Does anyone do any pike fishing on the resi's when the ice comes off? I'm in Michigan for a few days and all my old FF buddies are getting ready for pike season as the ice is about to break. And I wondered if that works in CO?

I think I might bring back my old 8wt. for it if it's a possiblity. Let me know! I've got a ton of rabbit strips to tie up too!!!

Thanks,
Chris

I will be taking the 7 wt down to Colorado for a pike trip this spring. Probably a month away or so still but that is the plan. I have been wanting to do this for a couple years and haven't made it, but this is the year!

I will either be hitting stagecoach or williams fork and fishing the warmer shallows for the big wolves.

I am geared up with a 10 foot 7 wt that has a large arbor RS2 on it. It has proven itself many times over on carp and also on lake trout. The other species I put it together for is pike. So, I am looking forward to completing the trifecta on that rod.

With 4 inches of snow on the ground this morning and more coming, it seems that my pike trip is a lifetime away.

Love chasing pike in the spring. Works out well since usually the rivers aren't in the best shape when the pike are active in the shallows.

When you say 'shallows'...are we litterally talking about walking around the edges of lakes until you see a pike crusing AND/OR wetwading and blind casting into the edges of the lake? I was also thinking of taking my boat and floating around the edges and looking for fish. Is that the deal? Kinda like warm water bone fishing?

I've caught pike both by stalking the shallows, and by blind casting to the shelf off a flat. I've caught a few, but nothing over 36". In my book, pike are fun for the voracious take and one run, but they don't really provide a sustained pull on the rod.

Mark

I'd love to hit the ice-out pike this spring. I've done a bit of fishing for them, but never at ice out. They are fun to sight-fish for, but I've yet to connect to a big one. Maybe that will change this spring. If anyone wants a photographer to tag along on thier pike trips, let me know:)

Brian

Williams Fork Res, is a great place for Pike.

Can we talk a little more about Pike?

How does the Williams Fork look now? Is the ice off? How about Stagecoach?

Has anyone fished Spinney or Elevemile for pike? Sorry, I never paid any attention to "pike talk" before now...

Any other known waters for pike? I understand if you are reluctant to post publically, but an IM would be sweet (I have nothing to offer you in return, except my undying love and respect, but we can work a deal )

Oh, another thing. I read "Mastering Pike on the Fly" this weekend. Great read! Excellent book, I was very impressed, and I now have some serious pike fever...

Anyway, let's talk pike...

I've never done very well fishing for pike until the water warms up to over 50 degrees, which usually doesn't happen for several weeks after ice-out.

For those interested in learning more about fly fishing for pike I highly recomend picking up Barry Reynald's book Pike on the Fly


Mark-

I agree that the excitement of pike fishing comes in the take. I did have a big one jump on me once but in reality it was more like flop. They sure have some sharp teeth though!

Cool.

I read "Mastering Pike on the Fly". It is Barry's updated version of "Pike on the Fly". Awesome book.

After reading the book (and reading what you said, CT), I have determined that I can no longer live without a thermometer for the water.

...you boys should maybe outta think about tiger muskies up @ Big Cr. Lakes...

...maybe even smack a few lakers on the haid...

I am wonder about leaders. Somewhere I read to use a piece of heavy mono. Where I come from, we use bait casting gear and 6-12" steel leaders. A couple of years ago I caught a tiger musky by accident on a bugger with no special leader. Any recommendations?

Kinda like the Tyger wire leaders, but the bite tippets are cheaper...

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/2249,70...ing-Leader.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/2249,70...ing-Leader.html

anyone been to Williams Fork this year???

Shoe, I have been using Rio's Toothy Critter leaders. I really like them, they don't seem to kink much.

Thanks. I found some OLD sevenstrand wire for this sort of thing; should do for my first try. I will carry some heavy mono too. I can't wait to join you guys - is it 1 week away? Psyched.

Yep! But I can't make it Saturday! It's my kids b_day party with the family...I am "angling" for Sunday. If I can't make it on Sunday...I have a feeling that I am gonna be pretty sick on Friday or Monday...

