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pickerel fishermen

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for those who want to catch more and bigger of this overlooked species

Location: anywhere
Members: 26
Latest Activity: Apr 7

Discussion Forum

favorite lures 22 Replies

my favorites are small jerk baits spoons and poppers.Continue

Started by chris. Last reply by John Sheehan Dec 9, 2023.

Ice Fishing For Pickerel 5 Replies

I have only caught Pickerel and lost suspected Pickerel on clean breakoffs using Tipups.I am anxious to try dead salted shiners on spoons for them at a local lake in a few days. Any one here have…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 28, 2019.

Pickerel on the Fly 5 Replies

Researching using a Fly rod for Pickerel . I know where to find them and get plenty on spoons , Crank baits ,Spinnerbaits ,Sluggos and Live bait so I want to change it up for fun .8 wt Rod/Reel and…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 23, 2019.

Pickerel through the 12 Months

http://bigbluegill.ning.com/photo/albums/monthly-pickerel-catches Continue

Started by John Sheehan May 12, 2018.

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Comment by Ben Seay on December 5, 2014 at 2:45pm: Going to try to do some Pickerel fishing soon when I can get away. Like others have mentioned, they seem to be inconsistent when it comes to being able to target them. I have only ever caught Pickerel when it is between 30 and 40 degrees F outside.

Comment by John Sheehan on December 5, 2014 at 2:31pm: You may be thinking PIKE David not PICKEREL

- The largest chain pickerel on record was caught in Homerville, Georgia in 1961. It was 29.5 inches long, with a weight of 9 pounds 6 ounces. http://www.dto.com/fwfishing/speciesProfile/302

Comment by John Sheehan on December 5, 2014 at 2:27pm: "Chain pickerel actually desire water temperatures from 75 to 80˚F (23.9 to 26.6˚C).

Northern pike are a little fussier when it comes to preferred water temperatures. Smaller fish—those under 6 or 7 lb.—like areas in the 65 to 70˚F (18.3 to 21.1˚C) range, while larger pike like it a bit cooler, from 50 to 55˚F (10 to 12.8˚C). Pike can and do survive in almost any type of habitat, from shallow marshes to the shallow bays of large lakes, to small, coldwater rivers and streams. Typically, pike are most abundant in weedy bays and slow, meandering rivers with lots of weed growth. These preferences are one reason why pike are most common in more northern areas, where living conditions are cooler, such as Labrador, while pickerel are more common in southern waters, such as several of the lakes near Comeauville in Digby County, and near Yarmouth, in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia."

http://www.easternwoodsandwaters.ca/index.php?option=com_content&am...

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 5, 2014 at 2:25pm: I've got em in cold water on spoons too

Comment by John Sheehan on December 5, 2014 at 2:13pm: Yup, catch 'em through the ice but a spinner ? THAT surprised me . Fast retrieves at other times of the year don't surprise me when you catch one .My guess is Greg was working that spinner at a slow pace though .

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 5, 2014 at 2:08pm: Cold water by nature

Comment by John Sheehan on December 5, 2014 at 2:01pm: One thing I learned from Greg's 1st Pickerel catch that day is ,even in 46 degree water you can still catch a Pickerel on a spinner .They were active in the shallows although slow was still the way to go . I chose spoons over spinners because I thought I could work it more slowly and enticingly but whatever Greg used as a retrieve was effective and I was surprised as well as happy to see that first fish in the net!

Comment by John Sheehan on November 26, 2014 at 12:13pm

Comment by John Sheehan on November 26, 2014 at 12:12pm: Some success with Pickerel yesterday 11/25 with small spoons and spinners. 46 degree water . With the boat in 10 ' of water and casting up to a few feet, 5 Pickerel were raised and 4 boated .I was surprised how shallow they were and started out trolling in the 10-20 range then drifting in the 30 - 10 and shallower range over still existing weeds .

Comment by John Sheehan on August 25, 2014 at 10:09am: Reptiles and amphibians for Pickerel .Notes on the two Pickerel catches : Imitation snake retrieve ,Floating worm reeled fast over the weeds/Rock . Saw two Brown snakes in the headlamp wading back to the ramp/parking lot after dark. Rod: Berkeley 6',6" medium action Lightning Rod ; Reel: Daiwa Laguna 2500 ;Line :Bass Pro Shops 10# test ;Worm Rig : 24" leader , barrel swivel, Bass Pro Shops Floating Worm Texas rigged .

24" Pickerel from small pond ,Found a few years ago that the pond has reddish brown salamanders so I experimented with a red/brown tube bait ,glued to a Johnson Spoon and found out it attracts Pickerel .Tried it again this year and caught a 2 foot 3#,1oz beauty .ROD :6',Med. action ,Quantum ,'Dance Class' spinning rod ; REEL: Pflueger President' ,LINE :Cabelas, 8#test mono ,LURE: Johnson Spoon/Tube trailer.

This Pickerel took a big package ;a Gold Johnson spoon with a 3.5" trailer. About 5 and 3/4 " of lure . Amazing seductive wide swimming action on this deadly bait . I have caught Pickerel in the same pond before ,in years past ,using this pair.