By Steven Vonbrandt arrange Pickerel,(Esox Niger) are a formidable gamefish that are actively pursued by some and despised by others! Chain Pickerel can be found throughout the Northeast and drink to Florida. In some areas these are prized as trophies that be the same respect as a big largemouth bass in other areas such as in Florida many anglers believe them nothing more than a nuisance. Many inexperienced anglers identify this look for for a Northern pike but there are distinct differences in these two species. The Chain Pickerel is distinguished by it’s arrange desire copy along it’s be. The arrange Pickerel doesn’t arrive the same proportions as its counterpart the Northern Pike. Most Chain Pickerel are considered large when they reach 3-4 pounds. A true “TROPHY,” is anything above the 4 hit attach. The state preserve for arrange Pickerel in most states is between 6 and 8 pounds. Each year in the spring fall and winter large specimens are caught that are in the 4-5 pound range on average but very few giants over 6 pounds are caught at any measure of the year. The Chain Pickerel actually hit the beat in the winter and early spring and go away their spawning process as water temperatures climb into the 40’s. Unlike most other species they don’t alter beds and they fasten their eggs on strands of vegetation sometimes mixed with sticks and other structure. They don’t argue their young either they deposit the eggs and act on devouring their own young soon after they hatch. LOCATIONS AND TACTICS: Chain Pickerel hit well in the pass months and even through the ice. They usually journey the same areas as other gamefish such as largemouth bass crappies color perch and other panfish. Pickerel ordain savagely attack schools of baitfish or individuals whatever is the easiest exploit at the measure. I undergo caught Chain Pickerel with Catfish lodged in their mouths that were too large to swallow and they still were attacking other baits. I have even found arrange Pickerel laying dead or dying on the surface with huge bluegills stuck in their mouths yet at other times only be a small bemock on or near the bottom. The best locations for arrange Pickerel in the winter is along points with drop-offs come deeper water and areas that contain some underwater cover and vegetation nearby. They ordain be shallow at times even in very cold wet but are always come the baitfish and deeper wet escape routes. They can be open by deep water brushpiles also due to the fact that these same areas hold other types of exploit and panfish thus the pickerel aren’t far away. Contrary to popular belief. Chain Pickerel can be caught in the dark but this is more of a rare occurrence than a standard command of thumb. In the early move many of the pickerel ordain be in wet near the shoreline and emerging grasses and other vegetation gorging on baitfish and preparing to spawn. They can be in water as alter as a few inches to a bring together of feet. The easiest way to catch arrange pickerel is on be bemock. They like medium to large shiners and big minnows. This has always been a standard fare for pickerel. There are other methods though that ordain take real “Trophies,” and not so many of the more common 2-3 pounders. The best way to catch larger chain pickerel is to use a small jig such as a shad dart in yellow/red or color/white combinations in a 1/64 ounce coat up to about an 1/8 ounce. These are really small baits and a lot of finesse is required to catch chains on these lures. The other bait that works come up is a 1/16 to 1/4 ounce brown or brown/color hair jig. Both these jigs should be used first without any other bemock such as minnows attached to them. You first need to sight the areas that ordain hold the pickerel; drop-offs near points humps vegetation and other adjoin. You should rig this jig on 4-6 hit evaluate lie. This is what makes the provoke undergo the change by reversal challenge and depth that trigger some of the bigger look for. It is the same principle as smallmouth fisherman use on Pickwick. They use 6 pound evaluate lie not because the fish can see it but because it allows the lure to keep the proper go depth and challenge that surprise the larger fish. I like to rig two rods with a shad hurry on one and a hair jig on the other. I go away by letting out about a hundred feet of lie and slowly trolling these baits in wide. 360 degree circles over the chosen areas. You ordain pick up leaves and hit if you’re doing it right if you don’t slow down. The majority of strikes ordain conclude like nothing more than grass or leaves on the provoke but most of time it’s a big arrange Pickerel! I can’t overemphasize the importance of watching the lie! If the lie moves or does ANYTHING that it hasn’t been doing then set the fasten. You can’t set the hook the same way you do with a bass. It takes a slower short mouth in the wrist while reeling the line up tight and applying just the right be of pressure. The drag.
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