North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine December 2016 | Page 31

Rod

Using the right rod is what makes the difference
between fishing for three days in a row, or icing
your arm after just the first outing. Anything under
a 7 weight is out of the question. (Personally, I don’t
even feel comfortable with a 7 weight.) I know
people that use them and the rods work well with
smaller flies. If you are stripping 3-4 inch clousers in
a canal or small pond, then a 7 weight is acceptable.
However, more serious Pike fisherman use an 8, 9,
or 10 weight rod given the circumstances. 8 and 9
weight rods are ideal and will cover most scenarios
for Pike fishing. If the Northerns are huge and their
main source of food are trout, then you’ll want to
consider a 10 weight. 10-12 inch trout-like flies can
be very effective, when fishing for these monstrous
slough sharks in large lakes and reservoirs. My
favorite rods to use are a #8 Sage Pulse and a #9
Echo Ion XL. These rods have the perfect amount
of backbone in the butt with a complimenting flex
tip. And, they are ideal for delivering heavy waterweighted streamers.

that is the Rio InTouch Pike/Musky. This line has an
ultra-low stretch core and a short powerful taper
for turning large streamers. It is also heavier than
most lines available today. A heavy line loads the
rod better, while extending your cast. This is a
game changer when casting any large streamer
with heavy material, or lead eyes. This line is
available in floating, floating/1.5 IPS, and 1.5 IPS/6
IPS. With these three lines you can reach any
depth imaginable when searching for Spring-Fall
Northern Pike. I like to use the floating line when I
am targeting fish in eight feet of water, or shallower.
The floating/1.5 IPS is perfect in 12-9 feet, or if you
want to fish quickly in shallow water. My favorite
line is the 1.5/6 IPS. I will strip this quickly in water
10 ft. shallower, and slowly work it into depths of
10-15.

Reel

Without a doubt, the drag is the most important
aspect of a good Pike reel. After the initial strike,
Northerns have a tendency to make an explosive
run toward the biggest and thickest glop of weeds
they can find. Palming a reel isn’t very fun when the
spool is spinning fast enough to burn your skin. So,
investing in a good reel is a must for anyone who
wishes to chase them. The good news is, your drag
doesn’t have to be sealed. (It will only be exposed
to freshwater.) An unsealed drag saves you $$$, too.
Keep in mind, the reel must be able to carry at least
75 yards of 30 lb. backing. A large arbor is a great
option for this. There are several great reels on the
market today, but my favorites that we carry are;
the Echo Ion 8/10, the Redington Behemoth 9/10,
the Sage 2210, and the Ross Cimarron II 9/10.

Line

Fishing the right fly line is the most crucial part
of successfully fishing for Northern Pike. There
is one line that stands out above all others, and
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