Was up to 11 mi. res. last week caught some small pike on my trout flies while trout fishing. Had a toon. on the west end had quite a few cut offs. caught a 21" on a small green copper john, had him hooked where he coulden't cut it. Last year I caught a 24' & 26' on a size 14 prince nymph and a lot of cut offs. Some of these days I am going to get serious and fish for the pike. Also a lot of carp in the shallows.

Whoo Hoo! I caught my first pike yesterday!


Photo courtesy of Lebowski! Thanks Kevin!

That fish fought hard! Took about 3 good runs. Shoe caught his first pike(s) yesterday too. Pike fishing is a pretty nice change from trout (especially considering runoff).

I fished with Mordax, Shoe and Lebowski. First time I had met Mordax and Shoe (great guys!). Anyway, it was a really fun day. Thanks for doing all the footwork for us, Kevin! Kevin has spent a lot of time where we were and got us into the fish!

This was which lake, please?

Lake X.



I sent you an IM.

Congrats on your first pike!
We went out to Williams Fork Res this weekend. Not bad for pike but nothing real large boated. We had the best success at the drops/shelves coming off the shallows rather than in the weed beds.

Thanks man!

went to Williams Fork Monday and got skunked, saw lots of pike, some were big but could not get any to eat, tried bunny streamers, 4 different colors, plus bait fish pattern, no luck. water temp was 63 to 67 depending on the area
HELP

For Williams Fork - was there any wind? where were you fishing?
If there is wind go to where the mud line is coming off and cast to it. Wade out and cast to shore - don't cast from shore. If you see them cruising, somtimes a surface fly like a dahlberg diver in black stripped slow over them work. I have good luck with Reynolds pike flies in black and red when there is a mud line and a red and white one when its clear. I like them over 5" long at least for Williams Fork. If they are not hitting in the shallows get right at the drop off and you can usually pick up a few.

Further to Williams Fork:
I was in a boat. it was calm starting so i went to the west bays to look in the very back area of the large bays. I saw a few fish. Last year i caught fish there wading but there were not the numbers there this year. water was clear so was using red and white bunnies.
Then i went to the very large flat on the south end, i drifted with a very slight breeze and tried sight casting and fan casting several different color streamers. Water very clear, reservoir full, lots of grass. saw many fish, some very large.
i was using floating line, 9 to 10 foot leader, wire tippit but then went to mono tippet, no change. fish ran from fly.

I'm not much of a Pike fisherman, but my experiences are that if the fish aren't actively on the feed and hunting, they are difficult. If I were fishing the conditions you describe, I would have tried something on the surface, such as a duckling, mouse or frog pattern.

Mark M.

i had those, didnt try them, will be back there next week for another go

Sanchez res. down by San Luis CO is amazing for Pike. you can either take a boat from the main boat ramp across the lake to the older looking boat ramp and drift down and cast to them, or you can drive to the other side of the lake and wade around the weed beds. i have never caught anything over 30 inches on my fly rod, but man are they fun to catch. on a side note, im WAY late on this thread but trying to read as many as i can since im new here =-)

Willy Fork and Taylor is da Place

I fished 11Mile for Pike when I was younger and living in Lake George. I had my best success when the Carp were spawning. The big Pike would sit in very shallow water, just inside the edge of the dirty water stirred up by the Carp, and wait for something to come by. Caught some good fish back then. Not sure if they're still around. Here's a crappy scan of a bad photo of one of the fish. (Check out the waders. They constantly sprung leaks. They would fill up with water, and stretch out leaving me looking like the Michellan Man. Waders have come along way!))



One day I hooked a fish that I thought was a State record. It took off to deep water nearly spooling me on several runs. After a long battle I finally brought it in and landed a Carp of about 20 pounds! My first Carp on a fly.

Willi

Are there any opportunities for pike in the Missoula area? I know I could probably find some further east, like fort peck, but thats a down under of a long haul for me, and I don't know much about anything but trout in the western half of the state.