pike setup/leaders

[somersetian]

with the purchase of my 1966 sears 12ft jon boat I am finally ready to get serious about fly fishing for pike. I have an 8wt Ive used for bass and small mouth fishing. The flyline on the reel right now is supposedly made for deep nymphing rigs with weight/indicators but I've casted poppers and 4-6 inch streamers for bass with it decently enough. I've been told that I should overload the rod with 9wt line if I want to do some serious Pike fishing, reason being the heavier line loads the rod more efficiently and makes casting big flies long distances easier.(thats one mans opinion) I would also like to hear about what leaders you guys use. I'm all about simple and doing it myself so I would rather not just purchase a bunch of toothy critter leaders. thanks.

 

[sandfly]

3-5 feet of 30-80 lb line. on my 9 wt, I typically use a 4' section of 40 or 50 lb. that's it

 

[somersetian]

So I could just use 5' of 80lb fluro directly from line to fly? or should I use 80lb for a 3' butt section and a 2' of lighter?

 

[Dave_W]

somersetian wrote:
So I could just use 5' of 80lb fluro directly from line to fly? or should I use 80lb for a 3' butt section and a 2' of lighter?

Remember, you will need a "break section" in the leader, I typically use 20lb just before the tippet. That way if you get snagged and can't retrieve your fly, you can pop it off without a disaster. Double check your terminal connections: are your fly line loops solid? This sort of thing. Breaking off a #20 tippet puts much greater stress on connections than a typical trout fisherman is accustomed to.

Personally, I have used both wire and heavy flouro and am still not committed to either one. Experiment a bit. A big issue is storage: How do you carry your flies? Do you have room to coil up a longer length of flouro, or is it easier to permanently attach a 6-8" wire bite tippet? Would you prefer to keep these bite leaders separate from your flies, or attached while they are in boxes, etc.?

 

[JerryC]

I keep mine simple too. 4 to 6 feet of 25-40 lb fluorocarbon. Most of my pike streamers are tied on long shank hooks which gives me a bit of bite off protection.-

 

[PACOFRANSICO]

It al depends on the sz of the pike. I set up for the big bite for pike and musky the set up are the same. I start 3 ft of 40 pound flouro nail knotted to the fly line (this is my break point). You'll slip the nail knot before your fly line breaks. I nonslip mono loop the end tag end of the flouro and do the same to my wire bite guard and hand shake them together. Then I use a good quality snap.

I never go over 4 ft from fly line to fly. If you do your Fly's always chasing your sinking line. You want them to be on thesame depth.

 

[slay12345]

Paco, what snaps do you recommend?

 

[PACOFRANSICO]

Sea striker snaps. They have 40 pound and 60 pound sz. The 40 is under 1/2 in. In length. Here's the link sea striker

 

[somersetian]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[somersetian]

Well I am forced to experiment, I order leader and tippet material as well as 9 wt fly line to overload my 8 wt with but none of it has arrived and tom's weather is suppose to be great. I went to good old walmart for probably the first time in 5 years and bought some 20 lb fluro, they didn't have 80, and I have some 50 lb mono already I've used for bass leaders. I also bought some wire leaders they had for spinning gear. I only made up one leader and tied it on for tom because I figured I would be making adjustments anyway. I did 2 1/2 ft of the 50 lb mono, 1 ft of 20 lb fluro, and 6'' of the wire leader. The wire leaders came with a swivel at one end and a snap at the other. I tied a loop(surprised how nicely it tied)half way and cut the swivel end off and looped it to the 20 ' fluro. I guess we will see how it works.

 

[Muskiemusic]

I Musky fish never pike fished yet. Last year I hada nice Muskie break off using 80lb carbon . Bite offs suck. So I switched to the rio 40wire. I love it and haven't noticed a difference in action and still I'm getting the same amount of interest too. I just started using the stay-lok snaps from mustad size 4. I love them. A pain to learn how to use but once you get the hang of it ya got it.

 

[Jessed]

I'll use 4' 50lb floro and if I'm throwing larger flies for bigger fish I'll use rio musky/ pike leader.

 

[Jessed]

You could even use barracuda leaders