Any Pickerel Fishers? 2024
guitarglynn1 reply :
For some reason any time I talk to other fisherman ect..they never ever say they are actually fishing for pickerel. I don't know if it is because just about every one of them seem to be fishing for fish to catch and eat and pickerel are not good eating fish or what? I catch and release and only fish for sport so I just try and catch whatever. But pickerel just don't seem to get any love. This past summer one of my favorite spots has some really nice size pickerel in it. Last month another regular who fishes at one lake I go to pulled out a really big one. It was around 7pm and it was easily 2+ feet. biggest one I have ever seen caught in person. He wouldn't even unhook it. said " I don't like those things " lol I have caught quite a few decent sized ones myself. I find them to be one of my fav fish to catch. The way they strike the lure is not like any other fish I normally catch. They usually hit my lures so hard when I get them in, their mouth is tore up. And they put up a heck of a fight.
I have not caught any since early August I would say. I am fishing with spoons 99% of the time right now and fishing mainly evenings since it turned to fall. Any of you guys/gals fish for pickerel and if so what do you find work best for you? Time of day, time of year, lures/bait ect..Any tips/advice are appreciated.
J Francho reply :
They are annoying on some lakes. I do, however target their larger cousins, the northern pike.
Mike2841 reply :
They really like white super flukes and spinnerbaits around me. I enjoy catching them, but I don't specifically target them.
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 9/29/2014 at 10:23 PM, J Francho said:They are annoying on some lakes. I do, however target their larger cousins, the northern pike.
That is a nice fish bro! I wish they would annoy me some time 
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 9/29/2014 at 11:59 PM, Mike2841 said:They really like white super flukes and spinnerbaits around me. I enjoy catching them, but I don't specifically target them.
Thanks for the tip on those. I have some spinners which I admit I rarely use but no superflukes. Don't think I have ever tried them and was just checking them out and I want to pick up a pack and maybe give them a go this weekend.
Catch and Grease reply :
I catch them all the time down here! They taste pretty good actually and aren't that boney when cut right, don't really target them though
Djf3864 reply :
I catch them a lot as well though unintentionally, they seem to be in every river/lake/pond in Massachusetts.
My only gripe with them is that they destroy lures when they hit them; paint chips, torn skirts, etc. Other than that a fish caught is a fish caught, and given the size of some of them around here the fight can be pretty good.
J Francho reply :
On 9/30/2014 at 6:59 AM, guitarglynn1 said:That is a nice fish bro! I wish they would annoy me some time
That's a dink, probably around 7 or 8 lbs. Here's a stud northern, lol:
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 9/30/2014 at 8:11 PM, Djf3864 said:I catch them a lot as well though unintentionally, they seem to be in every river/lake/pond in Massachusetts.
My only gripe with them is that they destroy lures when they hit them; paint chips, torn skirts, etc. Other than that a fish caught is a fish caught, and given the size of some of them around here the fight can be pretty good.
I feel the same way! I don't discriminate.lol I catch plenty of small bass, yellow perch ect..I use an ultra lite set up and I have a blast. I really don't care what I catch to be honest, I enjoy every fish I catch. But yeah, they tear up my spoons as well. And themselves in the process. That is why I love catching them because of the way they strike and fight! Last time I caught them I saw a flash right before they hit my spoon and they hit that sucker like they were shot out of a cannon. And the last one I caught jumped out of the water like a bass shaking my hook. I never seen one do that before so it was really cool
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 9/30/2014 at 8:51 PM, J Francho said:That's a dink, probably around 7 or 8 lbs. Here's a stud northern, lol:
Ha! if that is a dink then the fish I am catching are microdinks.lol
That fish in that above pic is a beast!! If I caught a fish like that I think i could die a happy man.lol For now I would be more than happy catching that dink 
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 9/29/2014 at 11:59 PM, Mike2841 said:They really like white super flukes and spinnerbaits around me. I enjoy catching them, but I don't specifically target them.
I ordered a pack of super flukes last night and a pack of mini flukes. I have a lot of luck with very small spoons around here so i figured i would see if the same holds true with those. I am going to try them this weekend and see how it goes.
Jigfishn10 reply :
Ya know, when the bass bite is really slow in the early spring and I catch a pickerel, I'll put on an inline spinner and target them. Whatever bends the rod I guess. 
Jr.fisherman reply :
Yes, although I am 13 i do target the jackfish when we go to the okeefenokee. We do eat them sometimes but i use devil horses or a spoon also to get their attention in murky water. I wolves to bass fish ,but due to water there is not many there to catch
Jr.fisherman reply :
Love^
tomustang reply :
When the bass aren't around the pickerel are usually.
Even though they aren't bass they put up a better fight most of the time
desmobob reply :
On 9/30/2014 at 8:51 PM, J Francho said:That's a dink, probably around 7 or 8 lbs.
