I held the reel in the palm of my hand and attached it to my fly rod that was yearning for use. I had stored the rod, a nine weight St. Croix, carefully in its case last year; it was begging me to attach the reel.

Pflueger has always been my choice for fly fishing reels. The 1598RC is a work horse reel with no frills; it reminds me of my past. Its simple drag system is easy to clean; its exposed face easy to palm for extra drag. The reel is not flashy and makes no claims to impress the abutting flyhead you may encounter.

I smiled at Bill as I threaded the 9wfs line through the rod's eyelets. My leader, a 30lb fluorocarbon, was not tapered. I attached it to the fly line using a nail knot made with a tool purchased from Cabelas. The knot was strong and secure.

As we headed out on the water, I detected a small glean in Bill's eyes. He couldn't help it. He's a dye hard bait fisherman when it comes to fall pike; he knew I wasn't going to catch a thing with my flashy bling studded fly. I begged to differ with him but he wouldn't let me.

We approached the edge of the channel and found a stay; Bill threw the anchor overboard and tied us off. The day was cloudy but the temperature was bearable. We left the top down so I could make a few mistakes on my backcast. Bill grabbed the captain’s chair after he plunked two bait lines over the stern. One line was baited with a dough of Bill's own creation and the other was baited with last year's ocean run smelt. I knew he had the upper hand. Maybe his technique would help me. Scent is always a good way to attract Pike.

I began to cast. The fly's heavy stance and the size of the rod was a toll on me. I finally began to find a rhythm. I needed a fast retrieve to stop the fly from catching bottom. The combination of the fly's weight while being attached to a fast sinking line produced a quick sink rate; a sink rate I was unhappy with. It meant I would have to keep the fly on the move or catch bottom. Twenty, twenty-five, then thirty minutes proceeded with out a hit. Bill's posture had changed. He was up and about. We were both getting itchy and ready to move on!

We eased down stream to a spot where the channel met a small bay. Bill set anchor as I piloted us into position. He then threw his old dough ball overboard and put on a new batch of God knows what! I started to search my boxes for a marshmallow to add to my fly and came up with some Nitro Floating Gems. They would do.

I began to cast. The small piece of Nitro added buoyancy to the heavy fly. This meant I could slow down my presentation. I whipped the water, and then let my fly sink. One, two, three, four, five.....I would count between strips. One, two, three, four, five....Bill looked at me with that glean in his eye.

Fifteen minutes past. Then, I felt a jolt. It was Bill jumping from the helm. His bobber had just sunk out of sight. I watched as Bill patiently let the fish take line. It took the dough ball! Finally, it just blurted out of me "Reel, Bill Reel!" He closed the bail, set the hook and landed a twenty-four inch pike. Not bad for a Dough Boy!

I continued my casting and whipping of the water. I said I wasn't a fly fisherman. I just wanted to catch Pike on a fly rod!

The problem I have with bait fishing is that is just too passive for me. I like to move, cast and do things. But I wasn't catching any fish. I looked at his bucket of dough. And yes, I was tempted to join him. "If you want to bait fish, I've got plenty of dough" Bill smirked. "No thanks" I replied.

I looked down at my fly; I was tempted to cut it off. But it was my creation and I wanted it to work. Then Bill got another hit. As he set the hook the line went limp. I looked at him and laughed. I then saw his pole double over. It was definitely a Pike, and it headed for the deepest part of the channel. He played the fish as I readied the Boga Grip. It flashed as it came to the boat and then it was gone; it was gone to the depths of the channel again.

This time it approached the boat with a surrendering attitude. It thrashed its head as I lounged for it with the Boga. I missed! The Pike made one last ditch effort but came back to the surface quickly. I clipped on the Boga to its lower jaw. Five and half pounds the gauge read. This one was hooked a little deeper and drew blood from my hands as I attempted to unhook it.

I looked at Bill and was going to say.....but he beat me to it! "I'll set the hook quicker" he shouted out before I could begin my scoffing at him. It really pisses me off when fishermen let a fish swallow the bait if they are not planning on keeping the fish.

We resumed our game, but I switch spots with Bill this time. I took the rear and had him cast off the front. "And grab your own @X&# fish this time!" I blasted with a smile. What's a little blood among friends? "Hey, give me a glob of that stuff!" I demanded. I then proceeded to place a piece of dough above the treble of my fly.

I short cast this time, not wanting to knock the bait off my treble on a strong back cast. One, two, three....BANG! "Wow.....Wow.....Oh No" I stated as the fish made a strange circle around the boat. Suddenly, it was taking line off two poles. I looked at Bill and said "Reel or No Reel? That is the question!"

We tried to untangle Bill's line but it was too late. My line was well entangled with his. We just let it go.

Since this was my first time with a Pike on a fly rod, I was surprised at the amount of force I had to palm the reel with to slow the Pike's decent. When I tried to recover line, I couldn't do it fast enough. This fish made several passes as most pike do, but my fumbling with the rod seemed to make every turn an adventure.

As it approached the boat, I noticed it was thinly hooked in the lip, and said a Hail Mary while lunging for its lip. I pinched its lower jaw with my Boga and proceeded to boat the Pike. My first Pike on a fly rod and was I happy! It weighed six and half pounds. I looked at Bill and said "biggest fish today" with a smile that would have embarrassed a Cheshire Cat.

Bill looked at me and smiled back. "I hate to inform you, but half that fish is mine." I looked down to see Bill's hook embedded in the Pike's dorsal fin. "That's illegal Bill....that's illegal! This fish is all mine!" I countered. Bill replied "But Marc, you landed it legally, I'm only claiming my half now that it is on board!"

Bill looked at me and quipped "I just have one question....Reel or No Reel?"

Sometimes, the best of times, are just blurted out of you!

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