Rod for Muskie/Pike Question

[muskyhunter81 0]

What fly rod set up do you pike and muskie fly fisherman use and recommend? My current set up is an 8 weight, 9 foot fly rod. I bought this setup about 15 years ago for pike/musky but back then I never seen the big flies that I have recently seen thrown. I mainly threw long skinny rabbit strips. They were nowhere near the size of the pike/muskie flies I have recently seen. I have noticed that some people are using 10-11 weight rods. Is this because the flies have become bulkier or have they always been bulkier. My concern is that my 8 weight setup may not be able to handle these huge flies. Any opinions?

[Fish For Life 0]

Im using a 10 wight 9 foot rod and so far its been perfect. I can cast big flys easily and have had no problems with it.

[mainbutter 0]

9wt has me happy for pike. I haven't tried big musky flies yet, but I'm itching to. I'm a little intimidated to try something like a big 12 inch fly, but I'm not writing it off yet.

 

Do you think you can get more size from your setup than you're casting now? I know I can, but I'm sticking to 6'' long flies for the most part. Some of them are pretty heavy and weighted for some jiggy action though.

[sandflyx 0]

I use a 9' 9wt or a 12 wt.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

I use a 10 foot 10wt that Steve(steeldrifter) made for me I throw some poppers and streamers that are 12" + long and have a head diameter of an inch or an inch and a half around

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

I learned long ago to match my rods much more to the size of the flies we use than the size of the fish. Here's a quick overview of what I usually advise beginners.... A 7wt rod shouldn't have a fly with a hook size larger than a #1 (and a #2 is probably better...). An 8wt can be used with flies tied on 2/0 hooks for short range casting but sticking to 1/0 and under is much easier. You can figure where this is going so I won't continue...

 

Here's the second portion of that same routine. As you move from "just one fly rod" and expand your arsenal try to keep two sizes apart (if you have an 8wt then your next size up should be a 10wt, if you have a 9wt then add an 11wt, etc.). It's helpful as well to remember that different types of fly lines (floatiing, intermediate, quick sinking) give you different capabilities as well. All of my heavier rods (10 to 12wts) are set up with intermediate lines for their versatility and their casting ability. Intermediate lines will carry a heavy fly better than almost any floating line... at least that's been my experience...

 

Tight lines

Bob LeMay

(954) 435-5666

[Chefben4 0]

I have a custom 10wt Steve (midwest custom fly rods) made for me. The blank is a CANNON.

 

I routinely throw very large flies up to probably 14". Sometimes even with spinner blades on them (I KNOW!! How could I throw a Fly-Lure/flure!!)

[cdnfishguy11 0]

I had a chance to cast the new Sage Pike Rod this summer up north, it was unbelievable how effortly it casted big bulky patterns (over 12")

 

I use a 9 ft 9 wt though, I believe the shorter rod makes a difference, I often use a 10 wt intermidiate line while fishing for pike.

[Crotalus 0]

Currently using a 10wt Echo Ion.

[Henrik Thomsen (DK) 0]

Using a Scott S4s 8 ft 8 wt, it handles the relative big flies, and the 8 ft makes it easier for me to get the pikes close for release when sitting in my kick-boat.

Think the stiffness and toughness of the S4s handles the flies I use rather ok.

 

/Henrik

[ditz2 0]

All of my heavier rods are 9' and the intended use is in the salt. If I was to fish for big pike or muskie on a regular basis with big flies I would probably consider a 10wt rod in a 8' rod. No surf to contend with and a shorter rod will give the caster some added leverage and reduce the shoulder and elbow stress for the blind casting. I might even go to a 7 1/2 footer. I would guess that there would be a slight loss of distance but the reduced stress would be worth it to this old fat man. I have never used an intermediate line but that may also help and maybe I should add one to my 9wt line collection.