pickerel as bait 2024
the ohh face reply :
I dont know how u all feel about live bait fishing (ive heard some people look down on it) but ive caught very small pickerel 5-8" and thrown em on the biggest hook i had in the box. The bass seem to go crazy for the injured pickerel, more so than any other live bait i've used. Is this because theyre a fish the bass naturally feed on in the pond?
Other. reply :
uhh ever hear of REGULATIONS!!! I dont know what state you are in but Im sure the regulations are bigger then 5 inches!!!
bocabasser reply :
i don't know about pickerel, but every time i hook into a dink (very small bass), i reel him in nice and slow. i once had about a 12 pound hog come up and make a swipe at it. so i am sure it works. i don't know if it is legal though.
BucketmouthAngler13 reply :
QuoteI dont know how u all feel about live bait fishing (ive heard some people look down on it) but ive caught very small pickerel 5-8" and thrown em on the biggest hook i had in the box. The bass seem to go crazy for the injured pickerel, more so than any other live bait i've used. Is this because theyre a fish the bass naturally feed on in the pond?
i do the same with sunnies.
the problem with it is it's hard to tell if you have a fish or a fish on... :-/
the ohh face reply :
Quoteuhh ever hear of REGULATIONS!!! I dont know what state you are in but Im sure the regulations are bigger then 5 inches!!!
Yeah i guess your right, but i can catch about 30 pickerel a day in this pond so i dont think im hurting fish populations by killing a couple a month
guest reply :
If Im not mistaken, I don't believe that Texas has a regulation on Chain Pickeral.
I don't know about other states.
But if I'm wrong about my states regulation then I can honestly say that nobody monitors it. Some people don't care that much about those kinds of fish including me. I have never tried to fish with them as bait so I will be giving them a shot.
Thatcher reply :
I hate picks! I catch about 10 picks to every 1 bass. wouldnt be so bad if they were good eats.
George Welcome reply :
Mass. is five over 15" for pickerel keeper limit so you are breaking the law.
Chain Pickerel are very good eating - you just need to learn how to clean them.
My feelings on fishing: If you can't fish within the laws of your state you should get out of fishing. Whether you like the law or not, violating it is serious business. Coming here and in effect saying or professing that irregardless of your states laws you do what you want to do, is pretty dumb.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
And pretty illegal.........
and pretty uneducated.
Pickerel often maintain a critical balance in many ponds and lakes, killing them because you "hate" them is pretty sad........ and unethical.
Aside from size and creel limits,let's not forget that in many states including RI and Massachussettes, it is illegal to use a gamefish as bait.
Regardless of size
Regardless if you don't "like" them
Regardless of the fact that you can buy live bait if you can't catch with artificials.
Please do some research before you kill any more living things in your lake.
Quotebut i can catch about 30 pickerel a day in this pond so i dont think im hurting fish populations by killing a couple a month
That's just scary ignorant. (ignorant meaning uneducated,not an insult) Please talk to a state biologist before continuing these practices.
QuoteSome people don't care that much about those kinds of fish including me. I have never tried to fish with them as bait so I will be giving them a shot.
I care and I'm sure the other people who fish Texas care. I'm positive your local DNR guys care.......and they have guns!
All the fish that live in a nice balanced pond would care too, especially the bass whose eggs would get wiped out with an uncontrollable sunfish population due to lack of pickerel that used to be there.
Skwerl reply :
Regarding using gamefish as bait- In Florida the law states that you cannot keep gamefish caught with a cast net. There is absolutely nothing in there regarding using gamefish as bait, you just can't net them. I'm sure it's the same in most states unless you're in an over-regulated liberal state like MASS. 
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteI'm sure it's the same in most states unless you're in an over-regulated liberal state like MASS.
Or one that cares about it's natural resources,....like RI.
It is illegal here, regardless of how you caught it.
guest reply :
QuoteI hate picks! I catch about 10 picks to every 1 bass. wouldnt be so bad if they were good eats.
