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Fly Tying

esox22

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About esox22

  • Rank
    Bait Fisherman
  • Birthday 01/29/1969

Previous Fields

  • Favorite Species
    northern pike
  • Security
    2009

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  • Website URL
    http://
  • ICQ
    0

Profile Information

  • Location
    Wisconsin Northwoods
  1. Pike are extremely more aggressive, and because of this over harvest of large females has significantly reduced their size in Wisconsin waters. Coloring is different in that Muskies have dark markings on a light background and pike have light markings on a dark background. Tiger muskies (the musky/pike hybrid) have very prominant bars on their sides and tend to be more aggressive than non hybrid muskies. Pike spawn earlier than muskies, and sometimes under the ice in our area. However, probably the most significant difference is the habitat preferences especially during the warmwater months. Northern pike, especially the larger specimens need cold water. The larger the fish, the colder the water temperature preferences. Hammer handle northerns and muskies of all sizes will inhabit shallow weedy bays and weedlines during even the warmest of summer days. However, there is a noticeable absence of intermediate and large sized pike. The bigger females seek refuge in coldwater pockets, springs, stream mouths, or suspended at or just above the thermocline in mid-summer, seeking areas where they have the coolest temps and enough dissolved oxygen to thrive. Usually these bigger water pike spend the majority of the summer feeding on schools of open water baitfish species such as ciscos, smelt, or whitefish. Lakes that aren't cold enough to support populations of these soft-finned and high protein baitfish find pike as opportunistic feeders at weedlines and drop-offs during cloudy or windy days during ensuing storm fronts. I am not trying to sound like a pike expert because I am not. However, I cut my teeth chasing pike and muskies all over Wisconsin growing up. They're just my passion!
  2. Thanks for the input. I am not afraid to try mono I guess , and I know that most of the time they won't cut it unless it hits the razor edges of their teeth. I would have to believe it'd be more supple than any wire out there. I thought about just using power pro or fireline as well. Maybe I'll just experiement to see what works best. Most of our pike fishing consists of fish the size of hammer handles up to 10-12 lbs. However, I do have the Mississippi backwaters basically in my backyard as well as a few bigger lakes to the north where a shot at 20+ lbers. is not out of the question. Of course we have lots of big muskies around here too. Just waiting for the 36 inches of ice to melt then I can try it.
  3. I have fished northerns on conventional tackle for years being from Wisconsin. However, I am new to fly fishing for them. I am well aware of how fast they can cut line, even super lines. I make my own wire leaders for conventional fishing, but I am wondering what you guys use while fly fishing them. Is there a good tieable wire out there? I've heard tyger is tieable. Just wondering what everyone else uses and has had success with. Thanks
  4. I am from West Central Wisconsin and have been a diehard fisherman and tackle maker for years. However, I am new to fly fishing, and when I found this site I had to register. It looks like I will learn a great many things on here from what I can see. I have already found some great patterns to tie. I am hooked on smallies and northern pike on the fly. Hopefully I won't become too bothersome by bombarding you veteran's of fly fishing with questions.
  5. Thanks for posting this tadpole fly pic. I've been looking for one for smallmouth and I tied a couple of these last night. Nice looking tadpole fly.
  6. I have caught a few on the rivers around my home on a small mud puppy pattern I tied and I just crawled it along the bottom. I was fishing smallies at the time but I occasionally get a nice redhorse doing this.
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