Northern Pike on Tenkara? It's Possible

When that big old Northern Pike rocketed out from under his deep rooty hole I was surprised to say the least! He put up a crazy fight on my lightweight tenkara rod, and somehow didn't end up chomping through the 6x tippet I had rigged up. I think I got pretty lucky.
Overall, throwing clouser minnows on my tenkara rod was a really effective approach to luring out a couple northern pike as well as some smallmouth. The day was beautiful and it was fun to explore a new river.
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#tenkara #fishing #flyfishing
Thanks for watching Northern Pike on Tenkara? It's Possible

[@dtffishingmi]

A pike on the Tenkara is one of my goals this year! Great video.

[@FlickyFlies]

Awesome! I know a lot of people use an even bigger rod with some steel or maybe thick mono leader? I got lucky this toothy boy didn't break off, for sure. What setup are you going to approach your goal with?

[@dtffishingmi]

@@FlickyFlies The rod I ordered is the DRAGONtail HELLbender - I'm still researching with regard to the line and leaders/tippets I should be using for pike, but I think 3x tippet is a bit on the risky side lol. Good for smallies, but maybe not for pike. Even in some of the small creeks up here in Michigan, pike are often 30-40 inches

[@zachath4625]

@@dtffishingmiI was in the U.P late last summer visiting family and that was one of my goals. I managed to catch 2 across the time I was there on my Dragontail Shadowfire. No monsters but I caught a pike on Tenkara so I was happy. I got lucky and hooked them both in the corner of the mouth. I think I'd put on a few inches of 30lb mono as a leader or a steel leader and then whatever pound line that's rated for the rod above that if I'm specifically targeting them, as they aren't Tippet shy so a thick mono/steel wont scare them off. Purchased the Hellbender after I had left but I intend to use it for pike next time I'm up there. Tight lines!

[@dtffishingmi]

@@zachath4625 If you make it out to the lower Peninsula, hit me up and we will go get some pike on Tenkara! I have the Hellbender and the Rodzilla by Wasatch, and I know where we can find them in abundance

[@ralphnicosia-rusin966]

Great photography and editing. Thanks for sharing this experience.

[@FlickyFlies]

Thanks so much Ralph! Appreciate you watching.

[@xjayleex]

4:05 you got lucky!

[@FlickyFlies]

hahahahahaha!! Yessss, I have a habit of always saying "I wish something would happen" and then occasionally it actually does! Thanks for watching.

[@herphermits]

If a tenkara can handle a pike, i guess it sure can handle a snakehead too! And even some other large tropical predatory fishes... like the wolf fish, peacock bass, mangrove snapper, knife fish, elephant fish, tarpons & ladyfish. Ooohh, can't wait to use my tenkara on my SEAsian trip this summer.😊

[@FlickyFlies]

For sure! Especially some of the beefier rods. This one, the Tenkarabum 36 isn't even all that substantial. It's got a decent backbone, don't get me wrong, but it isn't a "big fish" rod! Your trip sounds incredible!

[@kurtpetty1]

I like that you're throwing streamers on the tenkara! You've inspired me to try tossing a mini-game changer and maybe a mouse pattern with my tenkara rod!!

[@FlickyFlies]

They can be really effective when using smaller streamers. You can get some pinpoint casts into tight spots that can definitely result in reaction strikes! I’ve only been mouse fishing once but wanting to try again.

[@kevinmclelland3887]

I loved the synth music with the release shot. Super cool! I love catching pike, but I've never got one on tenkara!

[@FlickyFlies]

Awesome, glad you dug it! Yeah it was a surprise for sure!

[@adamr1162]

Beautiful video. Tied tenkara flies today, and have my first tenkara rod ordered - just awaiting shipping. Love to see the variety. You can cast at those bull frogs too - they take a fly or jig as well as the panfish.

[@FlickyFlies]

Awesome! Stop back in and let me know how it's going once you get out there!

[@adamr1162]

Will do. Also, living on the NoCo front range, perhaps our paths will cross. Cheers!

[@stephenhouse7451]

Crazy seeing catch pike on Tenkara. Very inspiring to know we don't just have to target trout. Many thanks.

[@FlickyFlies]

For sure! The fight really wasn't too crazy in this instance, although I did get lucky that his teeth didn't cut my tippet. I hooked into a big gar last week on a bigger rod and that fight was downright scary at first - he was pulling hard! But, eventually, the teeth cut my tippet so I didn't get a good look.