Contrary to popular belief, chain pickerel are excellent tasting fish. Much better bass. The problem with eating them is they are boney. But if you have experience eating trout or other non-filleted type fish, then you should not miss out on Pickerel. The meat is very white, juicy, and sweet. I used to eat them alot. I would cook them camp style, meaning after cleaning I would place the fish whole into a frying pan with lots of butter, some salt and pepper and lemon juice. Another great camp recipie is to fry bacon and then use the bacon for frying and just butter the fish itself. Add a few eggs toward the end and you have one wholaciously deliecious streamside breakfast.
nboucher reply :
Avid, bacon can make shoe leather taste good! ;D
As for pickerel, I'm with LBH. I don't understand many bass fishermen's distaste (no pun intended) for them. Sure they're slimy, they mess up our lines, and they're not the intended gamefish most of us are after, but they're fiesty fighters, which I appreciate. Also, in my view, it's important to remember that as far as our nation's wildlife is concerned, pickerel were here before bass, at least in the north. I don't know about you guys, but any attempt to mess with nature by killing one species that has evolved here and substituting one we prefer is messing with a system we inherited and have a responsibility to care for. I'm no biologist, but I do think that introducing bass in the northern U.S. has been pretty successful, in that the bass haven't messed up what's already there. So let's give those pickerel a little respect. They've been around here an awful long time, and before we introduced bass, were the top of the food chain.
Troutfisher reply :
Mmmm if it says not to keep pickerel, then don't do it. 
Keithscatch reply :
QuoteRegarding using gamefish as bait- In Florida the law states that you cannot keep gamefish caught with a cast net. There is absolutely nothing in there regarding using gamefish as bait, you just can't net them. I'm sure it's the same in most states unless you're in an over-regulated liberal state like MASS.
Not so. Here is what the manual says for Florida:
USE OF FISH FOR BAIT
Black bass, peacock bass or any part thereof may not be used as bait.
Live goldfish or carp may not be used as bait.
Whole pickerel or bream (e.g., bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, warmouth) or parts thereof may be used as bait for sportfishing by he angler who caught them. Whole pickerel or bream or parts thereof may not be used as bait for trotlines or bush hooks or any method other than by rod and reel or pole and line.
Just saying "gamefish" as you said could lead someone into believing that a small Bass could be used as bait. It is afterall a gamefish. However here in Florida Pickeral are legal to use as bait as are sunfish. What I find interesting is that goldfish are not allowed to be used as bait. I know in Texas goldfish are legal to use as bait.
guest reply :
Lets back up a minute LBH. I never implied that I kill chain pickerel just because I don't like them. I don't like them because they are nasty, they smell and they can kill out a pond pretty quickly.
I have never heard of people using them as fishing bait but I sure will give them a shot.
Troutfisher reply :
Ok, anyway, if the laws and regulations of a state strictly forbids using gamefish as bait, then hey, don't do it. As far as using them for bait if it IS legal, then do what you want, but remember, most fish have a purpose in the pond/lake, that is, except bait that has been imported illegally.
There's my take.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Quote
I care and I'm sure the other people who fish Texas care. I'm positive your local DNR guys care.......and they have guns!
For those of you that somehow mistook this as a threat,...c'mon. Be real, we are talking about fishing, this is called a "sense of humor". My point to bigtex was that although he may not care, the guys that enforce the law do and,...be prepared,..humor coming,....they have guns.
Poor Richard reply :
What I find interesting is that goldfish are not allowed to be used as bait. I know in Texas goldfish are legal to use as bait.
Troutfisher reply :
QuoteMy point to bigtex was that although he may not care, the guys that enforce the law do and,...be prepared,..humor coming,....they have guns.
C'mon guys, I hope no one took the guns statement seriously; if you did, then you have some issues. I actually thought it was pretty funny. :
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteLets back up a minute LBH. I never implied that I kill chain pickerel just because I don't like them. I don't like them because they are nasty, they smell and they can kill out a pond pretty quickly.
Not to offend you BT, (gotta be careful here, don't want to hurt anyones feelings ...I'm serious, I think most here know that's not my style) but in a pond that has had pickerel in it for years, and is stable,...removing them is what will kill your pond.
