One of the hardest parts about fishing for anything in the Pike family is finding someone who wants to partner up and go fishing. Throwing big heavy flies with 8-10 weight rods and sink tip lines will wear out anyone…..quickly. So taking turns with someone who is going to go at it behind the oars and throwing the rod is the most important key to increasing your chances.
Zona Tea.....never leave home without it.
With that said I met up with Jason (JMM) Sunday to hunt for the biggest and the baddest family of predators that can be found in fresh water……PIKE. Jason is another one of those God Dam Yackers that thinks since he can row a Yak he can row anything. I don’t even think they call it rowing in a Yak, I think it’s paddling? The only thing I want to paddle is my wife or an expensive stripper.
At least that’s what I’ve experienced before when letting a Yaker row. I can’t bad mouth him though he took to the oars pretty easy and did put me on my first fish. We will see how he does with some water flow. The best part about this kind of trip is that it’s really not a lot of hard rowing, you can just sit back relax and drink a few beers as long as you keep the boat in position to fish. You do however have to pay attention not to get hooked in the face by a 0/2 – 5/0 steel hook that is probably moving so fast it will embed itself down to the bone (glasses are a must).
Jason prepping the next rig.
With limited to no experience between the 2 of us chasing this mythic beast we both planned on not catching a dam thing and we were ok with that. Just get out and put the gear and the flies on a test run. We knew this section had musky that wasn’t the issue. We just really had no idea, despite all our readings and presumptions, if any of this would work.
Eat Me.
Despite the dirty green water I was fortunate enough within about 70-ish casts to hook into and land a Musky. Despite the lack of size when these fish hit….THEY HIT with a purpose. Violent and quick. I let out a short 20-25 foot cast directly at a pile of sunken debris about 3 ft deep. The fly hit the water and I might have gotten 2 short strips in and WHAM. Fastest thing I have ever seen. The fish basically set the hook on its own and I began my violent boat shaking, screaming celebration as the fish took 2 zig zags across the river before it gave in to the power of the 8wt. I haven’t smiled that big since my red fish trip last year. Couldn’t have done it without Jason working hard keeping me entertained and keeping the boat in line. I can’t wait to get out again and hook into another one. Hopefully one that will test the full capacity of the gear.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
BentRodMedia 