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