Felllow Northern Pike Chasers

[esox22 0]

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

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

I've done quite well with just 20 lbs flourocarbon

[skyphix 0]

There are wire bite guards and wire leaders. What comes to mind immediately is the Orvis bite guards, but they're expensive. http://www.saltwateredge.com/LE11.html

 

My friends that fish for moderate sized pike (10-15lbs) typically use the butt section of old tapered leaders or a short length of 30-50lb mono as a bite guard. They pre-tie it to the fly and use micro swivels to attach it to the rest of their leaders, whatever size that might be. The pike fishing I've done was using 17lb mono and it held up to four pike... two landed and two threw the hook... without so much as a nick. The two landed were small, no bigger than 5lbs. Others will probably disagree, but that is what works here in Northern NY.

[esox22 0]

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.

[day5 0]

toothy critter tie-able stainless. Also get your hands on waterwolf By Barry Renolds http://www.barryreynoldsflyfishing.com/

[buggybob 0]

American Fishing Wire, multi strand plastic coated. If you want you can even tie a three turn clinch knot, but a uni knot or Homer Rhodes knot is better and easier. I've landed a 54 incher on the 18 pound.

[kodiaksalmon 0]

I use 80# flourocarbon. Used to use Toothy Critter, but use fc exclusively now for muskies.

[Joe Hard 0]

No pike here but chain pickerel. also thinking about giving this a try for striped bass bottom rigs I want to sell

 

http://www.mustad.no/catalog/product.php?id=395

http://www.mustad.no/catalog/product.php?id=396

 

Check out this step by step on how easy it is to make a leader with this stuff

 

http://www.mustad.no/flash/steelforteeth_77374.html

[deeky 0]

Very interesting, Joe. I would be curious to know the strength of the bond since it sounds like you are just melting the plastic coating together. Does that negate the strength of the steel core? If it holds, I like it.

 

Deeky

[ibian 0]

Most pike around me are only 3-8lbs and I have been using 15 lb flourocarbon for the last 2 years and have never lost one yet.