Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fly Fishing Cafe => Topic started by: steve B on April 25, 2011, 01:49:19 PM

Title: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: steve B on April 25, 2011, 01:49:19 PM
whats flies would these aggressive fish go for i usually spoon fish but wanna try out flyfishing for them
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: Rodney on April 25, 2011, 02:25:43 PM
Last year was when I started really fly fishing for them in the Tidal Fraser River and it was a lot of fun as expected. I caught them from flies as small as a size 10 Copper John to as large as a size 1 Rabbit Zonker.

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1799&g2_serialNumber=2)

The small Copper John was a surprise. In late August, I also encountered peamouth chub and cutthroat trout with the same small fly. It was pretty exciting as I never knew what the next fish would be.
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: Dave on April 25, 2011, 04:14:43 PM
The old peanutbutterandjam fly and thehotdog fly are my personal favourites :D :D :D
Seriously, that would depend on where you are fishing – if you were targeting NPM in Cultus Lake I would use a small crayfish pattern (trust me on this)
On the Fraser any baitfish pattern would be effective now, with the spring fry/smolt migration underway.
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: Rodney on April 25, 2011, 05:05:36 PM
Here's one from Mamit Lake, caught by a small chironomid pattern, but you can see that I've flossed its nostril. :-[

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/080528-04.jpg)

Water is too dirty on the Fraser right now to be fly fishing for them, best to wait until mid July.
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: newsman on April 25, 2011, 07:35:12 PM
I have caught them on Stone Nymphs, Black Gnat, Nations Fancy, but mostly on Minnow patterns
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: skaha on April 25, 2011, 08:18:48 PM
--Evening on the usual dry's.. smaller tom thump and elk hair caddis
--Fishing Pyper in the Chilcootin saw no other fish thus assume the hatchery stock rainbows were was just pike minnow food.
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: Silex-user on April 28, 2011, 09:37:15 AM
Gee, that looks like lots of fun. I going to gave NPM a try on fly.

P.S I love any type of fishes pulling at end of my line!!



Silex-user
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: Sandman on April 28, 2011, 08:12:05 PM
The ones I encounter on the Harrison do not seem to be very selective.  The 4 lb hog I hooked in Buntzen was on a large woolly burgundy leach.
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: steelie-slayer on April 29, 2011, 03:23:44 PM
i have got them on minnow patterns, wolly buggers, and some big salmon flies. also with gear i have got them on red/green/orange wool. theyll pretty much go after anything.
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: ricer on May 03, 2011, 09:07:10 AM
Rodney,
ever try indicator fishing a nymph at Garry for these fish?  Or do they need more action to encourage the strike
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: Todd Oishi on May 31, 2011, 10:11:27 PM
Ricer, I've caught dozens of them while Czech nymphing (dead-drifting) deep pockets with heavily-weight Czech Nymphs, Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear and bead head Pheasant Tail Nymphs. They're also absolute suckers for nymphs that are slowly swung across the tailouts and inner edges of the seams.
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: Labman55 on June 01, 2011, 06:20:31 AM
Small off topic question.
Being old and politically challenged, is this what we used to call Squaw fish?
If so, they used to bite on anything we offered them!
Title: Re: Northern pikeminnow fly patterns
Post by: chris gadsden on June 01, 2011, 07:58:18 AM
Small off topic question.
Being old and politically challenged, is this what we used to call Squaw fish?
If so, they used to bite on anything we offered them!
Yes