Whopper-Stopper reply :
The law here says that you can use gamefish for bait as long as it meets size and bag limits.
I have a Pike swimbait from bass pro. It is deadly on bass. Maybe you could give that a try.
Big tex, I don't think LBH would shoot you over a pickerel.
He meant that while we cannot do anything about it, the DNR will.
Troutfisher reply :
QuoteI don't think LBH would shoot you over a pickerel
Mmm neither do I.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Tex, you thought I wanted to shoot you? C'mon man,I can't even figure out my nieces super soaker!
I don't want to shoot anyone,...not even an Austin Powers "karate chop".
I will make a deal though, meet me 1/2 way in a challenge....for every 5 pounder I get a pic of me releasing, you get a pic of a release pickerel. Deal? We can make it a "fun" intervention. It also shows the full circle aspect because if I hadn't been releasing my pickerel in this lake for the last 20 yrs ( which is loaded with them,all sizes), I probably wouldn't be able to hold that 5 lb bass out of there.
Thanks for helping to clear up this misunderstanding guys and thanks whopper for offering an alternative.
Tex-issues with me can resolved with a simple PM. I'm easy, you outta know that by now!
Raul reply :
If your state law says NO then don 't do it, it 's not a matter of if you like them or not, if you think you are not going to do any damage, etc, etc, etc. The law says no then it 's no; being a law abiding, responsable, honest citizen is doing the right thing even when there 's nobody around. If the state law says that you can do it then you can do it.
guest reply :
First things first...LBH I never thought you would shoot me. I just didn't like the fact that something like that would come out of your mouth. I know it was a figure of speach and yes it did offend me. You could have worded it differently in order to get your point accross or you could have read my earlier post more clearly. You also need to clearify if your statement is a joke or not. And I did send you an PM. I use to be in law enforcement for many years and I know what most of the laws in Texas are. I take those kinds of statements a little more serioulsy than others due to the types of people I have handled in the past. But in your case its just not possible. If I would have thought that you were capable of "shooting me" then I would be doing things differently. Let me say it again, " I never thought that you were going to shoot me". Just the comment itself was disturbing. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.
2.) You are still not understanding what I am saying. I don't go fishing for chain pickerel and if I happen to catch one I do throw it back. I never said that I kept them. I wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if you did use one as a bait for bass.
3.) If you use chain pickerel as bait then what is the problem. The bass will eat it weither it is on a hook or not. I don't believe in catching them and throwing them on the bank for them to die a painful death.
4.) I will however turn down your challenge. I don't fish for pickerel because they are nasty, smelly, slimy creatures. I don't want one to even come close to my lure. I don't like them but that doesn't mean that I want them all dead.
5.) Taking chain pickerel out of a pond will not kill the pond as long as there are other types of food.
I sent you another PM.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Dude, you need to chill out. You are wigging out on a misunderstanding that I and the board have gone out of their way to point out. But still you persist and all this when the misunderstanding was yours.
NOONE took that as a threat. AT ALL. Noone but you. Frankly, it's your attack on my charachter that I find offensive.
I just didn't like the fact that something like that would come out of your mouth
Somthing like what? Cops carry guns, is this news?
I know it was a figure of speach and yes it did offend me
If you know it is just a figure of speech,....why are you still offended?
I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.
I hadn't seen this earlier. Me too,let's drop it and move on, shall we?
1-4. I get your point but even if we ethically disagreed, you are entitled to use them in your state as bait as long as they are 15 inches and caught by rod/reel
5.) Taking chain pickerel out of a pond will not kill the pond as long as there are other types of food.
You are mistaking my point. I'm not saying they need to be there for bass the to eat, plenty of pickerel-less ponds with bass.
Without the pickerel to keep the sunfish population under control, there will be fewer and fewer eggs left to survive the spawn. Pickerel are major population controllers of all the egg eaters. Perch, sunnies, crays, minnows,etc.
Personally, I'll catch them till the sun goes down.. They are certainly a varocious feeder and never cease to amaze me with their digging runs. Truly an honorable quarry in my book. Ask Senko77 how fun those can be in the early spring!
