yes John;; that metal; hologram looking jig/crank bait I sent you;;; it worked real good in my area for bass; walleye; sauger;; just thought; it should do good in your area. got it from bass pro shop
Carl, do you have Muskellunge and Pike ?We got them also around here but not in the waters I usually fish . These Picks take drag on 4# test and are fun to catch . The teeth have claimed some of my lures though . I 'd like to catch the same fish and get my lures back.
Dave, I don't know that Muskies and Pike as opposed to Pickerel would take as well in Southern Waters as those larger Pike family species I believe are more so a cold water species . Are there any waters around you that have tried introducing them?
Speaking generally, muskies and Northern would suffer here for two reasons
1. Shallow water
2. Temps too high
The Northern Tier of the country has deep, clear, hard water lakes.
A very different chemistry exists there, as does the sunlight penetration and intensity. Put briefly, the Southern impoundment is too warm and lacks the chemistry for the large esox clan members. The adaptability isn't there.
Now, I don't know if they have ever been introduced; my guess is yes, it has been tried.
John;; no pike or muskie in my area of fishing;; but; a couple of counties to my west; is known to have muskies;; and;; farther to the east around Knoxville is also well known for muskie;; just not in my area !
Muskie and pike do fine here - I have stocked both several times. Tiger muskie in particular do well here - I have two different one-acre ponds I manage that have had Tiger muskie in them since 2009. A guide client of mine caught one that would've gone about 32" in March 2014.
Dale Hollow and Center Hill Lakes in middle Tennessee have muskie, as does Melton Hill Reservoir in east Tennessee. Dale Hollow and Center Hill are deep lakes, but definitely not mountain. The ponds I have stocked them in are normal ponds with max depths of 15-20'.
As it turns out, there is a small population of muskie here in SC, toon in the upper reaches of the Broad river. All I've read says they are rare, and not widely dispersed, unlike their pickerel cousins.
Something makes it possible to remain there, although I haven't a clue what.
While they are normally caught in shallow water, They spend a significant portion of their lives in deep water, seeking optimal temperatures. This has led to the myth that their teeth fall out in symmer, causing them to stop biting then!
Obviously, given then right conditions, they can and do live outside their natural range.
Well I am surprised David and Walt !Guess as long as they have a good food source and proper oxygen and a temperature that's adjustable to they are okay.
World record pickerel came from Georgia over 60 years ago... 9 lbs 6 ozs. Savannah River reported to have some giants. Only 3 pickerel on record surpassed the 9 pound mark, and all were caught more than 50 years ago.
Two 'more recent' giants were the Pennsylvania record of 8 lbs 14.5 oz...caught thru the ice in 2002 and the current Maryland record of 8 lbs even caught on Jan. 1, 2015...about a year ago. The PA record is the 4th largest ever documented, according to my findings.
Giant pickerel are rare. For most anglers, a 5 to 6 pound fish would have to be considered a 'lifetime' catch.
A PICKEREL that size actually made the local news a few summer's ago, Jim.
They aren't at all unusual here in SC, but "jackfish" as long as your leg are uncommon. A two foot is a nice prize - a three footer is a monster.
It turned out to be a pickerel day on the pond. The Keitech 4in. Easy Shiner on a 1/10 oz. mushroom jig dipped in JJ's Magic is still the bait to go to. The bass and pickerel are eating it up right now. Good times at the pond. I started with a 15 in. pickerel.
Nice picture. On Shepherd with Greg? About the only time I've gotten pics of myself with a fish I caught is with you. I'm alone probably 95% of the time.
I tried a spinner for a little while, but North Twin Lake does not lend itself to them with all the muck and weeds. I need something that will get through it without catching a pound of weeds. The Keitech on the jig does that pretty well. I also set up a Carolina Rig with a crawfish on a 1/0 finesse hook. Nothing happened with that either. Today they wanted the shiner. Hope to hook up with you sooner or later.
