I just finished writing a long spurt about pike flies. The @#$& site didn't pick it up. Well here we go again. I hope I am able to regain the flavor of my last effort.
Last night I gave a tying class on pike flies. Being the responsible teacher that I am, I did a little research on different patterns to select the right ones appropriate for the skill level of my student. One thing I noticed and read is that pike flies of today have their origins from bass flies and saltwater flies (primarily tarpon flies and striper flies). Bass flies? no duh. Striper flies? sure OK. Tarpon flies? say what? The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Figure a powerful, toothy, preditor. That description could be used for saltwater fish as well as pike.
It seems the Umpqua Diver style fly is the most popular bass origin style of pike fly. The tradition tarpon flies with a little more body and a shorter nose also rules part of the pike fly roost. And colorful Left's Deceiver type flies and flies reminiscent of eel patterns also seem common. Why do these flies work? Two reasons: size and action. Large hackle feathers and/or zonkers offer great action without unnecessary bulk.
Another thing I notice is that more and more pike fly patterns call for epoxy heads. Why? is the question I ask. Think about it. Saltwater uses epoxy because of the harsh salt water and abrassive sand that is tough on thread. Some bass flies use epoxy for durability. But pike water isn't salty and not sandy in the way marine areas are. Bass don't have a mouth full of razor blades, so you can catch many base on a single fly. But pike tend to slaughter flies when they hit them. If a pike hits your fly hard enough to cut the thread on the head of the fly, the rest of the fly is probably toast as well. With that logic, I tend not to put the effort into epoxy with my pike flies.
Flash is another topic for discussion. Flash and pike are like oil and water. If your fly survives a pike or two, your flash is usually gone. I tend to use flash as accent only. I do not need the flash in the fly to catch the fish, knowing that I will likely lose a lot of it during the first strike. It's kind of like a good make up job; it makes the fly look better without being overly noticeable. Too much makeup (flash) and the fly can look cheap and unatractive. Then again, the exception to the rule are the pike flies that almost 100% flash (go figure).
Color is another topic open for discussion. Pike flies come in all kinds of colors and combinations. The best color is dependent on the opinion of the fly fisher and the location your fishing. When in doubt, chartreuse of course for all pike family species. But combos like black and orange, black and red, red and white can also be great (hmm, kind of like tarpon and striper flies). Your best color is the color you have confidence in. If you have no confidence, listen to your guide or buddy who has some.
The important thing is that you have fun tying them and get a chance to use them. Pike flies are good bass flies, and I wouldn't think twice about throwing them in the salt.
Douger