Welcome back to Tying Tuesday! This week, Kyle is in the studio crafting an absolute pike-magnet—the Ripple Bleak from ODM Flies. This lil’ donkey is pure seduction in the water, draped in layers of rippling Ice Fiber that shimmer, undulate, and tease with every strip. Its silky, hypnotic body wiggles like a dream, triggering savage eats from the biggest toothy predators.
If you’re looking for a fly that oozes movement and irresistibility, this is the one. Let’s tie up something deadly.
💥 Tie it. Fish it. Love it. #TyingTuesday
Recipe:
• Hook: Ahrex TP610, Size 4/0
• Superglue: Loctite Super Glue Brush On
• Thread: UTC Ultra Thread, White, 210D
• Tail Connector: Hareline, Bling Tail Connector Kit
• Tail: MFC Pacchiarini’s Dragon Tail
• Body: Hareline Ripple Ice Fiber, Chartreuse
• Body: Hareline UV polar Chenille, Chartreuse, Med
• Head: Hareline Ripple Ice Fiber, Pink
***Please note, some materials sell out quickly on Tuesdays after a video drops – you can always call Customer Service if you have a question about an alternate material option (720-836-3619)***
Top Tips & Tricks for Fly Fishing Pike with Streamers 🎣🔥
If you’re chasing big, aggressive pike on the fly, streamers are your best bet. These toothy predators love big, flashy, and erratic-moving baitfish imitations. Here’s how to up your game:
1️⃣ Size Matters – Go Big or Go Home
🟢 Pike are opportunistic ambush predators, so they want a meal, not a snack.
🟢 Use streamers 6–12 inches long, especially in waters with large forage fish.
🟢 Top choices: Game Changers, Ripple Bleaks, Bunny Leeches, Deceivers, and Bufords
2️⃣ Materials Make the Magic
💡 Flies with synthetic fibers like Ripple Ice Fiber, Flashabou, or EP Fibers create a seductive, undulating action.
💡 Bucktail and rabbit strips add lifelike movement and bulk.
💡 Articulated flies (with two or more hook sections) move like an injured baitfish—irresistible!
3️⃣ Retrieve Like You Mean It
🔹 Experiment with fast strips, pauses, and erratic twitches to mimic wounded prey.
🔹 A jerky, stop-and-go retrieve often triggers aggressive follows and eats.
🔹 If a pike follows but doesn’t commit, throw in a sudden pause or speed burst—they can’t resist!
4️⃣ Go Heavy on the Leader – Steel or Fluoro?
🛑 Pike have razor-sharp teeth—standard tippet won’t cut it (literally).
🔸 Use 40-80 lb fluorocarbon for a stealthy approach.
🔸 For maximum bite protection, use 6-12” of wire leader (AFW Surflon or RIO Knotable Wire are great options).
🔸 Avoid thin mono—it’s a one-way ticket to heartbreak when a pike bites clean through.
5️⃣ Think Like a Predator – Target Ambush Zones
🏝️ Cast near structure—weed edges, submerged timber, rocky drop-offs, and current seams.
🌊 In lakes, work shallow flats early & late in the day, then drop-offs and deep structure mid-day.
🎣 In rivers, target slack water pockets, eddies, and the edges of deep holes.
6️⃣ Set the Hook Like a Boss
🪝 Pike have bony mouths, so a weak hookset won’t cut it.
🔹 Strip set HARD—don’t trout set!
🔹 Keep pressure on—pike shake violently and can throw a poorly set hook.
7️⃣ Handle with Care – Keep Your Fingers Intact
⚠️ Always have long-nose pliers or hemostats to unhook safely.
⚠️ Keep the fish in the water as much as possible for a healthy release.
⚠️ Watch those gill plates—they’re as sharp as their teeth!
Bonus Tip – Go Topwater for Heart-Stopping Strikes!
🔥 If conditions allow, fish big poppers and divers like the Dahlberg Diver or the Double Barrel Popper.
🔥 The explosive topwater eats will be burned into your memory forever!
Final Thought: Pike Are Built for Violence – Fish Accordingly
💥 Strip hard, fish big, and be ready for the most aggressive eats in freshwater. Pike on the fly isn’t just fishing—it’s combat. 🎣🔥
Now, get out there and move some water! 💪👊
Check out some of our favorite Fly Tying Gear:
- Vise – Dynaking Barracuda Deluxe Pedestal Vise
- Scissors – Kopter ABSOLUTE Blade Micro Serrated Edge Thin Point
- Bodkin – Dr. Slick Jumbo Carbon Fiber Bodkin
- Whip Finisher – Tiemco Midge Whip Finisher
- Tool Kit – Umpqua Dream Stream Plus 7 Piece Fly Tying Tool Kit