Fished with buddy Steve . That pickerel had me hung up in Lily pad stems . We got the boat over to him and i moved him from the other side. He was well hooked though . One Bass on a different spinner bait and a dink and a another 2# Bass on a Charlie Brewer slider Paddle tail on a 32nd oz Jig head . I got fish on Chartreuse ,White, Yellow colors with both Silver and Gold blades .Crawlers and live shiners and Herring got nothing .Go figure .
Happy Cinco de Mayo. The fish must have been hunkered down partying, cause they sure weren't biting. One 15 inch pickerel for a one and a half hour session on the pond. With this cold, rainy weather pattern the "catching" part of fishing is tailing off. Brave Helios, wake up your steeds Bring the warmth the countryside needs
I don't usually fish a Sluggo for Pickerel but the two I 've caught were good sized .Years ago I got a 23 + off a point in 20+ feet of water and I got a 22" the other day . I'm gonna start throwing it more .It's a fabulous Bass bait and one of my biggest came on it . ( 5,1/2 # 21,1/2 ")
The shallow ponds are getting lots of pads now and we have a streak of hot weather up here .Next time I go back I'll probaly step up the # test . 8 # test has worked fine but I got 10 and 12 set up which I'll probably switch over to . It's been a great Pickerel bite David .You know when the Pickerel are " in bloom " when they can be caught on trailers and skirts extending out to 2 ,3/4 " behind the fixed hook , without a stinger hook !
Three Pickerel in 3-4 'of shallow pads and weeds nailed a 6" Sluggo yesterday .One pickerel took a Bomber Crankbait casted in 15-20' of water .Greg got two in the shallows off Rock/Weeds on a Flutter spoon .
HEY JOHN;; THAT TABLE ALSO WORKS GREAT FOR WASHING VEGGIES RIGHT OUT OF THE GARDEN ! LOL;; SO FAR ; THATS WHAT ITS BEEN USED FOR ! WHEN IT COOLS DOWN ENOUGH; I HOPE TO GET OUT; CATCH A FEW NICE FISH;; TRY IT OUT ON THE FILLETTING ! BY THE WAY;; BY ADDING A SPLITTER ON THE WATER HOSE ; HAVING A SPRAYER IS TERRIFIC !!
Trolling this Bomber 4A 'Real Craw' Crank bait got three Pickerel between 18-19" and a 10.5 "Trout .The lure was fished on 10# test outside and in /over the weeds in the 10'-20' zone. The lure dives 3-6'. The ' Creek Craw' pattern tracked well even after cranking in 4 fish through the thick August Coontail weeds .Well made Crank bait!
Trolled the Bomber 'Deep Long A' (10 Llb mono)got a bump.Went back to area with a vertical Jigging approach using an untipped Nungesser 16th oz. Nickel Shad spoon.( 6# Pline copolymer )Immediately after reaching bottom got a vicious strike and got a 19" Pickerel in the boat .No net was a mistake I hope to never repeat .The fish was furious and when I grabbed the line 6-8 "above the spoon and mouth it leaped and cut the side of my finger .I went right back to the dock and loaded up the boat in the truck as the finger was bleeding and not stopping .Applied Peroxide ,Neosporine ointment and bandage as soon as I could . It appears to be not a real bad cut and is on the side not tip of finger and hope it won't interfere with my four Guitar gigs this week . Bomber Deep Long A specs: 3 1/2in 3/8 oz Cranking depth: 10 – 12 Ft Trolling Depth : 15 – 20 Ft Hook size-# 4 Tx3
HEY JOHN;; I MADE UP A REAL SMALL EMERGENCY; ( WOUND ) KIT;; NOTHING BUT;; COTTON BALLS; TAPE;; AND PETROLUM JELLY ! THE VASELINE;; IS THE FASTEST BLOOD CLOTTER KNOWN ! ITS WHAT THE DOCS USE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS TO CLOT THE BLOOD !!;; SOO IF; AND SHOULD I GET STABBED; I APPLY SOME VASELINE TO A COTTON BALL;; PUT IT ION THE STAB; TAPE IT UP GOOD;;; IT STOPS THE BLEEDING ; IN SECONDS !! AND;; A COTTON BALL WITH VASELINE;; IS A FANTASTIC FIRE STARTER ! ONE BALL LOADED WITH VASELINE; WILL BURN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES !!
