Fly fishing for pike is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and with the fantastic sport pike can provide on fly fishing tackle, it's not hard to see why. While many anglers still prefer to use lures and deadbait for pike, the finesse that fly fishing offers can often produce fish when other methods fail, and it's definitely a technique you should have in your arsenal if you enjoy targeting pike.
Alan Ferguson has been fishing for pike for over 45 years, but only began targeting the species on the fly around two years ago. After experiencing success around the world fly fishing for tropical fish, he decided to try something a little closer to home and he's glad he did. Since then, he's landed some impressive fish, culminating in the capture of this monster 38lb pike during a Pike Fly Fishing Association event .
"My good friend Andrew Scott and I had a couple of days booked on the magnificent Blagdon Lake near Bristol, and despite the poor weather forecast, we were really looking forward to it," Alan told us.
"Blagdon only opens for pike fishing for eight days in the spring and the same in the autumn, and thankfully I've managed to fish every day this year, catching some lovely fish."
"This weekend started a little trickier than usual for me. After netting five fish for Andy, all of which were over 20lb, I was beginning to think it might be one of those sessions."
The duo started the next day on the main lake, but conditions had deteriorated overnight, with 25–30mph winds blowing across the water, fishing became especially tricky, particularly on the fly. Still, Alan persevered, landing a 20lb fish, and before midday, he had the take that would make the entire session unforgettable.
"The conditions were terrible, and despite us putting a drogue off the boat, we were still drifting down the lake at some speed," Alan said.
"However, we fished on undeterred, and while stripping a Fulling Mill 12-inch fly back through the angry waters, I had a solid thump on the rod."
"The fight was pretty hairy, with the weather pushing the boat around, nearly losing the fish around the drogue, and some solid runs, it certainly had a bit of everything."
"After netting all of Andy's fish the day before, he was more than obliging when it came to netting mine. And when we got it in the net, we couldn't believe the size of it, it was massive."
"There was a remarkable calmness in the boat, and we managed to get the fish unhooked and weighed with minimal stress to her, which is important with these big pike."
"My PB pike was 36lb 8oz, and at 59 years of age, I was beginning to think I’d never beat that, but when this fish pulled the needle round to 38lb, I was elated and to catch it on the fly too just made it that bit more special."
IF YOU WANT TO WATCH ALAN CATCH THE FISH AND OTHERS, CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS HERE...
