Managed to get home to Ireland for Christmas for the first time in nearly two years. Unfortunately the temperature only rose above freezing a few times on the entire trip. With trout and salmon being off limits for the spawn between October and March the only option for fly fishing is limited to European pike. Myself and the brother tried to go out on two occasions. On the first, every body of water in the surrounding area was frozen over but the second outing proved more fruitful. There was only one fish caught for about 5 rod hours between the two of us.
The pike weighed in at a little over nine pounds and it hit the fly like a train. It put up a very good account of its self in literally freezing water but in comparison to the wild rainbows of the North fork of the American river it is a complete light weight. However, it was great to catch a fish at home on the very last day of my holidays.
Best Regards,
Denis
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Fly fishing is so enjoyable, it should be done in bed.
Good looking fish. Reminds me of home. Makes me want to hit up the St Lawrence river asap. Thanks for the post.
At first i thought it was a tiger musky, but after further identification, that is a very nice Northen Pike specimin. The chain markings (chain pickeral) as well as tail fin gave it away. Where the musky have vertical bars, the pike as horizontal bars. As well as the tail fin on a pike have rounded tips with a deeper V fin. Where muskies have sharp tips with more of a flatter shaped V.
Beautiful fish.
These fish can cover 5ft in a blink of an eye one tenth of a second. Also have been seen striking a target at 30 yrds away in a second. Thats 60mph. But like a cheetah cant sustain this speed for very long. just a little info on these impressive toothy criters. I highly sugguest that you all go musky or pike fishing atleast once in your life time with the fly rod. Its insane, dont for get your top water gurglers, poppers and mouse patterns, and dont forget your steel leaders. lol.
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
60 Mph ??? No way man ! Fastest fish on earth belong to the sailfish family and have been recorded at 68 mph. Pike don't even make the top ten, I believe tarpon and rainbows are in 9th at 35 mph. Stop makin stuff up Brian.
Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
60 Mph ??? No way man ! Fastest fish on earth belong to the sailfish family and have been recorded at 68 mph. Pike don't even make the top ten, I believe tarpon and rainbows are in 9th at 35 mph. Stop makin stuff up Brian.
Hey, hes a guide...what do you expect? Just kiddin BC
60 Mph ??? No way man ! Fastest fish on earth belong to the sailfish family and have been recorded at 68 mph. Pike don't even make the top ten, I believe tarpon and rainbows are in 9th at 35 mph. Stop makin stuff up Brian.
Hey, hes a guide...what do you expect? Just kiddin BC
Thanks Brian for the info on the particulars regarding the markings and the difference between northern pike, muskies and tiger muskies. I get the feeling that pike (talking about all of the above species) are classified as a problem species in some of the lower states where they have been introduced. They were introduced into Ireland about 400 - 500 years ago so they are recognised by most as a native species. As a target fish they are a welcome distraction during the blanket ban of fishing for trout during the four or five months of the "off" season.
When you mention speed nothing will get your blood racing faster, when a pike launches itself out of the water after your fly, when you are already chest deep in pond weed and lilly pads. It scares the crap out of me every time, no exception! Here are a few more fish that me and a few other family members picked up on fly over the last two years.
This one should have been caught on the fly but myself and the brother were to lazy to tackle up, so we let the brother-in-law throw a plug across the swim we have been bait fishing for carp in and he pulled out this monster. I will never, never, never let this happen again. He hasn't stopped talking about this fish and he most likely never will.
This photos illustrates what sort of size these fish can grown to. This fish in the picture is only about 28lbs but the Irish record is in and around 45lbs. Can you imagine the dogged fight that sort of fish would put up. We can all dream!
Regards,
Denis
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Fly fishing is so enjoyable, it should be done in bed.