That 's a great idea Carl! .I should do this . The cut is doing well and I played a lot of guitar last night without a problem. The neosporine helped a lot .
carl hendrix
hey John;; sounds like a good idea;; only one way to find out if it works !! I;m still looking for some thinner wire for you !
Oct 21, 2015
carl hendrix
John; that hard bait I sent you; works real good in my area;; give it a try some time ! casting or trolling !
Oct 21, 2015
John Sheehan
Last Pickerel was 19,1/2 ".Took a 3" Herring .
Oct 29, 2015
John Sheehan
Dec 15, 2015
John Sheehan
Carl Hendrix ,which Hard Bait . Do you mean the Blade Bait?\
Dec 15, 2015
carl hendrix
yes John;; that metal; hologram looking jig/crank bait I sent you;;; it worked real good in my area for bass; walleye; sauger;; just thought; it should do good in your area. got it from bass pro shop
Dec 15, 2015
carl hendrix
thats a real nice pike you got John;; I dont have any of those in my water;; dang it !
Dec 15, 2015
John Sheehan
Carl, do you have Muskellunge and Pike ?We got them also around here but not in the waters I usually fish . These Picks take drag on 4# test and are fun to catch . The teeth have claimed some of my lures though . I 'd like to catch the same fish and get my lures back.
Dec 17, 2015
John Sheehan
OH so you have Saugers !
Dec 17, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
PICKEREL however are common; we call em "jackfish"
Dec 17, 2015
John Sheehan
Dave, I don't know that Muskies and Pike as opposed to Pickerel would take as well in Southern Waters as those larger Pike family species I believe are more so a cold water species . Are there any waters around you that have tried introducing them?
Dec 17, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
1. Shallow water
2. Temps too high
The Northern Tier of the country has deep, clear, hard water lakes.
A very different chemistry exists there, as does the sunlight penetration and intensity. Put briefly, the Southern impoundment is too warm and lacks the chemistry for the large esox clan members. The adaptability isn't there.
Now, I don't know if they have ever been introduced; my guess is yes, it has been tried.
Dec 17, 2015
carl hendrix
John;; no pike or muskie in my area of fishing;; but; a couple of counties to my west; is known to have muskies;; and;; farther to the east around Knoxville is also well known for muskie;; just not in my area !
Dec 17, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
Dec 17, 2015
Walt Foreman
Muskie and pike do fine here - I have stocked both several times. Tiger muskie in particular do well here - I have two different one-acre ponds I manage that have had Tiger muskie in them since 2009. A guide client of mine caught one that would've gone about 32" in March 2014.
Dale Hollow and Center Hill Lakes in middle Tennessee have muskie, as does Melton Hill Reservoir in east Tennessee. Dale Hollow and Center Hill are deep lakes, but definitely not mountain. The ponds I have stocked them in are normal ponds with max depths of 15-20'.
Dec 17, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
Something makes it possible to remain there, although I haven't a clue what.
While they are normally caught in shallow water, They spend a significant portion of their lives in deep water, seeking optimal temperatures. This has led to the myth that their teeth fall out in symmer, causing them to stop biting then!
Obviously, given then right conditions, they can and do live outside their natural range.
Dec 18, 2015
John Sheehan
Well I am surprised David and Walt !Guess as long as they have a good food source and proper oxygen and a temperature that's adjustable to they are okay.
Dec 18, 2015
Jim Gronaw
World record pickerel came from Georgia over 60 years ago... 9 lbs 6 ozs. Savannah River reported to have some giants. Only 3 pickerel on record surpassed the 9 pound mark, and all were caught more than 50 years ago.
Two 'more recent' giants were the Pennsylvania record of 8 lbs 14.5 oz...caught thru the ice in 2002 and the current Maryland record of 8 lbs even caught on Jan. 1, 2015...about a year ago. The PA record is the 4th largest ever documented, according to my findings.
