| Chain Pickerel,(Esox Niger), are a
| |
| | pound test line. This is what makes the
|
| formidable gamefish, that are actively
| |
| | lure have the correct action and depth
|
| pursued by some, and despised by
| |
| | that trigger some of the bigger fish. It
|
| others!Chain Pickerel can be found
| |
| | is the same principle as smallmouth
|
| throughout the Northeast, and down to
| |
| | fisherman use on Pickwick. They use 6
|
| Florida. In some areas, these are prized
| |
| | pound test line, not because the fish can
|
| as trophies that deserve the same respect
| |
| | see it, but because it allows the lure to
|
| as a big largemouth bass, in other areas,
| |
| | maintain the proper fall, depth, and
|
| such as in Florida, many anglers consider
| |
| | action, that catch the larger fish.I like
|
| them nothing more than a nuisance.Many
| |
| | to rig two rods, with a shad dart on one,
|
| inexperienced anglers mistake this fish
| |
| | and a hair jig on the other. I start by
|
| for a Northern pike, but there are
| |
| | letting out about a hundred feet of line,
|
| distinct differences in these two
| |
| | and slowly trolling these baits in wide,
|
| species. The Chain Pickerel is
| |
| | 360 degree circles over the chosen areas.
|
| distinguished by it's chain like pattern
| |
| | You will pick up leaves and grass if
|
| along it's body. The Chain Pickerel
| |
| | you're doing it right, if you don't. slow
|
| doesn't reach the same proportions as its
| |
| | down. The majority of strikes will feel
|
| counterpart, the Northern Pike. Most
| |
| | like nothing more than grass or leaves on
|
| Chain Pickerel are considered large when
| |
| | the lure, but most of time it's a big
|
| they reach 3-4 pounds. A true "TROPHY,"
| |
| | Chain Pickerel!I can't overemphasize the
|
| is anything above the 4 pound mark. The
| |
| | importance of watching the line! If the
|
| state record for Chain Pickerel in most
| |
| | line moves, or does ANYTHING, that it
|
| states is between 6 and 8 pounds. Each
| |
| | hasn't been doing, then set the hook. You
|
| year, in the spring, fall, and winter,
| |
| | can't set the hook the same way you do
|
| large specimens are caught that are in
| |
| | with a bass. It takes a slower short snap
|
| the 4-5 pound range on average, but very
| |
| | in the wrist, while reeling the line up
|
| few giants over 6 pounds are caught at
| |
| | tight, and applying just the right amount
|
| any time of the year. The Chain Pickerel
| |
| | of pressure. The drag setting is
|
| actually hit the best in the winter and
| |
| | critical, since you are using such light
|
| early spring, and start their spawning
| |
| | line, and light equipment.Most of the
|
| process as water temperatures climb into
| |
| | time, I take the anti-reverse off, and
|
| the 40's. Unlike most other species, they
| |
| | backreel. They will make some long runs
|
| don't make beds, and they deposit their
| |
| | and head to the deeper water on the
|
| eggs on strands of vegetation, sometimes
| |
| | bottom, and try to wrap you up in the
|
| mixed with sticks, and other structure.
| |
| | trolling motor, and break you off under
|
| They don't defend their young either,
| |
| | the boat as they get close. The only way
|
| they deposit the eggs and move on,
| |
| | to get good at landing them, is to catch
|
| devouring their own young soon after they
| |
| | them. Practice is the only way to get a
|
| hatch.LOCATIONS AND TACTICS:Chain
| |
| | feel for landing them on this light
|
| Pickerel hit well in the winter months,
| |
| | equipment. If you don't get any takers
|
| and even through the ice. They usually
| |
| | after working 2 or 3 of your best areas,
|
| cruise the same areas as other gamefish
| |
| | then add a small minnow to the back of
|
| such as largemouth bass, crappies, yellow
| |
| | the lures, but go to a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce,
|
| perch, and other panfish.Pickerel will
| |
| | in brown/orange or lime green.Troll them
|
| savagely attack schools of baitfish, or
| |
| | the same way in these areas again, while
|
| individuals, whatever is the easiest prey
| |
| | casting another rod to search the areas,
|
| at the time. I have caught Chain Pickerel
| |
| | and impart more action to the bait to try
|
| with Catfish lodged in their mouths that
| |
| | to develop a pattern that they want that
|
| were too large to swallow, and they still
