Chain Pickerel Fishing Techniques
The chain pickerel is a favorite fish of anglers in North America
. Sometimes called simply pickerel, these slender bodied gamefish have a voracious appetite.
Pickerel are known for their ability to lie motionless near aquatic weeds or other dense cover, waiting for smaller fish to pass by. When food comes within range, these sleek predators attack with unbelievable speed, grabbing fish with their razor sharp teeth.
Because of their stealth and difficulty to hook, these intelligent fish can be a challenge for anglers. To increase the odds of success, anglers use a few proven fishing tactics:
- Fish the early part of the day. In some locations the bite can be
incredible during the first hour of daylight.
- Cast as close as possible to structure such as downed trees,
overhanging limbs, bulkheads or lily pads.
- An effective pickerel technique is the figure-8. Often fish
will follow your bait right up to the boat or shoreline without striking. Anglers sometimes end their cast by working the rod lure in a figure 8 pattern. The technique will often incite curious fish to bite.
- Target areas of aquatic cover such as lily pads, grass beds, fallen
brush, etc.
- Watch for seasonal food sources and adjust fishing techniques to
match fish behavior.
- If bluegill, pumpkinseed or other panfish appear to be nervous, pickerel may be nearby.
- During periods of bright sun and clear water, use light tackle or
present live baits to wary fish.
- Try
kayak fishing. Kayaks allow fishermen to fish areas that are impossible to reach using conventional boats.
- When fishing in heavy cover, try using weedless lures or other simple lures that are less likely to get snagged.
- Wear polarized sunglasses to help see fish, the bottom or structure.
- Carry essential fishing gear including line cutters, pliers, bait
knife, camera, etc.
- Keep a journal of GPS coordinates, time of day, weather conditions, barometric pressure, moon phase, water levels, etc.
by: J.C. Banks
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