Hmmm... where can I buy a scale like that? ;-)
Anyway, I LOVE catching pickerel (and pike) and I would no doubt enjoy it more if I was doing it on purpose. If that was the case, I'd be prepared with the proper tackle. As it is now, I usually catch them by accident when bass fishing and they end up eating a lot of lures. It's frustrating, as it seems they usually cut off when you're just about to unhook them.
I think I catch the most pickerel when I'm fishing a little Beetle Spin on my ultra-light spinning gear. It's one heck of a fun fight, and it doesn't hurt so bad to lose a $1 lure vs. an expensive bass lure.
Tight lines,
Bob
J Francho reply :
On 10/8/2014 at 9:02 AM, desmobob said:Hmmm... where can I buy a scale like that? ;-)
Ask this guy, lol.
desmobob reply :
On 10/8/2014 at 9:04 PM, J Francho said:Ask this guy, lol.
Wowser!!!
I noticed the guy has camouflaged his float tube with yellow spots. With fish like that one around, I'd be worried that the float tube looked a little too much like a big frog! 
Tight lines,
Bob
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 10/8/2014 at 9:02 AM, desmobob said:Hmmm... where can I buy a scale like that? ;-)
Anyway, I LOVE catching pickerel (and pike) and I would no doubt enjoy it more if I was doing it on purpose. If that was the case, I'd be prepared with the proper tackle. As it is now, I usually catch them by accident when bass fishing and they end up eating a lot of lures. It's frustrating, as it seems they usually cut off when you're just about to unhook them.
I think I catch the most pickerel when I'm fishing a little Beetle Spin on my ultra-light spinning gear. It's one heck of a fun fight, and it doesn't hurt so bad to lose a $1 lure vs. an expensive bass lure.
Tight lines,
Bob
An older guy who always fishes during the summer at a spot I am always at caught one on just the beetle type plastic lure but not the spinner part. I have a few of those beetle spinsners and I will have to give them a try. Still no luck getting one and I tried a new spot that is supposed to have big pike in it but I only got to fish it for an hour and not a bite of any kind. I ordered some 1/8oz side winders to try this weekend. I have caught more pickerel on a smaller generic silver side winder than any other lure. See how it goes.
J Francho reply :
On 10/8/2014 at 9:18 PM, desmobob said:Wowser!!!
I noticed the guy has camouflaged his float tube with yellow spots. With fish like that one around, I'd be worried that the float tube looked a little too much like a big frog!
Tight lines,
Bob
I used to joke about putting a "5 of Diamonds" pattern on my yellow kayak. Moby Pike would eat me.
desmobob reply :
On 10/8/2014 at 10:32 PM, J Francho said:I used to joke about putting a "5 of Diamonds" pattern on my yellow kayak. Moby Pike would eat me.
I use my kayak for striper fishing on Cape Cod in the spring. The seal population is skyrocketing there, and the great white sharks have moved in to take advantage of the food source. I felt I should decorate my kayak in an appropriate manner...
Tight lines,
Bob
J Francho reply :
LOL, this is my buddy, Wade's boat:
desmobob reply :
Excellent! Looks like some serious time spent on that!
When the great whites at the Cape started becoming a news item and subject of conversation, I looked for a giant treble hook to mount on the back of my kayak so it would look like a giant jerk bait on top of the car. Something about kayaks is good fun.
Tight lines,
Bob
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 9/29/2014 at 11:59 PM, Mike2841 said:They really like white super flukes and spinnerbaits around me. I enjoy catching them, but I don't specifically target them.
You called it Mike2841! Thanks again for the tip buddy..
Had a dentist appt today and afterwards I hit the lake. Yesterday was super windy and stirred up the water real good. Couldn't get anything to bite on the usual stuff so I decided to fish a super fluke which I have only tried a couple times briefly. I stick mostly with tiny flukes. Well I was bringing it in and was pulling it thru some weeds and seen a big fish get stirred up and I thought I disturbed a carp. I moved over onto this high point and was bringing my fluke in and a fish hit and ran across the small area of the lake I was in. I had my ultralight rod and 6lb line and I knew that fish would be a fight! Well as I went to fight it, nothing was on my line :-/ I reeled in my lure and adjusted the hook. I cast back out to the same spot and tried to work my fluke thru the same path and sure enough it hit my fluke again and this time I hooked it good. That fish was strong! It ran a couple times and was pulling line off my reel each time. I finally got it to shore and this is the biggest pickerel I have ever caught and one of the funnest fish I have had the pleasure to fight.
J Francho reply :
Nice slime dart!
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 10/21/2014 at 8:22 AM, J Francho said:Nice slime dart!
Thanks man! 
Mike2841 reply :
Awesome fish, they sure are good fighters
guitarglynn1 reply :
On 10/23/2014 at 5:47 AM, Mike2841 said:Awesome fish, they sure are good fighters
Thanks buddy and you ain't kidding! Pickerel are some bad mama jamas
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