The first time I caught a Northern pike, I hated it. This was back when I just started fishing and could barely throw a spin rod. I had hooked into a 24-inch pike on the Raquette River in the Adirondack Park and was immediately grossed out—I didn’t understand the snakey, toothy, slimy creature on the end of my line was actually a prized game fish many anglers purposefully targeted, and, much to my boyfriend’s chagrin, got it out of the boat as fast as possible.
Now, as a more seasoned angler, I dream of catching one of these dragons on the fly. I’ve caught a handful of smaller pike in the Adirondacks that were still wicked fun to pull in on a fly line, but nothing over 24-ish inches. This is very frustrating for me, a gal who knows plenty of people who have caught monster pike on the fly, but just can’t seem to get on one herself…
My good friends Fred Schroeder, mastermind behind First Cast Flies who fishes Great Sacandaga Lake, and Max Hogg, who guides for the Hungry Trout Fly Shop in Wilmington, New York, both have the pike game undeniable game in—and love to rub it in my face. Come spring and fall, the two of them are always showing off the massive fish they pull up out of the waters around the North Country with giant flies hanging out of their jaws. So, on my never-ending quest to hook into one of these mean, freshwater dragons, I asked them: What are the best flies to catch a big Northern Pike?
Both Fred and Max agree that these fish are not picky. “Pike may be sneaky while they hunt, but they’re not interested in delicacy,” says Fred. “Your flies should be loud and erratic, push water, and just make a commotion, whether they’re 5-inches or 14-inches long.”
Max agrees and says when in doubt, size down. “A rule of thumb I have is they won’t always eat a big fly, but they will always eat a small fly,” says Max. “Now, if you are specifically hunting a 38″+ fish, throwing big flies is the way to do it. But sometimes those giants aren’t in your fishery, or it’s a tough day and you need some pike slime in the boat—downsizing is a great way to hook into some fish.”
Things to Consider When Choosing Pike Flies
Colors:
Like most streamer fishing, the color of your fly will largely depend on 1) the baitfish you’re trying to mimic and 2) the water quality you’re fishing in. If the water is clear, go smaller and natural. If the water is cloudy or tannic, go dark and shadowy. In Northern New York, “fallfish/sucker and olive/yellow/white are my favorite natural colorways,” says Fred. “But the all-time musky classic still holds true for pike—black is king. Black and chartreuse is my personal move, but you can trust all black colorways to perform in every season and condition.”
Movement:
You want your streamers to move, which is why larger, articulated flies that push around a lot of water and wiggle around make good pike snacks. “I want that fly to glide, push water, be loud, and swim,” says Max. Reach for flies made with long, trailing soft fibers that “flow” and undulate like a real baitfish in the water. Long twisty Pacchiarini Dragon Tails are great at adding action and encouraging a fish to strike, too.
And a key tip from Max: Slow down your presentation before changing out a fly—especially on bright, clear days. A long pause, a twitch, or a slow jerk can be really good at getting them to bite.
Profile:
Again, this depends on the bait you’re trying to mimic. “You can answer that question based on the forage in your fishery,” says Max. “Are they eating smelt and alewives or are they eating 2-pound smallies and suckers? If they are eating 5-inch alewives, they won’t touch a 10-inch Buford.”
With all that in mind, there are a few patterns that work better than others. Here are a few flies the pros love to throw when targeting Northern Pike.
The Best Flies for Northern Pike
Single Bufords – 2/0-5/0
Single Buford
Unsurprisingly, the Buford is a top choice for professional pike anglers. This iconic musky fly is beloved for its large, bulky head and long body that mimics a baitfish in the water. “With the big spun bucktail head, and nice, flowy hackle and flash as the tail, these flies swim and push water like no one’s business,” says Max. And despite them looking heavy, they’re relatively lightweight, making them easy to cast and overhand strip back. “Since it is a single hook, you can tie these in some smaller sizes when you want a smaller fly to still push a lot of water,” Max suggests.
Chocklett’s Game Changer – 2/0-6/0
Chocklett’s Game Changer
Fred and Max both call Blane Chocklett’s pattern “a classic in any pike box”, and arguably, any streamer box. These popular articulated streamers are a must-have for movement, whether they’re tied in brush, feathers, or both. In the water, they look incredibly realistic thanks to that spine of articulated shanks that shimmers and sways on the strip back. “They swim, they jerk, they hang, and the smaller sizes are perfect when fish are feeding on small bait,” says Max.
Fletcher Sams XL Tweaker – 2/0
Fletcher Sams XL Tweaker
If you want to get a pike’s attention, the XL Tweaker will do it. This is one of my personal favorite flies, and what I’ve caught most of my small pike on (the red and white are irresistible, IMO). Designed by Fletcher Sams, this big articulated pattern is basically a Frankenstein of all the best pike fly attributes—it pushes a ton of water, moves like it’s alive, and has an irresistible side-to-side shimmy on the strip. Fred calls these patterns in the 5 to 9-inch range a “staple” for luring in big, hungry predatory fish.
Lefty’s Deceivers – 1/0-4/0
Lefty’s Deceivers
“Deceivers are my go-to when pike are on small bait,” says Max. “They’re a perfect fly when you need to downsize.” Originally designed by Lefty Kreh, this classic pattern proves that simple still works. With its slim profile and clean, natural movement, the Deceiver imitates just about any baitfish—from perch to smelt—and has enough built-in flash to catch a predator’s eye without overdoing it. It’s easy to cast, durable enough to survive a few toothy encounters, and swims beautifully even on lighter rods.
Clouser Minnow / Half-and-Half Clousers
Clouser Minnow / Half-and-Half Clousers
These aren’t exactly “traditional” pike patterns, but don’t let that fool you—Max says they still slam. Their slim, weighted heads give them an irresistible jigging motion on the strip, darting up and down like a wounded baitfish. “If I am struggling with pike fishing, I’ll switch to bass and start throwing a clouser—then start catching pike,” says Max. “They’re not flies I carry in my pike box, but pike go crazy for them.”
Fred’s Rover – 2/0-6/0
Fred’s Rover
Fred has been dialing in his own creation over the years to target mean, massive pike and musky, which he’s dubbed “The Rover.” “It consists of a synthetic brush core that’s veiled in bucktail, so most of the water sheds quickly with a false cast,” Fred says. I got out on Great Sacandaga with Fred last month and fished these flies all day on a 10-weight, and they work—I had three awesome follows from HUGE pike on a bright, calm day. Max swears by ‘em, too, “if you want a fly to glide and hang, this is it,” he says. “Fred ties them usually 7″-8″, they’re the perfect big pike fly. Musky also loves this fly.”
Final Thoughts on Pike Flies
Now, any guide will tell you that there is no single fly to rule them all—but a box of patterns you’re confident in certainly helps. “By having a nice selection of flies—where each fly does a different thing—then you are one step closer to dialing in your fishery,” says Max. As for me, I’ll be out there again through November, armed with all these flies and probably still chasing my first real giant.