Releasing the esox mammy

Starting from nothing but the good map (Thanks to Noris) we where  facing the sea with the fly rod in our hands,  looking for descent fish and deeply bended rods. Bended by pike of coarse!

Getting started

Small harbour and typical shera garden

First evening came with first impressions. In general waters in between sheras was like a endless lake system with the reeds or stones, and of coarse no sandy beaches. Just as expected – this was not our first year here in Sweden. So, we where looking for the spot that is shallow enough to wade and located close to deep waters. Location close to deep waters  would increase the chance to hook really big ones. In my opinion pikes, because of different reasons, are usually laying close to the places where depth are changing suddenly.

The place where we started during the first evening, gave us first impressions – shallow water located far from main sea in between the reeds was muddy and hard to wade.  And opposite  – spots located next to the  stony banks was too deep to wade at all. To be honest, this was not surprising, because from the very beginning I knew that spot search would be essential part in a way to success.  At the evening we continued  search in the map, looking for the shallow places located closer to the main sea. In principle it is not hard to distinguish see depth close to the bank, if you know the topography.  If there is flat land, the sea will also be quite similar and opposite – if there are a hills or cliffs don’t expect to get a wadable waters there.  So during intense discussions we found tomorrows spot.

First attempt!

That`s the place

For sure – next mornings  hopes and expectations was skewed by weathermen. Temperature during the night time was few degrees below zero, and there was only few clouds in the sky. Good day for walking in park or sightseeing, but not for piking. Even worth, a light breeze from the North was not promising at all …  Besides the weather, discovered spots was beautiful – stony, weedy sea bed with a lot of places to hide, some sudden depth change in between flat sections and above everything perfect place for wading. That was exactly the place we where looking for.  But… After six hours of fishing we had nothing more than few lazy takes.  Apparently fish was not active!  Few hours before finish we met  two swedes jerking from a solid boat. They where kind enough, and brought us on the opposite side of the bay, by this saving some hours of walking back to the car. But unfortunately for them, we where the biggest catch of the day.  After the short discussion we figured out that they blanked too and constant lure change was just a poor answer to pikes lazyness. So, if they not take today, they will tomorrow.

Getting better!

There where no significant weather change during the next 24 hours, so situation was quite the same in the next morning. We decided to investigate one more perspective place north from our camp. From the first look this place was similar to Baltic lakes, with a lot of reeds and weeds in the water.  Just a solid stones and cliffs was constant reminders that we where on the shera garden. Surprisingly here was much easier to wade, than in similar spots with reedy banks.  Second cast next to the bank, reeds moved a little and finally small pike around 1,5 kilos was trying to bend my rod. If there was one at the  beginning others will follow.  I continued to fish the reedy section and finally was in the touch with the  fish. During the following hour i landed few pikes and missed some takes too.

Pike is not food, but however...

Unfortunately i did not notice any decent crocks weighting more than 3 kilos, but it was just a beginning.  As all good things end some how, also this perspective spot ended with revelation that we must move from here.  Other fellows did not found appropriate and productive areas so we decided to move. Such a decision was made because wading in the other spots was shity hard, and fishing was possible only from boat or float tube.

In my opinion moving away from here was a bit of a mistake – i had a float tube as well as Noris,  so at least for us it was a good chance to investigate these waters. But, hence we decided not to split, we moved from here all together as a team, continuing for the spot search till the end of the day. Some pikes was landed, but not in the size we where after.

I gotta feeling!

Wind gusts 25 meters in a second at the beginning of November, seems to be the worth weather for fly fishing. At least some one may suggest so…  Serious wind, big waves was what we where facing next morning. Perfect, if we would know the place better I supposed. Wind can be very helpful in pike fishing, because sometimes by escaping the waves and searching for calm and warm waters pikes concentrate in certain spots in enormous density. I had an experience in such a situations before, as well as others, so we where hopeful to get the bingo again. Re searching the map and looking for correct wind direction with a compass we found a new promising spot some 50 kilometers from our camp.

6 kilo crock

Bending around the small peninsula, wind was blowing water directly in this perspective bay, forming the quiet spot with a bit calmer water – just the perfect place for pike party. And by coincidence – it was nice place for wading. During the day we examined different parts of this area, with the growing feeling that big ones are around the corner. I was fishing with sink tip line and suspending fly that gave me a lot of possibilities during retrieve – fly was slowly rising during the stop, and jerking down and a side wile stripping. It was already four a clock at the noon, when I reinvestigated the spot that we tried during the morning hours and that gave us few pikes nothing more but up to 2.5 kilos. Wind was blowing constantly so there was a hope that fish would gather here all day long. For sure pikes was active, I hooked one fish just immediately after few casts and another one in following minutes. Size was increasing too – biggest one was around three kilos, still not the size we where dreaming about. Hence here were a lot of potential holding places for big pike I was fishing slowly and carefully. Another cast over the deepest spot and finally – yes a nice touch! I paused, the pike attacked the fly once again and we where connected. Some 90 centimeters of powerful green steel was bending my rod until I landed it. Around five kilos I suspected. Not bad but there should be more. Acting in a same way as before, I landed and released fish around 4 kilos, just from the center of the bay. Another one jumped out of the reeds, missed the fly and was gone. Not bad, for 30 minutes of fishing. It was already quite dark when I still had a feeling that there should be bigger fish in.  Because of the approaching evening I changed the fly to similar but brighter one and moved on. Essential part of the game here is the feeling where to cast, when to pause and yeh, when to finish. Within next few meters I recognized significant depth change where the small ditch was entering the bay. This should be the right place I supposed and landed the fly precisely where I wanted. Water moved a little and… no not yet another strip, fly is suspending and – significant turn indicated the moment when to strike! Wow, that one  was bigger -for sure! A big pikes does not run like hell, they are like submarines cruising down below not allowing observing them until they are exhausted.