Giant pickerel are rare. For most anglers, a 5 to 6 pound fish would have to be considered a 'lifetime' catch.
Good Luck!
Dec 18, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
They aren't at all unusual here in SC, but "jackfish" as long as your leg are uncommon. A two foot is a nice prize - a three footer is a monster.
Dec 18, 2015
Gary Boysen
It turned out to be a pickerel day on the pond. The Keitech 4in. Easy Shiner on a 1/10 oz. mushroom jig dipped in JJ's Magic is still the bait to go to. The bass and pickerel are eating it up right now. Good times at the pond. I started with a 15 in. pickerel.
Next was a 22 inch beauty.
Followed by a big, fat 24 inch...my personal best.
And wrapped it up with a 15 incher.
May 3, 2016
John Sheehan
Great Pickerel session . Gary .Got a 20 " er on a spinnerbait today along with Two Bass .
May 3, 2016
Gary Boysen
Nice picture. On Shepherd with Greg? About the only time I've gotten pics of myself with a fish I caught is with you. I'm alone probably 95% of the time.
May 4, 2016
Gary Boysen
I tried a spinner for a little while, but North Twin Lake does not lend itself to them with all the muck and weeds. I need something that will get through it without catching a pound of weeds. The Keitech on the jig does that pretty well. I also set up a Carolina Rig with a crawfish on a 1/0 finesse hook. Nothing happened with that either. Today they wanted the shiner. Hope to hook up with you sooner or later.
May 4, 2016
John Sheehan
Fished with buddy Steve . That pickerel had me hung up in Lily pad stems . We got the boat over to him and i moved him from the other side. He was well hooked though . One Bass on a different spinner bait and a dink and a another 2# Bass on a Charlie Brewer slider Paddle tail on a 32nd oz Jig head . I got fish on Chartreuse ,White, Yellow colors with both Silver and Gold blades .Crawlers and live shiners and Herring got nothing .Go figure .
May 4, 2016
John Sheehan
http://bigbluegill.com/photo/big-bait-pickerel-bite
May 5, 2016
Gary Boysen
Happy Cinco de Mayo. The fish must have been hunkered down partying, cause they sure weren't biting. One 15 inch pickerel for a one and a half hour session on the pond. With this cold, rainy weather pattern the "catching" part of fishing is tailing off. Brave Helios, wake up your steeds Bring the warmth the countryside needs
May 6, 2016
John Sheehan
My brother was throwing a spinner bait with an " Easy Shiner " for a trailer yesterday.
May 6, 2016
John Sheehan
May 7, 2016
John Sheehan
Pickerel Baits
Got 5 and one dink Bass .
May 7, 2016
John Sheehan
Pickerel tools for fishing early pads in small ponds.
May 12, 2016
David, aka, "McScruff"
Slug-Go and Spinner bait.
Interesting, I see almost no lily pads around here.
May 12, 2016
John Sheehan
I don't usually fish a Sluggo for Pickerel but the two I 've caught were good sized .Years ago I got a 23 + off a point in 20+ feet of water and I got a 22" the other day . I'm gonna start throwing it more .It's a fabulous Bass bait and one of my biggest came on it . ( 5,1/2 # 21,1/2 ")
May 12, 2016
John Sheehan
The shallow ponds are getting lots of pads now and we have a streak of hot weather up here .Next time I go back I'll probaly step up the # test . 8 # test has worked fine but I got 10 and 12 set up which I'll probably switch over to . It's been a great Pickerel bite David .You know when the Pickerel are " in bloom " when they can be caught on trailers and skirts extending out to 2 ,3/4 " behind the fixed hook , without a stinger hook !
May 12, 2016
John Sheehan
Three Pickerel in 3-4 'of shallow pads and weeds nailed a 6" Sluggo yesterday .One pickerel took a Bomber Crankbait casted in 15-20' of water .Greg got two in the shallows off Rock/Weeds on a Flutter spoon .
