Pickerel...... darn snakefish !!!!

[Bassnajr]

Hello all...

A quick question on chain pickerel...

Are they "lone wolves" or do they school at any certain times of the year

I have checked the NET and no mention of this.

Any help????

Thanks,

bassinajr

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Lone wolves. You may find them concentrated in certain areas but that is because they are using the same structure/cover.  They do not travel or congregate in open water together.

[jwo1124]

I think pound for pound pickerel are a great fighting fish. The only thing I dislike about catching them is that they don't ware out. They keep flopping around, and in most cases digging the hooks deeper into their mouths and in other cases hooking more of the trebles into them. Gotta give it to them though, they are fighters.

[Marty]

I agree with jwo1124; pickerel have always fought well in my experience, better than largemouth in my opinion.

[Guest avid]

I know in many places the chain pickerel is considered a trash fish.

but there are a few things to consider.

1. they are vicious when they slash at a lure.

2. they usually are very shallow so love topwaters.

3. give a great fight.

And now for something completely different.

They are really delicious.  The meat is sweet white meat, very tasty requiring only a little lemon, butter, S&P to make a fine meal.

[A_Glenn_2]

And now for something completely different.

They are really delicious. The meat is sweet white meat, very tasty requiring only a little lemon, butter, S&P to make a fine meal.

Didnt know that Avid have to try 1 some day

[Bassn Blvd]

I'll 2nd that.  They are good eating...  Maybe It's a Florida thing.

[.dsaavedra.]

dude i love pickerel. i'll forgive the one that slashed my thumb.....cuz i totally agree w/ jwo1124 cuz the two that i caught were amazing fighers but the only thing is they thrashed around once landed and are very hard to handle...slimy as hell.

[bass109]

pickerel are fun fish to catch, by biggest was 4 lb 2oz. I believe they are lone wolves but they do swim in a school around fall season.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

they do swim in a school around fall season.

Did you read that somewhere?  Everything I can find on the subject says otherwise.

IMO- there ain't nothing trashy about a Pickerel.  I read an article a long time ago about different "body styles" of saltwater fish and one thing that was pointed out was how the long , skinny fish have a double hinge meaning the body can "S" itself.  This gives it a "double pump" with every tail thrust.  Think about a bass that is flexing to the side, it can only make the shape of a "C".  Single thrust when it uncoils.  Pretty cool stuff, I'm going to try and dig that one up and scan it in.

[.dsaavedra.]

i did read somewhere that they spawn in january in temperate areas like here in southern maryland. that gives me one reason to drag my dad out fishing in the winter :D

[Tin]

bassinajr:

If you dont like them dont fish the following lakes...

Johnsons, Tiogue, Slatersvilles, Wordens, Watchaug, Indian. O wait EVERY Rhodey lake has them, lol.  

But there is only 1 pickeral in RWP named Petey, someone must have thrown him in, he is about 4 pounds, lol.

[Tokyo Tony]

Slimedarts

Not a fan at all, but I'll definitely have to try them for supper sometime.  I just always assumed they'd taste bad.

My first topwater fish of 2007 was a slimedart, between 2 and 3 lbns, freakin' EXPLODED on a Yo-Zuri banana boat.  That was fun, but I'd much rather catch a bass.

[Crabcakes]

I enjoy catching them very much. I don't run into them often where I fish so they are a welcome change. I actually prefer to catch them over bass of the same size. Suppose if they chewed up my lures day in and day out I'd feel different.

[RobbyZ5001]

I like pickerel but I only like them when I target them. I do hate when they bite off my cranks or topwaters though. Which is why I use braid on top now. As for pickerel for eats... My grandmother pressure cooks them  picks the meat off the bones and makes a crab patty like mix. It tastes amazing I suggest if you like it try it. She also does it for suckers. Both the suckers and the pickerel have to be over 20 inches to have a good share of meat. Pike work also and when you get a 30-40 inch pike you have about 5 meals worth of food. I have multible canals where I live the weeds come all the way up to the surface. I use a zoom trick worm weedless and weightless and work it like a snake over the weeds. So much fun....

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Fluking for Picks in the spring is a sure fire way to cure cabin fever.  We spend 1/2 the time finding a few of the early season bass and when that window closes (warm parts of the day), we specifically target the picks.  A fun way to say,....."We're baaaaack"

[jwo1124]

I never though about the "C" or "S" thing but its true. I see it in rainbows too. it seems they can contort their bodies as well. That's probably why a 1.5LB stockie fights like a 4 lb. bass.