[@adams13f]

Curious if there's a metal leader light enough for tenkara?

[@martynasjocius]

Nice video and great slow water fishing with a tenkara rod!

[@FlickyFlies]

Thanks dude!

[@janwestphal8047]

Awesome! It's always a bit of a gamble, pike will eat all sorts of flies so hooking one is no problem but landing it is. They snap tippets with ease no matter the thickness. Very fine 12 lb steel does the job and is still easy to cast with a tenkara rod.

[@FlickyFlies]

Yeah, I was definitely lucky that it stayed on! Are you targeting pike yourself on tenkara?

[@janwestphal8047]

@@FlickyFlies I did once but wasn't successful. Usually I catch them while fishing for perch and it's small ones most of the time - less than 20 inches I would say.

[@gregh4284]

"What have I become, I'm ashamed of myself!" Me too, my friend, me too. Iowa here, land of toxic farm runoff.

[@FlickyFlies]

hahahahah! oh man 🤭

[@louismassey4371]

I live in an area where trout is stocked only occasionally, So I target bass and pickerel as well with a tenkara rod and its rad

[@FlickyFlies]

I believe it! I love visiting family in the Midwest to fish in places like these. There are cool fish pretty much everywhere if you're willing! What rod are you using?

[@louismassey4371]

I have two budget rods I use. A 12 ft and a 9ft. I sifted thru Amazon reviews and KZbin reviews and picked up them up on a whim. They work just fine. On the 20th I pulled a 16 plus inch chain pickerel on the 9 ft. I feel like within a years time I may upgrade to something more known/trusted. I jus having a good time keeping the pressure on em, know what I mean

[@namaste597]

That's awesome 💯 what setup did you use ? Brand Length Etc ...

[@FlickyFlies]

Hey there! This is a Suntech Tenkarabum 36.

[@namaste597]

@@FlickyFlies they are sold out of everything!

[@tenkaraintheiowadriftless]

I’m wondering how in the world your tippet survived that pike’s toothy maw. Under typical circumstances I’m guessing it wouldn’t last 3 seconds.

[@FlickyFlies]

It’s a new technique Gary, fish line so thin that it slips right in between the teeth of the pike, touching only gums!! You saw it here first!!

[@jaripalviainen7740]

6x dont work on swedish pikes had to test and it snapped

[@superdeluxesmell]

Terrific! What did were you using if you don’t mind me asking. I’d be afraid I’d snap a Tenkara rod with a decent pile.

[@FlickyFlies]

Thanks for watching!! I am using a Suntech Tenkarabum 36. Not as stiff as many of the American (tenkara USA, tenkara rod co., Zen tenkara etc) rods I’ve had the opportunity to jiggle, so it really was quite a feeling when he made his first couple runs. It gets the blood pumping. I’ve broken a few rods, but usually doing something stupid, or on hook sets that are way too strong. As long as you keep the angle of the rod not too steep backwards while also not letting the rod straighten out (that’ll break your tippet quick), and most importantly, move your feet, you can land some surprisingly big fish on tenkara. Long reply but in the end it all comes down to experience. You’ll kind of learn the limits of your rod in time. This trip to Illinois taught me a lot with a 20” rainbow, this pike, and some big smallmouth between the couple days I fished. Lemme know if you have any other questions.

[@superdeluxesmell]

@@FlickyFlies That’s great! Thanks so much for the advice, I really appreciate it. I got my first Tenkara rod a few weeks ago (a Dragontsil Mizuchi) and it crossed my mind to take it to a canal nearby that has a decent amount of perch and some good pike in it, but I was too afraid. Might give it a whirl now.

[@FlickyFlies]

@@superdeluxesmell that’s a pretty small stream rod from what I just read, I’d maybe downsize the tippet a bit too just to be safe until you kind of get the feel for what a pike feels like. Although, my rod that I was using measure 18 pennies and yours is 16, so not a huge difference. Pennies are a measurement of backbone sort of to simplify it. Give it a shot, but maybe throw some 6x on until you’re confidence the pike won’t be too big! And if you hook a big one and feel like it’s gonna wreck your rod, just point your rod at it quickly to straighten the system out and the tippet should pop before the rod, provided you can do that quick enough!

[@benjaminhenegar291]

Great video

[@FlickyFlies]

Thanks, appreciate you watching Benjamin!