Far Bank Fly V lure for pike...
It’s as popular as it has ever been, but can fly fishing really rival other methods when it comes to catching pike? Dom Garnett was keen to prove a point in the company of lure angler John Deprieelle
EVEN in 2017, the funny comments about fly fishing continue. “No trout in there mate”, or the classic “look out, it’s JR Hartley”.
Even less gobby anglers are often cautious in their appraisal (“that looks interesting”).
I know the jokes all too well, but beyond the pub banter there have also been some surprising results. In all three fly v lure matches I’ve been involved in, for instance, the fly has won, while in my own fishing it’s a central plank rather than a party trick.
While we should be sceptical of claims that any method is ‘the best’, it’s fun to compare and contrast and my lure fishing pal John Deprieelle was on for a friendly contest. We’re certainly well-matched in ability and quite enjoy fishing shoulder to shoulder.
We arrived silly early, and in the dawn light I prayed for good clarity in the water. I suspect the vibration of lures makes them work better in muddy water, but seeing my bright fly stand out like a sore thumb gave me a lift and, even in the half light, the first bite wasn’t far away.
Regardless of effectiveness, fly fishing is hugely enjoyable. To feel pike takes directly by touch is thrilling, as is the silly bend you
get in a fly rod. You can’t cast quite as far as you could with a lure, but on smaller waters this doesn’t matter – and I was quickly into pike number two.
After a couple of perch for John though, his first pike wasn’t far off. Interestingly, it took a suspended plastic lure. With lots of remaining summer weed, we fished carefully and presented lures up in the water to avoid the salad. I often suspect that the slow sink rate and single hook of a pike fly makes it better in this scenario than a lure armed with trebles.
With a lively start, neither method built a big lead. Perhaps only more testing times would prove anything? Well, we got our wish. The sun came up and things got tough. To my mind though, the fly really proves its worth when the fishing is iffy. Why? Well, flies have a magic and fluidity all of their own and you can creep them in far slower than almost any lure, ideal for lethargic predators.
Cast by cast, the fly kept odd bites coming, even in the slowest hours of the day. John wrestled in the best fish of the session at around 10lb, but the fly held the lead. Only a couple of late jacks narrowed the gap to 7-5 in fact.
Conclusive evidence? Far from it. On another day the result could have been different, but it goes to show that you write off this deadly method or make those JR Hartley jokes at your own peril!