Mmmhhh...

When I landed this beauty I recognized that fly is deep and with in the gills, that was bleeding like hell! Fuck, I need to take it in spite of the fact that we already had some fish for evening. Measured at home it was 95 cm and 6 kilos – decent fish but still not the one.

Other fellows also did well by landing one 3.5 and one 3 kilo fish. Noris missed bigger one, because his mono titanium wire came a part. What a pity! That’s the reason why I don`t like mono wires and use a braided instead. My religion for pike is braided titanium, and so far I don’t have any bad experience with them.At the last evening it was time to prepare some nice meal and flies for tomorrow. I knew what I would like and tied it just after the dinner. It should work – no doubt.

Last move!

During the night time nothing was changed in terms of the weather, so we moved to the same spots for the last time. Hence I was the luckiest so far I gave a chance to others and wished all the best when they started to work on my yesterdays beat. I moved little bit North to potential spot recognized from map. Unfortunately in real life situation was different – there was significant depth change just next to the reeds, so wading was dangerous and fish most likely was not here hence wind was blowing the waves in the shore. I moved back and recognized that guys have left, so it was my time to reinvestigate the yesterday’s spots. Approaching was quite difficult here, hence you must walk throe wide sections of reeds and you will never know where you will get. Besides that wading is a little dangerous hence you can easily stuck in some deep and muddy ditches in between this yellow forest. When I finally get to the water I recognized that  somebody was here before – Noris most likely. Anyway, there is always some fish left, so I started to work as careful as possible. Same technique with slow retrieve was good enough for that day too. First fish that I landed in between 5 or ten minutes was something special. But not because it was big – actually it was around 2 kilos. This fish was seriously injured – I suspect that this pike was missing some 30 % of the scales and had some 3 different jaw tattoos on her back. What a survivor! Deep respect, and she did not refused to take my fly! But, what was more interesting – all the injuries was 100% fresh and most likely yesterday was a nightmare for small pike in this bay! So, it was a chance I could not miss…

What a beauty!

At the moment it is quite hard to count precisely how many pikes I landed that morning, but there was quite a few. Within two hours there was some three or for 5 kilo fish one around 6 and several nice pikes around 3 kilos. I did not recognized any small fish here (Not surprising!) and all crocks I landed was laying in the area not bigger that 1 ha. My blood pressure jumped a little, when I recognized that one five kilo fish had a nice triangle tattoo on here back from bigger sister. Of course I was happy about what happened, but still I needed the fish of the trip. 5 and 6 kilos are nice ones but, sometimes you need more. Eriks was watching the action from another bank, and we agreed that after 30 minutes we should finish. Ferry would not wait for us, even if the reason is so important as pike fishing. From the very beginning of the trip I had a feeling that sooner or later I will get what I was after. All morning I was fishing the same spot as yesterday and same one Eriks tried this morning. No chance you say, may be, but not in the case when you have deep belief! When I landed my fly just a few feet from the place where I hooked a 6 kilo fish yesterday I knew, that somebody will stay in this empty living room next to the reeds and deeper water. First strip, water moved a little and I was waiting. You know that feeling when blood freeze for a while until everything starts. Descent take and fight was started! Unfortunately my running line tangled so seriously, that I decided to spool it on, so I had only 20 meters of line to fight the this crock. It took some 5 maybe 10 minutes to land it and yes, this was the fish I was after. I carefully handled it and asked Erik to come over for photo session.

This is it - 104 cm!

Fly was so deep in the jaws that only 3 centimeters from 25 cm titanium pike wire was hanging out. Thanks good my pliers were long enough! Wee took some pictures and measured the fish – it was 104 cm and around eight or nine kilos in weight! Magnificent. Thank`s Erik for pictures! When we released the crock i recognized, that it is enough! Mikus also landed one pike around 4 kilos, Noris had some nice takes so everyone was happy. At least we found what we where looking for!

The moment...

Few things for those who would like to try!

Our team and appropriate car

Instead of possibility to wade, please take into account that water was quite low this year, so it is better to bring or rent a solid boat. You will always have a chance to jump out of the boat and wade a certain sections if you would like to!

Take a good map of area where you are going to fish, and think about the weather impact on certain spots.

Bring a different density lines with you – some places require floaters others not.

If you wade in the dangerous spots dont go on your own!

Always believe that luck is just around the corner, and dreams will come true!

Those whou are not shure about what flies should click here.