My Aniak trip during the 3rd week of September was great fishing for Pike. I never thought that Pike can eat like a bear 24/7 appetite! In fact, it didn't matter what we threw at them for flies or lures. They ate anything that hit the water. My anticipated fly patterns consisted of black articulated bunny leeches with a little flash. I learned two very important lessons from my father-in-law Dave when it comes to fishing Pike. First, never lean over the side of the boat as your pulling your fly or lure up. I ignored that hint until I was attempting to strip the line in for another cast leaning over to grab the fly to remove grass....wouldn't you know that a damn Pike torpedoed out of the water nearly eating my nose for lunch! Second, never use flies with more than two hooks i.e. stingers or lures with two trebble hooks. What a mistake to think that any Pike caught with more than two hooks is an easy release!
