TAKING PIKE ON A FLY IN THE THAMES IN LONDON

Text and photographs from Clem Booth

There's something special about home waters; in this case the River Thames just about 4 miles from my home in Ascot. In this part of this great river, the water is clear and clean and the usual quarry is Esox lucius......the Pike. We use 10 weight rods, floating and intermediate lines, 20 lb leaders and short wire traces. These are big fish and they live in or near structure so one has to turn them quickly and decisively.  

 

Fly patterns are big and weedless; yellow, black, olive and orange work well for me. Leech and fish patterns all work, as do poppers especially in summer.

All of the fish are returned. A river double (over 10 pounds) is a great fish; they fight hard and it takes a mixture of brute force and guile to avoid being broken up in the "sticks".