In early autumn, the water begins to cool, the forage gathers and the pike are not far away! They may still be on the edges, but little by little, they'll move down into a deeper layer of water in search of the best thermal comfort.
Finding fish positions and outfits
To find pike, you often have to beat the ground and practice what's known as power-fishing. Some spots are marked from the shore, thanks to structures (stumps, riprap, pontoons, dykes, etc.), in which case reading the water is fairly straightforward. But you also need to have a good knowledge of your fishing spot to know where the breaks and pools are. The slightest change that breaks the uniformity of the bottom can provide a spot for a predator such as pike, which hunts mainly by lying in wait. Weedbeds are not to be neglected either, even if at this time of year they are beginning to die and degrade.
Choice of fly and type of animation
The color, size, shape and silhouette of the fly, as with lures, are all important.
On some days, pike will jump at anything that moves, while on others they are either more selective or more attracted to a particular type of vibration, size of prey or color, depending on the conditions.
The animation of the fly is therefore important, and you must constantly look for what will attract their attention and trigger the bite! On the fly, you need to try out all types of animation, from the slowest to the fastest, and above all not remain cloistered in a monotonous, identical retrieve throughout the day.
Pikes very active in these windy conditions
I arrive in the early afternoon and the weather is perfect for pike: south-westerly wind, showers, so high atmospheric pressure and falling temperature.
Right from the start of the session, I put on my SAGE Maevrick and my RIO pike floating line, a 20/25 cm fire tiger coloured streamer, following the advice of an acquaintance who often fishes the lake and encourages me to try some "flashy" stuff. On the third cast, on an animation of 2/3 fast strips, I take a good hit, but without biting the fish. I cast again, then this time, he reattaches at the same moment, on the acceleration, and takes better. After a few head shots, I pull out this first fish. A nice, athletic 65 cm pike. It didn't take long!
I cast again in the same spot, as they sometimes gather around a food source, and I noticed the presence of small forage fish along the edge. It also seemed to me that it wasn't the same fish that had struck the first time. It was further offshore.
Indeed, after a more distant cast and a few quick strips, a pike comes up from the bottom and hits my fly, but strangely cuts my 75° fluorocarbon leader! That's very rare! It's the first time it's happened to me since I've been using fluorocarbon leaders. It must have missed its attack and landed powerfully with its mouth open on my fluoro, which couldn't resist its 400 teeth! I'm a bit disappointed, as the fly seemed to like it. I take it in stride and tell myself that this will allow me to test something else. In any case, I've got a second identical fly, but a little stripped by the numerous pikes I've caught on previous outings. The good news is that they're active!
A fine catch to round off the day!
The fish are active, with something happening at almost every station. I miss a fish, or spoil one. On a big orange/yellow Bufford, I take a very nice tap and see the line go out to sea at the moment of the touch. The fish still takes after a few quick strips, on the fly's rise. That's what they seem to like today. I'm a little late with my shotting, as the line slips through my fingers due to the violent strike, certainly caused by a nice pike, but I can still feel the pull without the fish biting! Too bad, it looked good!
Then I switch back to the first "FT" fly, and within the first few casts, I catch a second pike of the same size. It's really nice to have so much activity, because with pike, that's not often the case. There are often long phases without any bites until a moment of madness when they all seem to wake up.
The fish are fairly close to the bank, although I'll take a few bites further offshore. I pass over a pink/yellow bufford which has always allowed me to catch a few pikes and in which I have confidence. On a magnificent marked spot with a beautiful stump and branches in the water, I pass my streamer which just off the obstacle, as it rises to the surface, is attacked by a beautiful pike. It takes off towards the logjam, then jumps out of the water and heads off in the other direction! I find myself with my line wrapped around the big branch and my pike at the other end! A very uncomfortable situation, but amusing to say the least. As best I can, I manage to get the line out of the branch to finish the fight with this beautifully proportioned pike. You can see they're well fed and enjoying themselves as much as possible.
As I walk back to the car and make my final casts, I see a chase in the distance. It looks like perch after fry. I cast more than 20 m from the shore, despite the wind, and land right on it. I stripe as fast as I can to try and fool a big perch, but several meters after landing an attack far too violent for it to be a perch occurs. It's a 55 cm pike that snatches my bufford!
A fine session that ended with 4 pike being put out to dry, several misses, one stripped and one cut. Can't wait for the next outing!
