Pickerel
have certain haunts, and though they usually move independent of each other, but
to catch "a string of pickerel" is a good day's work. Pickerel are fond of
shady places, and in summer they frequent the parts of the stream nearly where
the pickerel weed grows. They generally spawn in March or April, and earlier in
some southern streams. In winter they get under rocks, or stumps,
or into convenient deep holes, and they can be taken then with small live fish
for bait.
In rivers you can generally catch pickerel near the mouth of some small
stream
emptying into the
river; the fall of the year is the
best time for catching them. In the hot summer months they will seldom bite at
all, except perhaps in a very windy day. In the fall, too, they are in
better condition. Pickerel fishing in the spring is sometimes very successful,
however, though the fish are not as good when breeding.
At this period their usual beautiful
green color and bright yellow spots are dull and leaden. In the more
northern waters they are sometimes taken as early as August in good condition.
CATCHING PICKEREL - OUR WORDS |
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There are plenty of pickerel
to catch out there.
I personally have never targeted just
pickerel, but
there are many times
I would have one hit the line
when going after bass. These
are a few photos of
small little one's caught over the years.
From what I remember, it was a good ole' Mepps spinner (white or
yellow) that they took. I've also caught them on nightcrawlers and other live bait. |
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The tackle used for pickerel is a pretty stiff 10
foot fishing rod, with a
fishing reel, and some 50 or 60 yards
of flax line, which
should be protected by the
hook
with gimp or wire. The Limerick or
Kirby salmon hook
is used. The size is 0 to 5,
according to the size of the fish. In a running stream, the sinker and
float will also be found necessary. The bait should be a
small live fish, or
frog, or
the hind leg of a frog skinned.
Worms
are sometimes used in small streams, where the water is clear
and the game small. In using live bait, when the pickerel takes it, do not
draw your line too quick. The bait itself, if properly impaled, will be
very lively and will be apt to make a violent effort to escape its enemy.
Inexperienced
anglers
may take this movement for a veritable bite; but when the bite comes, there is
no mistaking it. In impaling a small fish for bait, pass the hook
under the back fin, just under the roots of its rays.
This will not disable the fish, and it will appear lively in the water.
When using live frog bait, you pass the hook through the skin of the back or
belly, or the back muscle of the hind legs.
The live frog is generally used on the top of the water - if not, you should let
him rise occasionally to take the air. When the
pickerel has seized your bait, give him plenty of time to swallow it, and also
plenty of line. Sometimes he will hold it in his
mouth and play with it before gorging. On bringing him to land, be careful of
his jaws, for he has a set of teeth, sharp as needles.
From
Wikibooks
Pickerel
Fishing Tips
PICKEREL
