Hardy & Greys - Alnwick, England

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1. Flyfishing
   1. Flyfishing
   2. Coarse

When Howard Croston, our Product Development Manager speaks it's sensible to listen and this is what he says about Pike on the fly. "You're after big fish that pull hard. It's not quite as good as Tarpon fishing but it's getting close and you don't have to go to the other side of the planet to enjoy it."

Exactly. There are plenty of myths about regarding Pike fishing that need to be dispelled if you're pretty well game only. First of all, big Pike don't do Trout fisheries any harm: it's the jacks, say under seven or eight pounds that are the real marauders. Take the big fish out and, in time, you will turn the place into a jack only nightmare. Return the big fish. They're worth it.

They're worth it because, as Howard says, they fight ferociously on fly gear. Perhaps as a kid, you took them on a four pound test curve rod and thirty pound line and the Pike was barely big enough to take your bait. Of course, it didn't fight. Nothing would under circumstances like that.

And you can catch Pike on fly pretty well everywhere, providing the water is reasonably clear. You can do it from the bankside, you can do it in towns, cities and the countryside. No water is too small and no water is too big. If there are Pike there, they'll take the fly and often in preference to the hard, lifeless, plastic, metal or wood of a traditional lure.

My own Pike fly techniques were learnt in Sweden on the fringes of the Baltic but you don't need to go anywhere exotic to enjoy the fun. Around Norfolk, I tend to hunt pike in the estate lakes, the gravel pits, the coastal dykes, the upper rivers and any pits and ponds that come my way. On the fly, I count anything over eight pounds as a good fish but mid-doubles come along with regularity. And I'm no expert, believe me. An eight or nine weight rod, floating line, fifteen pound leader, short wire trace and a selection of shop-bought pike flies and that's all the magic and mystery you're going to get from me.

Of course, a lifetime's Pike fishing stands me in good stead when it comes to watercraft but it's not beyond any of our wits to know we have to explore all the snags around the water, especially dead lily beds, reeds, overhanging trees, boathouses, shallows, drop-offs, bays and any one of a hundred features that suggests something different, something attractive to a predator.

Global warming has helped us in this quest. Warmer winters have led to an increased survival rate of small pike, so there's probably been no time like the present for really great sport. Especially in the winter when the trout fishing is either slow or off limits and you're not even thinking of the first of the salmon. And, also, it's a great way to get your kids involved. You are always on the move and there is constant action...and as you'll always be wearing Polaroids you will see the follows as well as the takes and that is a thrill in itself.

But as I've said, I'm at the workaday end of the scale. Something extraordinary has happened in Pike fly fishing of late and that is the opening up of the trout reservoirs for Pike for much of the year. Trout reservoirs invariably translate into big Pike and if there's anywhere making the headlines at the moment then it's Chew Valley and the maestro there, John Horsey.

John, of course, is one of our top consultants at Hardy and if you're interested in this, it would be a crime not to try and book a day out with him on this magical water, learning his techniques. But, believe me, he's busy, in demand, the main man. If you can't get afloat with John, at least here are his tips.

"I tend to fish with nine foot, nine weight gear," John says. "You need a fast action and plenty of power to set the hook into a Pike at distance and at depth. It's a bit like saltwater fly fishing - one punch and the fly is out there. With a big fly in anything like a breeze, you will struggle if you false cast. Ideal are the Hardy Zanes and the Platinum XDs.

"Most reels are satisfactory providing they're big enough and I'll carry floating lines, sink tips, intermediates and Di3s Di5s and Di7s. On water like Chew, pike fishing is all about assessing the depth and knowing how to present a fly correctly in the water column.

"I work hard when I'm on Chew. A lot of my fishing is done on the drift, though I'll anchor up whenever I find fish. You won't find me where there are loads of jacks and most of the boats. I'm really after the big loners and I'll fish from dawn to dusk without letting up.

"Remember that Pike often take these big flies when they're actually on the drop so you've got to keep contact from the moment they hit the surface. The retrieve, too, is vital. It's not enough simply to strip back hard and keep casting. I'll try slow figure-of-eight retrieves, experimenting with quick jerks and periods of inactivity. Remember that deep down, even a very big pike can take a fly with barely a pull on the line. You will just feel a heavy sensation and you've got to strike at once. Strip striking is the key. Keep the rod down and keep pulling until the hook is set hard."

Today, you take care of your Pike, the big ones especially and John Horsey stresses really careful handling techniques. You need the gear to unhook a Pike, that's for sure. Catch Pike from boat or bank and you need an unhooking mat. Strong, long-nosed forceps and pliers are a must and wire cutters often prove invaluable. Don't skimp on a landing net or on the length of your trace. Remember a big pike can simply swallow a fly down deep in seconds. Eighteen inches isn't too long a trace.

Once you have the pike on the unhooking mat, lay it on its back and open the jaws by sliding your fingers under the gill cover - wear a glove to protect your own fingers and try to avoid both the teeth and the sensitive gill rakers. Once the mouth is open you'll find that with your long pliers you can reach in and remove the hooks. If the pike is temperamental and lively, simply straddle it with your legs and squat over it to keep it still.

Remember that single hooks are easier to take out than trebles and barbless points are best of all. If there's any blood about, you want it to be yours and not that of the pike! (Thought, take my advice: always take a small medical kit with you.

Plasters, antiseptic and bandages often come in very useful during a long Pike session. But don't panic unduly: remember that in cold weather especially, blood takes a long time to clot. I don't mean to put you off or to frighten you! A serious gash is rare indeed and in all my own long years of pike guiding, I've only had to take one guy for a couple of stitches at A&E!)

For your flies, you can't do better than contact John Wolstenholme at Fulling Mill for advice. Alternatively, Steven Hunt at Sportfish has a lot of good tips here. The Reading branch also specialises in Pike fly fishing.

Rods, reels and lines are sorted. Don't go too light on the leader though - especially if you're after the monsters. Thirty pound fluorocarbon here isn't over the top.

For your various pike tools, the Greys Prowla range is excellent. And Chub, our sister company, has a fine range of unhooking mats.

If you want some real hands-on advice, then, of course, John Horsey is a great guy to start with. (www.johnhorsey.co.uk) Roger Wyndham-Barnes (telephone 01189 342981) comes personally recommended. If you are up here in Norfolk, Nick Barker at Broadland Fishing Adventures can show you some exciting opportunities. Telephone +44 07961784021