| |
| | day. Pickerel are ferocious one day, and
|
| were attacking other baits. I have even
| |
| | finicky the next. They are unpredictable
|
| found Chain Pickerel laying dead or
| |
| | sometimes, so don't give up. On a good
|
| dying, on the surface with huge bluegills
| |
| | day, I have caught 5-7 Chain Pickerel
|
| stuck in their mouths, yet at other
| |
| | that were all over 4 pounds, and usually
|
| times, only want a small bait on or near
| |
| | 2 or 3 over 5 pounds. I have caught
|
| the bottom.The best locations for Chain
| |
| | others in some Delaware and New Jersey
|
| Pickerel in the winter is along points,
| |
| | Lakes, that exceeded 6 pounds. I caught a
|
| with drop-offs near deeper water, and
| |
| | Chain Pickerel in 2000, that won the
|
| areas that contain some underwater cover
| |
| | Delaware State Sportfishing Tournament
|
| and vegetation nearby. They will be
| |
| | for the year, that was 6 pounds, 14
|
| shallow at times, even in very cold
| |
| | ounces, just a few ounces short of the
|
| water, but are always near the baitfish,
| |
| | state record!EQUIPMENT:You need 3 or 4
|
| and deeper water escape routes. They can
| |
| | spinning rods for these tactics, in the 5
|
| be found by deep water brushpiles also,
| |
| | and 5 1/2 foot range, ultra-light to
|
| due to the fact that these same areas
| |
| | light action, with a good degree of
|
| hold other types of prey, and panfish,
| |
| | sensitivity. I like G.Loomis rods, but
|
| thus the pickerel aren't far
| |
| | there are other good light action rods
|
| away.Contrary to popular belief, Chain
| |
| | you can use for this as well. They should
|
| Pickerel can be caught in the dark, but
| |
| | be paired with a good reel, such as a
|
| this is more of a rare occurrence than a
| |
| | Shimano or Daiwa, with a great drag, set
|
| standard rule of thumb. In the early
| |
| | lightly. But as I mentioned before,
|
| spring, many of the pickerel will be in
| |
| | backreeling, with the anti-reverse off,
|
| water near the shoreline, and emerging
| |
| | is really the best way. I use Stren line
|
| grasses, and other vegetation, gorging on
| |
| | in 4-6 pound test for this, as it gives
|
| baitfish, and preparing to spawn. They
| |
| | the lures the proper action, and depth.
|
| can be in water as shallow as a few
| |
| | Recently though, I have experimented with
|
| inches, to a couple of feet. The easiest
| |
| | some superlines with good results.BEST
|
| way to catch chain pickerel is on live
| |
| | LOCATIONS:Here in the Northeast,
|
| bait. They like medium to large shiners,
| |
| | (Delaware, New Jersey, and New York), in
|
| and big minnows. This has always been a
| |
| | particular, some of the places that hold
|
| standard fare for pickerel. There are
| |
| | the largest chain pickerel are Horsey's
|
| other methods though that will take real
| |
| | Pond, in Lower Delaware, Killens Pond in
|
| "Trophies," and not so many of the more
| |
| | Dover, and the Nanticoke River, (Broad
|
| common 2-3 pounders.The best way to catch
| |
| | Creek), in Seaford.In New York I like
|
| larger chain pickerel is to use a small
| |
| | Lake Champlain, and in New Jersey,
|
| jig such as a shad dart, in yellow/red,
| |
| | Farrington, Union, Assunpink, and
|
| or yellow/white combinations, in a 1/64
| |
| | Hopetcong, are among some of the better
|
| ounce size, up to about an 1/8 ounce.
| |
| | lakes, although there are many more that
|
| These are really small baits, and a lot
| |
| | produce big chains as well. Employ some
|
| of finesse is required to catch chains on
| |
| | of these tactics this winter and in the
|
| these lures. The other bait that works
| |
| | spring on some of these lakes and I think
|
| well is a 1/16 to 1/4 ounce brown or
| |
| | you will be surprised at the results. You
|
| brown/black hair jig. Both these jigs
| |
| | won't catch as many pickerel using some
|
| should be used first without any other
| |
| | of these methods, but they will be
|
| bait, such as minnows attached to
| |
| | BIG!Steve vonBrandt sponsored by Gary
|
| them.You first need to find the areas
| |
| | Yamamoto Custom Baits, TTI-Blakemore,
|
| that will hold the pickerel; drop-offs,
| |
| | Okuma, and Ambush Lures. 1998 BBWC, NAFC
|
| near points, humps, vegetation, and other
| |
| | Hall Of Fame angler.
|
| cover. You should rig this jig on 4-6
| |
| |
|
