Good Pickerel specific baits

[RoLo]

Before this thread goes dead, I feel obligated to say one more thing in defense of my ole friend "Chainsides" (minor pike).

Many anglers believe that chain pickerel will hit anything that moves, but most anglers do not specifically target pickerel.

It's true, when pickerel are aggressive you may catch more pickerel by accident, than you catch bass on purpose.

This is bound to leave the impression that pickerel are suicidal, but when you target them specifically

you quickly learn that pickerel are not "always" aggressive. When we specifically target pickerel we're not looking for 18" spikes,

we're in search of record-class fish (For example: 6.25-lb pickerel = 12-lb bass).

In our experience, when chain pickerel get lockjaw (as they frequently do) they're harder to catch than bass with lockjaw.

As an aside, you might find this interesting though hard to believe.

Back in the 1950s (pre B.A.S.S.) the state of New Jersey conducted a statewide poll.

The unexpected result found chain pickerel to be the most sought-after gamefish in New Jersey, usurping largemouth bass.

Needless to say, since the formation of B.A.S.S in 1968 that's no longer the case.

Roger

[Guest muddy]

THANKS ROLO: I caught many a big pickerel outta Greenwood lake, Way back in the NY side. In the pond that you get to when you go through the coves by Chapel Island. Over past the Bristol Bridge and the old 17 Bridge where BRUKNERS LANDING used to be. Those weeds held some monsters!

[RoLo]

THANKS ROLO: I caught many a big pickerel outta Greenwood lake, Way back in the NY side. In the pond that you get to when you go through the coves by Chapel Island. Over past the Bristol Bridge and the old 17 Bridge where BRUKNERS LANDING used to be. Those weeds held some monsters!

WOW...You're giving me goose-bumps Dom!

I can't help but think that way back when, your boat and mine came within easy casting distance of each other 8-)

Roger

[Guest avid]

Yeah, pickies like flash,

I find that prop baits like the devi's horse can be pickerel killa's.

but I think the one lure I caught my biggest and mostest on was the original Eppingers daredevil in classic red/white.

[Guest muddy]

I used to chase Northern Pike years ago. Top producers were...

#4 Bucktail inline spinner. It seems like "Bucktail" has become some generic name now day's. A true bucktail is brown. Kind of like pulling the hair off a buck's tail. : It might have a red string in it, a little bit of white, and/or a little black in it.

#4 Yellow inline spinner.

Bobber fish with minnow. Really good for river fishing.

Red and white Dare devil.

Basically, they will bite on most anything though. I've had them attack red/white styrofoam bobbers, Fake mice, Rubber duck lure, and a Beer can lure. A small replica can, not a real beer can, you see them in stores once in awhile. The three lures were gag lures we brought with us on a trip to Canada. One did take the beer can lure, much to our surprise. The duck one actually caught a few of them.

Set up of choice was a medium heavy rod with 30lb black braid and a 12" ball bearing steel leader.

i THOUGHT THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT PICKEREL

[T-rig]

i THOUGHT THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT PICKEREL

Pickerel and pike can be caught on the same lures. A pickerel is a smaller version of the pike.

Pickerel= Esox americanus

Pike= Esox lucius

Musky= Esox masquinongy

[Guest muddy]

What do you think I am an Idiot I come from NY State and have fished for all 3. Its just the answer, I am not impressed by overkill

[T-rig]

What do you think I am an Idiot I come from NY State and have fished for all 3. Its just the answer, I am not impressed by overkill

No Muddy, I don't think your are an idiot (those are your words not mine) at all but I find the more good answers a thread has, the better it get's.

[Guest muddy]

I was making fun of myself; this place is getting way too serious for me, time to find another playgorund.

[JayW]

They do seem to love spinnerbaits! I've caught them on plastic worms, top water plugs, rattle traps... just about everything, but they seem to LOVE spinnerbaits more than anything!  Here's a crappy pic of one I caught back in the late 90's in Lk Ariana (Central Florida) on a spinnerbait.

[BassFishingMachine]

Soft Jerk baits, Aggressive topwaters, Hard Jerkbaits, zoom junebug lizards t-rigged with a small bullet weight, spinnerbaits.

If your specificly targeting big pickerel I'd use 5inch Zoom Super Flukes, in baby bass or white. Big walk the dog baits, and zoom june bug lizards (as that caught me some quality picks).

Remember to fish these baits aggressively, they love to chase, fish the soft jerkbaits with constant twitches, the topwaters with constant motion, they are like bluefish.