39 Pickerel

[fish finder]

Last year while I was ice fishing, my first trip I caught 18 pickerel. Than the second 10, and the last 11! I'm heding out there again tomorrow hoping for more. I prefer the grass pickerel any way, which is what I catch.

[jiml]

seems you and I are in a minority! I like catching pickerel because I bring my son along and pickerel ponds offer the action! Plent of flags and the put up a good fight! My 7 year old loves to ice fish because pickerel ponds keep him busy. I check out another ice fiishing forum online (iceshanty) every now and then and they all hate on the pickerel!

[fishamusmaximus]

Esox Niger(chain pickerel) is trash fish to some and Esox Lucius (northern pike) is big game fish to the same person. They look the same but apparently size does matter in fishing. I like open water fishing for pickerel. The V wave heading toward your jitterbug looks like a torpedo on an intercept course.

[jiml]

one man's trash fish is another man's game!

[kingfisher]

Pickerel are fun to catch. Not the funnest to eat. Awfully boney but I have eaten them. Good way to prepare them is to fillet them and then put meat in a blender to chopp up the bones. Mold the meat into a burger shape and cook. That's whats called a pickerel patty. Enjoy. Pickerel is a predatory fish so its mercury level is med to high, I forget. Just dont eat too much.

[Apexi38]

I actually just made some Pickerel Cakes last night! Easiest way to deal with the bones.

[volume4130]

when is the best time to set the hook on those bad boys? i had a few on the line this past weekend, and they seemed to chew for a few mins and then lose interest and never take the shiner and run...

[jiml]

I hook set everything gently while they are running. My opinion is that if line is going out the fish is not running away with it under its arm! Set the hook!

[fishman]

just wondring why it says pickerel cause arnt they walley just a different name

[jiml]

Nope......Pickerel are from the Esox genus.....same genus as Pike. THe chain pickerel we are discussing are Esox Niger.

[odracing14]

i nice size pickeral can help u in a derby

[jiml]

You got that right! Pickerel in the 4 - 6 pound range can definately put you on the board and they are out there!