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Tex- went back and checked PM's. I never got your first one and if I did, this would have never gone anywhere.
What do you say we set an example for the kids. I still wanna be tight with you and keep our relationship as it's been. As with any and all members, we want you here and value your opinions. I apologize for any misconceptions.
LBH
Matt Fly reply :
QuoteIf Im not mistaken, I don't believe that Texas has a regulation on Chain Pickeral.I don't know about other states.
But if I'm wrong about my states regulation then I can honestly say that nobody monitors it. Some people don't care that much about those kinds of fish including me. I have never tried to fish with them as bait so I will be giving them a shot.
Chain pickerel is a gamefish in Tx, and no game fish are allowed to be used for bait at any time whether caught on rod or other means.
BigTex, nobody monitors it, you must not read the monthly Game Warden Field notes. Those are like monthly jokes to me. There are some real dumb poachers out there.
George Welcome reply :
308 posts in 4 days: Wow!
guest reply :
Quote308 posts in 4 days: Wow!
Nope, I some how deleted my profile and Glen was nice enough to give me back my post that I lost. I can't thank him enough for his help and support.
guest reply :
LBH.....considered the subject closed. I do admit when I'm in the wrong and today I was partly wrong. I do take some responsibity for the way this tread was conducted by me. I do apologize for some of my actions. I do think that I may have looked way to deep in LBH's comment and that is all my fault. On the other hand I'm not the only one to blame and therefore I will not take all the blame for the situation.
Matt Fly.....this is a prime example of how things get misunderstood. When I make comments about regulations I am talking about private ponds or lakes and it is once again my fault for not clearifying what I meant to say. Nobody has the right in the state of Texas to regulate private ponds and lakes. I may fish a public lake maybe 3 times a year and that is mainly to fish for catfish.
When ever I post about catching fish, the information is coming from and is about fishing private ponds and lakes. I don't know anything about our local lakes unless is has to do with catfish.
Troutfisher reply :
I believe we should consider the matter closed.
Keithscatch reply :
While I lived in Texas I learned that on private waters any gamefish can be caught in any way you want to use, Jug line, trotline, cast net, gill net, rod and reel etc. Gamefish can also be used as bait at will and TP&W will do nothing about it as they have NO AUTHORITY over private waters. I used to live on a private lake in East Texas and saw allot of poaching and illegal use of fish or so I thought. When I contacted TP&W about it they said nothing they can do about it.
NO license is required to fish private waters either so no regulations exist on those waters by the state. Now if the property itself has regulations then they are responsible for enforcement not TP&W.
Just thought I would add that to this long thread.
Matt Fly reply :
QuoteIf Im not mistaken, I don't believe that Texas has a regulation on Chain Pickeral.I don't know about other states.
But if I'm wrong about my states regulation then I can honestly say that nobody monitors it.
Sorry Big Tex, nothing in that quote says anything about ponds and tanks or private land. Just you saying " I don't believe so"!. There are too many new people on the forum to assume anything unless you state all the facts.
So part of my post is to clarify to others who might believe there are no "gamefish" restrictions in Tx.
For others out there, "Don't mess with Texas" A Game Warden has the most juristdiction in the state of Texas.
Try Googling "Tx Game Warden Field Notes" for some funny, stupid poacher stories.
Anything from poaching deer in front of game wardens houses or shooting mechanical deer from the road. Funny reading.
Muddpuppy reply :
I have a friend that took one of those mechanical deer "out" with a 300 Whetherby one day, that they had set up. He said even though he should have suspected something by just seeing a deer that size around here the adrenaline got the best of him and ended up putting about 6 rounds into the thing before he saw his friend and a Warden both running towards him waveing their arms trying to get him to stop shooting it. He was completely legal, and thought the event was rather humorous, but he sure messed up the deer. ;D
Back to the original subject at hand- anouther thing to take into consideration when useing live bait and fishing in general, in Texas is that regulations often vary from lake to lake. So what is legal on one may not be permitted on anouther.
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