May 20, 2016
John Sheehan
5 pickerel on #3 Aglia , #4 Blue Fox Vibrax spinners and stepped up to 6 " Sluggo from 4.5".
Jun 1, 2016
John Sheehan
More late May Pickerel Lures :
Jun 1, 2016
David, aka, "McScruff"
Jun 1, 2016
John Sheehan
Yea man!
Jun 1, 2016
John Sheehan
Jun 17, 2016
David, aka, "McScruff"
Jun 17, 2016
John Sheehan
Thataway David!
Jun 17, 2016
John Sheehan
Aug 14, 2016
carl hendrix
THATS A GREAT CATCH JOHN !
Aug 14, 2016
John Sheehan
Tasty meals too Carl!Fish table utilized again .Congrats on getting your fish table ,you'll love it!
Aug 15, 2016
carl hendrix
HEY JOHN;; THAT TABLE ALSO WORKS GREAT FOR WASHING VEGGIES RIGHT OUT OF THE GARDEN ! LOL;; SO FAR ; THATS WHAT ITS BEEN USED FOR ! WHEN IT COOLS DOWN ENOUGH; I HOPE TO GET OUT; CATCH A FEW NICE FISH;; TRY IT OUT ON THE FILLETTING ! BY THE WAY;; BY ADDING A SPLITTER ON THE WATER HOSE ; HAVING A SPRAYER IS TERRIFIC !!
Aug 15, 2016
John Sheehan
Funny Carl , that's what Linda said and she wants to use it that way.
Aug 15, 2016
John Sheehan
Trolling this Bomber 4A 'Real Craw' Crank bait got three Pickerel between 18-19" and a 10.5 "Trout .The lure was fished on 10# test outside and in /over the weeds in the 10'-20' zone. The lure dives 3-6'. The ' Creek Craw' pattern tracked well even after cranking in 4 fish through the thick August Coontail weeds .Well made Crank bait!
Aug 20, 2016
John Sheehan
Went back to this spot and used a one two punch .
Trolled the Bomber 'Deep Long A' (10 Llb mono)got a bump.Went back to area with a vertical Jigging approach using an untipped Nungesser 16th oz. Nickel Shad spoon.( 6# Pline copolymer )Immediately after reaching bottom got a vicious strike and got a 19" Pickerel in the boat .No net was a mistake I hope to never repeat .The fish was furious and when I grabbed the line 6-8 "above the spoon and mouth it leaped and cut the side of my finger .I went right back to the dock and loaded up the boat in the truck as the finger was bleeding and not stopping .Applied Peroxide ,Neosporine ointment and bandage as soon as I could . It appears to be not a real bad cut and is on the side not tip of finger and hope it won't interfere with my four Guitar gigs this week .
Bomber Deep Long A specs: 3 1/2in 3/8 oz Cranking depth: 10 – 12 Ft Trolling Depth : 15 – 20 Ft Hook size-# 4 Tx3
Aug 25, 2016
carl hendrix
HEY JOHN;; I MADE UP A REAL SMALL EMERGENCY; ( WOUND ) KIT;; NOTHING BUT;; COTTON BALLS; TAPE;; AND PETROLUM JELLY ! THE VASELINE;; IS THE FASTEST BLOOD CLOTTER KNOWN ! ITS WHAT THE DOCS USE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS TO CLOT THE BLOOD !!;; SOO IF; AND SHOULD I GET STABBED; I APPLY SOME VASELINE TO A COTTON BALL;; PUT IT ION THE STAB; TAPE IT UP GOOD;;; IT STOPS THE BLEEDING ; IN SECONDS !! AND;; A COTTON BALL WITH VASELINE;; IS A FANTASTIC FIRE STARTER ! ONE BALL LOADED WITH VASELINE; WILL BURN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES !!
Aug 25, 2016
John Sheehan
That 's a great idea Carl! .I should do this . The cut is doing well and I played a lot of guitar last night without a problem. The neosporine helped a lot .
Aug 25, 2016