08-05-2008, 04:46 PM
I was just wondering, where do pickerel live, and how would you catch one?![[Image: dumb.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/dumb.gif)
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08-05-2008, 05:22 PM
Pickerel or the Cain Pickerel are mostly found on the East Coast. You can get the just about anywhere from Canada down to Florida. They can also be found in the Southeast states of GA, AL, MI, OK and TX.
Pickerel are best fished on Bass lures. The flashier, the better. Krocodiles and other types of shiny spoons are good.
Since the Pickerel only get on average to around 4 pounds, you do not need very heavy of gear. The biggest Pickerel ever caught was only 9lbs.
15lb test with a 20lb Tyger leader is what I use for them when I'm in the area. I also like the 4in Krocodile with the prismatic tape and bucktail with the red dot.[cool]
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Pickerel are best fished on Bass lures. The flashier, the better. Krocodiles and other types of shiny spoons are good.
Since the Pickerel only get on average to around 4 pounds, you do not need very heavy of gear. The biggest Pickerel ever caught was only 9lbs.
15lb test with a 20lb Tyger leader is what I use for them when I'm in the area. I also like the 4in Krocodile with the prismatic tape and bucktail with the red dot.[cool]
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08-05-2008, 05:59 PM
k, thanks![[Image: happy.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/happy.gif)
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08-07-2008, 08:47 PM
Here in Northeast Pennsylvania, chain pickerel are very common. PA also has redfin pickerel and grass pickerel though I've never caught one. The latter two species are much smaller than chain pickerel.
Anyway, I like a little pickerel fishing when the bass fishing is slow. I've probably caught at least a hundred so far this year, mostly at a local reservoir. I have caught pickerel in deeper water, but overgrown shorelines are really the hot spots here. If I wanted to catch nothing but pickerel, I'd bring a medium or medium light spinning rod, a 1/4 or 3/8 oz all-silver Blue Fox Vibrax in-line spinner, and spool the reel with 10 or 15 pound braided line. Monofilament will work for the most part, but I have lost a fish or two. Pickerels' teeth aren't as nasty as pike or muskies, but there is some abrasion factor to consider in line selection.
Pickerel will hit almost anything since they are very aggressive and predatory. I've caught them on hard jerkbaits, crankbaits, rattle traps, live minnows, and even senkos and nightcrawlers. 80%+ of the pickerel I've caught have either been on in-line spinners or spinnerbaits. They really seem to catch the fishes' attention.
They are kind of a pain in the neck if you're really targeting bass and run into a mess of pickerel. I always use a net when I'm fishing pickerel inhabited areas because their mouths are bony and fragile. You can't handle them the way you would handle a bass, plus they are slimey. I net them, subdue them, unhook them and get them back into the water ASAP. If you don't subdue them, they'll get the hook stuck in the net and possibly even rip their own mouths to shreds trying to dislodge the hook.
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Anyway, I like a little pickerel fishing when the bass fishing is slow. I've probably caught at least a hundred so far this year, mostly at a local reservoir. I have caught pickerel in deeper water, but overgrown shorelines are really the hot spots here. If I wanted to catch nothing but pickerel, I'd bring a medium or medium light spinning rod, a 1/4 or 3/8 oz all-silver Blue Fox Vibrax in-line spinner, and spool the reel with 10 or 15 pound braided line. Monofilament will work for the most part, but I have lost a fish or two. Pickerels' teeth aren't as nasty as pike or muskies, but there is some abrasion factor to consider in line selection.
Pickerel will hit almost anything since they are very aggressive and predatory. I've caught them on hard jerkbaits, crankbaits, rattle traps, live minnows, and even senkos and nightcrawlers. 80%+ of the pickerel I've caught have either been on in-line spinners or spinnerbaits. They really seem to catch the fishes' attention.
They are kind of a pain in the neck if you're really targeting bass and run into a mess of pickerel. I always use a net when I'm fishing pickerel inhabited areas because their mouths are bony and fragile. You can't handle them the way you would handle a bass, plus they are slimey. I net them, subdue them, unhook them and get them back into the water ASAP. If you don't subdue them, they'll get the hook stuck in the net and possibly even rip their own mouths to shreds trying to dislodge the hook.
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08-09-2008, 04:32 AM
we've got tone of them here in CT, you can catch them anyway you catch bass... bright colored baits seem to work well... good luck, and watch their teeth.
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