in the water, i always seem to underestimate though. Which means that every pike i get is a pleasant surprise. Congratulations on your first double!

  18. Great job! Congrats on the big fish.

    My first trip for pike was last weekend and was successful, though not on the same scale as yours. I caught two, both just over one pound.

    I just found out about a local lake that has bigger Pike and even Tiger Musky, so thats my next stop on this addicting trail.

  20. good work Alistair! you know what the crazy thing is, all of our (mine and Wades) pike have been on topwater flies so far. We had 4 nice Pike this week all on biggish poppers. Not even had a nibble on streamers, and yet you seem to be way more successful with them. Crazy. I do love topwater pike action though, because the takes can be insanely vicious!

  23. I had a blast on the quarry/ canal today, had a few wee jacks from the quarry and a fish of about 8lbs not far from it on the canal, i watched it nibble the fly then engulf it, a good five minutes of battling the fish ensued then i had to jump in the canal to unhook him cause my net was in the house!
    thread coming soon!

  25. alistair, is it the loop pike booster rod your getting?
    I reckon the extra fighting handle would be a massive advantage with the bigger fish.

  27. I reckon it fits nicely with the pikes image haha, is it recommended for an 8 or a 9 weight? Im thinking about a new pike rod aswell because my cheap rod is ok….but its not awesome. And all my gear has to be awesome.

  28. That’s some nice pike-you look like you’re having some great sport Alistair-next time i’m at the lomond i’ll take my 8/9 rated sea trout/grilse rod-I know the spot you’re fishing,and wont publiscise it.

  29. I am loving it Charlie – thanks for not mentioning the spot – information should not be so easily gained just by looking at a website 🙂

  30. I’m learning things like this the hard way!After revealing way too many of my own hard found spots,and arriving at some of my own favorite pools,i can no longer fish them due to the set line brigades turning up,killing undersized brownies,leaving their shit all over the bank-as well as filling the pools with ounce weights,and 20lb mono,that my usual 8lb leader snag on-in fact its got so bad that i’m going to stop cleaning out this pool-and i guarantee it will be unfishable next year!.

  34. lol lol lol that was scary shit aswell lol lol
    go 4 it m8 get it up ther got free beer and grub 4 a while so i did

  36. Hi Alastair,
    My pal Brian (who is a mad pike fisher along with his pal Alex, whom I’ve never met) were notorious for catching monster pike from the Lomond in the past two decades…okay they did not catch them on the fly rod but Brian assures me that Lomond (somewhere near a drop off) is where you monster hunters should be fishing your massive lures on, I would imagine, a sinking line. Regards your thought of using dead baits on the fly rod…how about a live stickleback: that should represent no casting problems and maybe it will remain alive and kicking and will save on the ubiquitous draws. Your red lure will work anywhere as this is one of the main colours that are attractive to many species of fish…you have to remember that the red that we see in our light conditions will change in their light conditions…so they see things differently from us. PS, I hear Loch Ken is another good pike venue but its miles away for me! ha!
    Cheers
    Roddy

  37. Roddy – yup – we were fishing close to the drop off – using a live stickleback would be interesting however is now illegal in Scotland!

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