By Nick Simonson

Springtime is pike time.  When the first ice begins to crack and recede, and the waters start flowing in just a few short weeks, pike will be there to meet any lure flung in their direction. Bulky plastic bodies on pink jig heads, the flash of a Daredevle spoon, and this week’s gem on the fly rod all get gators going when winter lets go of area waters.  Quick, light and easy to tie, the Seaducer streamer can be cranked out in a number of colors, but classic red-and-white is one that should be stashed by the half dozen for spring pike fishing on the long rod.  When things warm up, they also pull double-duty for smallmouth and largemouth bass into mid-summer.

MATERIALS
Hook: Mustad 3407 Size 4 to 1/0
Thread: 3/0 White
Tail: 4 white soft hackles
Flash: 2 strands silver tinsel
Body: Palmered white & red soft hackles

CLICK HERE FOR STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL

Start by securing the hook in the vise and forming a thread base along the shank before tying in two white soft hackle feathers on the far side of the hook with the curve facing away from the shank (1).  Next tie in two white soft hackle feathers on the near side of the hook, with the curve facing away from the shank (2).  Secure a strand of tinsel on both sides of the hook to give the streamer some additional flash.  The tinsel can be slightly longer than the feathers that make up the tail (3).

To form the body, tie in a white soft hackle feather by its tips, with the curvature facing the front of the hook (4).  Wrap the feather forward tightly so that the fibers form a dense hackling around the back third of the hook shank, securing the feather and trimming off the excess once complete (5).  Tie in another white soft hackle feather by the tips and repeat the process, making sure to keep the curvature facing forward and feather fibers free on each wrap.  When finished, tie off and trim the excess before tying in a red soft hackle feather by its tips, with the curvature facing backward this time (6). Wrap the red soft hackle forward to just behind the hook eye; tie off, trim and whip finish, adding a drop of head cement for posterity (7).

Expect the Seaducer to take beating from aggressive, toothy fish, so add head cement or superglue like Zap-A-Gap along the way at each step, if planning to use them for spring pike.  Rip and strip them through the water, especially in shallows around creeks, in warm muddy bays and other classic springtime pike locations to entice a powerful reaction strike.  Employ a single-strand steel bite leader to prevent bite-offs and utilize bigger fly rods in the eight-to-ten-weight range to get the leverage on hard-charging springtime northerns.  Being easy to tie, fun to cast and providing fast action makes the Seaducer a perfect match for pike on area waters!