Its a well known fact that large predatory fish target and strike the head of bait fish.  No doubt this observation has led to a number of eyes that range from flashy attractor patterns to ultra realistic eyes that can be custom ordered to match specific fish.  Most eyes, regardless of their makeup, tend to be fairly small  relative to the size of the fly pattern and do not immediately stand out against an array of flashy body materials.  The product development team at Piketrek have devised a product that brings color, flash, and realistic detail to the primary target area of baitfish flies: The Head!


Fish gills come in a huge range of colors, sizes, and shapes to match just about any pattern you might tie.  The gills themselves are made out of what feels like a sturdy foil that offers structure for soft body materials  and helps to keep the body from fouling the hook when being stripped.  The gills also feature small holes where you can glue (or epoxy) them onto eyes and then onto the head of the fly.  The holes allow for a good connecting point, that makes for an very durable fly.


Compare a standard perch fly with standard eyes in the picture below to the perch with fish gills tied in.  The head with gills targets the strike zone and brings attention to the part of the fly where the hook is located.


In addition to fish gills Piketrek also carries a fantastic range of innovative fly tying supplies.  Their fish rattles feature hard plastic shells and metal ball bearing to really generate some noise.  They also have a convenient tie in point that makes installing them a breeze.


 If you are looking for a way to spice up your pike (or any predatory fish) flies, then you definitely should check out the offerings from Piketrek.  You can find their complete product line here:  Piketrek