3 Tips to Make You a Better Spring Pike Fly Angler

Spring is one of the most exciting times to be on the water. As the ice melts and the days warm up, pike begin to stir from their winter lethargy and move into shallow waters to feed. As fly anglers, we’re given a unique opportunity to catch these apex predators, but to be successful, it takes more than just casting a fly into the water and hoping for the best. There are a few simple things you can do to make yourself a better spring pike fly angler—tactics that, when combined, will increase your odds of hooking into some real trophies.

Let’s dive into three of the most important tips that will elevate your game this spring.

1. Pay Close Attention to Water Temperatures

Water temperature is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, factors when it comes to spring pike fishing. You might know that pike are more active when the water warms up, but just how important is that little shift in temperature? Well, it can make all the difference.

A mere 1 or 2 degrees Fahrenheit change in water temperature can be a game-changer. As the water warms, post-spawn pike start moving around more, which means they are feeding more aggressively. And as their metabolism revs up, they get hungry. That’s when you want to be out there casting your flies. Pike aren’t the only ones responding to warmer temperatures—so are the baitfish like perch, suckers, and shiners. These fish start moving into shallow areas as well, and pike are right behind them.

Warmer water also encourages new aquatic vegetation to grow, which helps provide oxygen and cover for pike. The combination of increased food and oxygen makes pike much more willing to feed. When you can find areas where water temps are in that sweet spot (main lake around 40-50°F, back bays a little warmer), you know the pike are likely to be active. It’s often these slightly warmer pockets of water that hold the fish—and that’s where you want to be.

Don’t just fish by feel—get a temperature gauge and pay attention to the numbers. A subtle shift can make all the difference in whether or not pike are in a feeding mood.

2. Use Single Hook, Barbless Flies

If you’ve spent much time chasing pike with a fly rod, you’ve probably learned that pike are not shy about taking a fly. They’ll inhale even the biggest streamers with no hesitation. But that can cause a bit of a problem. When a pike sucks in a large fly, it’s not always easy to get it back out, especially when multiple hooks are involved.

Here’s where a single, barbless hook really shines. First off, it’s much easier to remove from a pike’s mouth when they’ve inhaled it deeply. With barbless hooks, the process of removing the fly is smoother, which means less stress on the fish and less chance of damaging delicate gills or internal organs. And if you’re practicing catch and release—which you should be with pike—barbless hooks are absolutely essential. They help ensure that fish swim away healthy after the release.

But the benefits go beyond just easy removal. Smaller pike, despite their smaller mouths, can still inhale your fly deeply. If your fly has multiple hooks, it becomes trickier to remove it without causing damage to their delicate mouth, gills, or tongue. A single hook makes the entire process much more efficient.

When it comes to the size of your fly, remember: spring pike aren’t necessarily after huge meals just yet. A 6-inch fly is big for this time of year. Stick to smaller streamers—4-5 inches should be your go-to size. My favorites? A 5-inch Gamechanger, a 5-inch Deceiver, and a 4-5” Yardsale. Each fly has its own action, and the fish will tell you which one they prefer on any given day. The Yardsale offers a side-to-side movement, the Gamechanger has a subtle swimming action, and the Deceiver has a unique up-and-down motion that’s perfect for getting pike to chase.

A little variation goes a long way, so keep experimenting with different patterns until you find what the pike want on that particular day. This is one of the joys of fly fishing—it’s not just about throwing the same thing over and over but learning what the fish respond to in the moment.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Use Sinking Fly Lines in Shallow Water

One of the most overlooked techniques in pike fly fishing is the use of sinking fly lines. It seems counterintuitive, right? You’re fishing shallow water, so why would you use a sinking line? But trust me on this—sinking lines can be incredibly effective, even in waters that aren’t all that deep.

In the shallow spring water, pike often sit just below the surface, and they’re more likely to take a fly that’s right in front of their face. But here’s the thing—pike are not always willing to chase a fast moving fly. That’s why you need to get your fly into their strike zone and keep it there.

A sinking fly line can help you do just that. With a sinking line, you can take even bulky or floating flies, like a Yardsale, and get them to sink just a few feet. This is particularly effective in 4-8 feet of water, where you may have pike hanging just below the surface, or more often then not, near the bottom. The sinking line gives you the ability to suspend your fly in the strike zone, keeping it in front of the fish’s face for longer periods.

This technique is a killer for spring pike. You can hang the fly in front of a following pike and slowly work it with small, deliberate strips. Often, letting the fly sit motionless for a second or two in front of a big pike can trigger that final strike. They don’t want to miss an easy meal, especially when the water is still cool and they’re sluggish.

Using sinking lines to get a suspending action out of your flies is a great way to increase your chances of catching a pike, particularly when the water’s still chilly in early spring. It’s all about presenting your fly at the right depth and giving the pike enough time to bite.

A Final Thought

Pike fishing in the spring is a special time, and getting your technique dialed in can make all the difference between a good day and a great one. By paying attention to water temperatures, choosing the right flies, and using the right line for the job, you can significantly improve your chances of landing more pike this season.

If you’re looking to learn from the best and get your skills fine-tuned, consider booking a guided trip with Smooth River Guiding. Our expertise on spring pike fishing in the Georgian Bay and Muskoka areas will help you make the most of the season. We're the only guide operation locally who specializes in fly fishing, for pike and many other species—and we’ve got a few dates left for this spring. Check out their booking calendar here:

https://bookedin.com/book/smooth-river-guiding-company

So get out there, pay attention to the details, and enjoy the thrill of spring pike fishing. The pike are waiting, and with these tips in hand, you’ll be ready to meet them head-on.

Matt