Marks Blog

I’m glad to see that the weather has started to pick up again. After spending the winter busy teaching and guiding, it’s nice to get a bit of sun on my back again. I’ve just got in after another weekends teaching; teaching how to cast distance with heavy pike-fly outfits. It was good to meet up with a like minded angler who’s love of pike fishing ruled his life. I’m glad im not the only nut!

I met up with Martyn at 9:30 at the Scott Fly Fishing School HQ and we sat drinking coffee and chatted about pike and pike fishing. It was good to hear his stories and about his pike fishing career. Whilst we were sitting around I explained all about the tackle we would be using, I showed him how to make up tapered leaders and the different knots that we use for attaching traces and flies etc. The aim of the lesson was to get Martyn casting large flies to a respectable distance for his conquest on Chew. I know distance isn’t always necessary, but it certainly helps to be able to cover more water at times.

A lot of the fly-pike fishing that I do tends to be with intermediate and sinking lines, so It was important to explain to Martyn about learning the values of the roll cast, overhead cast, shooting line and hauling. Once Martyn had understood the concept of the AFTM system and about rod load etc, it wasn’t long before he was making nice overhead casts and shooting line. As a bit of a loop freak, I got Martyn to understand the importance of loop shapes and sizes. Casting big bushy pike flies often needs all the help they can get, so it wasn’t long before we got onto hauling.

In my opinion hauling is the vital element of the cast to achieve a desired distance. So it was worth spending time making sure that Martyn learnt the fundamentals of the single and double haul. Within a few hours Martyn was double hauling and casting his line to about 60ft. I explained about rod tip paths, casting planes, increased line speed and tip speed etc. All nerdy stuff, but so important to making effortless casts. It was good to see the look on Martyn’s face as he made his cast and watched as the line shot through the guides of his rod. With a few tweaks here and there, he looked like he had been fly-fishing for years. He had got it cracked. By the end of the lesson Martyn was hitting 70-80ft consistently. A good distance for winding up and chucking out large flies.

It was nice to help a fellow piker spread his wings and enter the world of fly-fishing. I warned him about the obsessive dangers that fly-fishing tends to grip you in. And explained how it can get you hooked. I would like to wish Martyn all the best with his fly piking career and hope he does well on Chew.

For those wishing to have a shot at pike on the fly, I’ll explain about the tackle that you will require.

9’ 8-10 weight fast action rod.

Line to match. (Buy a purpose-designed pike line).

Large harbour reel and backing.

Selection of mono, Co-polymer and fluorocarbon leaders.

Spool of wire trace. AFW Surflon® Micro wire.

Selection of Pike flies.

Large landing net.

Un-hooking mat.

Pliers/forceps.

Scales and weigh sling.

Hat/Cap and sunglasses.

I am at the end of the telephone if anyone wishes to talk to me further about

tackle requirements and rod specs etc . I am always glad to help others wishing to get into the sport. For those of you who are interested, Scott Fly Fishing School will be holding a pike fly-fishing course later in the year. For more details check out the dates on the site or give us a ring. Be nice to meet up with you.