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Permalink Reply by John Burton on December 2, 2011 at 1:48pm

Hey Andrew - Do you do much Pike Fly Fishing around Clare? Just wondering how good the sport of fly fishing for Pike is around the region. Living in Quin myself so might be something to consider taking up given the amount of lakes around.

Also - when you post images with your posts you can insert them as an image instead of an attachment and that way the pic will show directly in your posting.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Coxhead on December 2, 2011 at 10:24pm

John, the region is superb for Pike fly fishing, i do loads of it....Pike are everywhere in Clare,i am however not about to give away the hotspots though, the fun is in the hunt. As with Bass fishing you just have to keep going to new places at different times and in different conditions, but to be honest condition factors are not that critical.

Some lads would have you believe that it is far harder than it is, trying to sell themselves as expert's but the fact of the matter is that pike on the fly are pretty easy. It is the casting of size 4/0 flies that will present the most issues for potential pike fly fishers.

Just on this last point, your fly tackle should be matched to the size of the fly you are to cast, Pike flies are big so you should be looking at rods with a 9 -12 wt rating, i use a 10wt which has always sufficed. Reels should be of a sturdy nature, loaded with plenty of backing (30lb) and have a more than capable drag system. Length of rod should not exceed 9ft for a decent leverage. It is often mentioned that you can fly fish for pike with your heavy trout tackle....this is not correct, you cannot properly and safely cast a big pike fly/heavy leader and links with anything below a  9wt, use a rod under a 9wt and any fish over 5lb/6lb will give you the run around to the extent that it will harm itself through exhaustion or run you into snags, basically the fish will be in control not you........ out of order.

I have been fishing all of my life for all freshwater species, i caught my first pike on the fly when i was about 9 or 10 years old, i am coming up on 40 now, i have had lot of different species of various sizes and i can safely say that taking a pike on a surface fly is the most thrilling thing you can do in Irish waters by far.....if i had to choose one form of fishing it would be pike on the fly, job done.

9 times out of 10 if there is water with fish in it, then there is also pike in it.....get some kit and get down the river, you do not know what you are missing.

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Permalink Reply by Dermot Ogle on January 19, 2012 at 10:16am

(first post)

John, you are in a great spot for a bit of pike fishing, there are loads of great litte gems around you there just begging to be fished. Perfect for the fly!  I'd give it a go.

 

 
John Burton said:

Hey Andrew - Do you do much Pike Fly Fishing around Clare? Just wondering how good the sport of fly fishing for Pike is around the region. Living in Quin myself so might be something to consider taking up given the amount of lakes around.

Also - when you post images with your posts you can insert them as an image instead of an attachment and that way the pic will show directly in your posting.

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