Over recent years, fly fishing for predatory species has surged in popularity. Whether it’s the heart stopping moment a pike follows and smashes your fly at the rod tip, the lightning fast hit from a zander that rips the line from your hands, or the sight of a perch bristling its dorsal spines for the camera — predator fly fishing delivers unparalleled excitement.
But with that excitement comes responsibility. Predators may look fearsome, yet they’re surprisingly fragile. Land them quickly, handle them with care, and release them in strong condition to fight another day.
Here at Wychwood, we offer a wide range of fly rods and reels — with several models perfectly suited to predator fly fishing across a variety of venues.
A lovely marked pike from a trout water
Choosing a Rod
Predator fly rods need to cast and turn over large, bulky flies with ease while having the strength to land big fish quickly.
A 20 pound plus pike, fish this size demand strong tackle to land quickly and safely
Here are our top picks:
Wychwood PDR Range – Specialist Predator Fly Rods
9ft #8 PDR – The lightest in the range, ideal for smaller predator flies and targeting specimen perch, zander, or pike on smaller waters like canals, rivers, and small lakes. Also capable in saltwater for species such as bass.
9ft #9 PDR – The perfect all-round predator fly rod. Handles large flies with ease but retains the finesse for smaller patterns. Suitable for pike, big zander, and big perch across reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and canals — plus saltwater use.
9ft #10 PDR – The powerhouse. Designed for the largest flies and biggest pike. Ideal for snaggy venues with weed beds, submerged trees, or urban structures where extra stopping power is essential.
Wychwood Ionica and Truefly FA Range – For Smaller Predators
Originally designed for trout, the Ionica and Truefly range excels in light predator situations with a #6 or #7 weight. Perfect for perch and small zander on waters where pike are scarce. Handles smaller streamers and baitfish patterns beautifully and is also suited to sea trout and light saltwater work.
Smaller predators such as perch give great sport on lighter 6 and 7 weight fly rods
Fly Reels
A good predator fly reel needs capacity for heavier fly lines, a smooth drag, and light weight for all day use.
Wychwood PDR Reels – Built to match the PDR rods, these lightweight aluminium reels feature a large disc drag system for exceptional performance. Available in #7/8 and #9/11 sizes.
Wychwood Ionica Reel – Perfect for lighter predator rods. The 5/6 size features a powerful sealed drag for reliable fish control.
Wychwood Truefly SLA Reels - Featuring a cassette system which is ideal for carrying multiple fly lines.
The PDR handles large flies with ease.
Other Tackle Essentials
- Backing: At least 50 yards of 30lb, leaving enough space for the fly line.
- Lines: Match the weight to your rod. Predator lines are generally heavier to aid turnover of big flies. Carry a selection from floating to fast sinking to suit different venues.
- Leaders & Traces: Use heavy leaders for larger fish. Where pike are present, always use a bite trace — wire or heavy fluorocarbon.
- Fish Care Gear: A large landing net, unhooking mat, weigh sling, and long nosed pliers are essential. The Wychwood Agitator range covers all these needs.
Never go predator fishing without the right unhooking tools
The Thrill of Predator Fly Fishing
Predator fly fishing brings an exciting new dimension to the sport — appealing to any angler looking for something different on the fly rod. At Wychwood, we’re already developing new predator specific fly rods to meet the growing demand, and the future for this style of fishing looks incredibly bright.
Made by anglers for anglers, our designer tests a prototype of the next generation of predator fly rods.
