How to Tie Pike Flies

Pike are predatory and subsist on large protein sources. Other fish are a common food source for pike, and anglers use large streamer patterns to catch the fish. Pike flies also include foam and deer hair poppers to attract visual strikes on the surface. The color of the fly is determined by the preference of the fly tier and is not incredibly important on pike flies. The motion of the fly is important and must be visually stimulating to attract strikes.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • 2/0 streamer hook
  • Gel Spun Thread
  • Silver diamond braid
  • Lead eyes
  • Synthetic hair
  • Instant glue
  • Whip finish tool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clamp the hook in the vise in an inverted position and start the thread at the hook eye. Wrap the thread forward to the two-thirds point on the shank.

    • 2

      Cut a 1-foot section of silver diamond braid from a roll. Hold one end of the braid at the thread. Make 10 thread wraps to secure the braid on the hook. Wrap the thread down the hook shank and stop with a small gap between the thread and hook eye.

    • 3

      Hold a set of dumbbell lead eyes on the hook shank at the thread. Make 20 figure-eight wraps over the center of the eyes to secure them on the hook. Be sure the eyes are level before making the wraps and add a small drop of instant glue to the eyes after the wraps are complete.

    • 4

      Wrap the diamond braid over the hook shank until you reach the eyes. Make 10 thread wraps to secure the braid immediately in front of the eyes.

    • 5

      Cut a 1-foot long clump of synthetic hair. Hold one end of the hair on the hook, immediately in front of the eyes. Make 10 thread wraps to secure the hair. Add a second layer of hair in a different color, if desired. Combinations of black, white, pink and chartreuse are common on pike flies.

    • 6

      Wrap the thread to the point immediately in front of the hook eye. Hook the thread around a whip finish tool and rotate the handle over the hook eye to tie the thread. Cut the thread from the hook and add a drop of head cement to add durability to the fly.