Most of the lakes in central Alberta are closed from March 1 till May 15 for spawning season, so when they finally do open we like to get out and do some opening day pike fishing. With the concern surrounding Whirling Disease, our local stocked ponds have seen stocking numbers reduced to less than 30% of their normal levels thus making stocked trout fishing less appealing. Either way opening day pike fishing is always a good time and this year was no exception.

I started the day at first light (6am) and after pumping up the float tube was ready to hit the lake. I started with my good ol' faithful Yellow Bunny Leech and the action was non stop. I caught so many pike that I decided to try one of our new flies, the Double Bunny Olive and White and the fish kept coming. After an hour of that I decided to try a variation of the Bunny Leech in red and white that we are testing for sale. I couldn't believe it when the pike went even more crazy for this lure. There was a point where I missed the same fish 6 times and it kept coming back before I finally caught it. It was a beautiful 24" pike with amazing coloration. The day didn't stop from there as the fish kept coming by the end of the morning I had caught 25 pike in 4 hours.

With the lower stocking levels in Alberta last and this year I plan on avoiding the stocked ponds and going for stream trout or pike in lakes. The thing about pike on the fly is that once you get one the excitement never stops.