Chain Pickerel: Green, Lean, & Mean

Those who do a lot of freshwater bass fishing on Long Island will occasionally connect with pickerel. While some may consider these fish a nuisance due to their slimy bodies and propensity to slice though the lightweight lines that many prefer to throw in clear winter waters, there can be no denying Long Island’s water wolves grow large, carry a chip on their shoulder, and serve as one of the most reliable targets you’ll find in local lakes and ponds once water temperatures slide down toward 55 degrees and below.

Probe The Shallows

To be sure, pickerel are active all year long in our region, but they can really shine during the late fall, early winter and early spring months. Even better, they are often found in shallow waters soaking up the sun under bluebird skies when high pressure systems roll into town – which makes them readily available when most other freshwater gamefish head for deeper water and denser cover. Look for them at the mouths of shallow coves, along sandy points and on wide-open shallow flats where the sun shines intensely on the water.

Like largemouth bass, pickerel are fond of holding near structure but come the cooler months they tend to prefer submerged dead logs and stumps over weed lines and lily edges. Locate these favored pickerel fish magnets in one to three feet of water on a pronounced flat near some old panfish spawning beds and you've got the perfect pickerel habitat.

Although small pickerel can be very aggressive at times, the largest ones tend to be more cautious. In fact, it often takes several casts to the same spot before a big pick will intercept a lure. Fish over 20-inches in length frequently ignore the first or second pass of a lure before exploding on a third, fourth or fifth retrieve. The point is that you have a spot where you suspect big pickerel lurk, work it thoroughly before moving on - and then come back and work it again later if you failed to connect.

This big water wolf inhaled a Panther Martin Sonic Streamer. Photo courtesy of www.outdoortom.com

Spinners and Thin-Profile Minnows Rein Supreme

In-line spinners and shallow diving minnow imitations make a lot of sense when targeting these toothy predators. First off, there aren’t as likely to be torn apart like a plastic worm following repeated pickerel attacks. Secondly, picks seem to be highly attracted - perhaps even enraged - by flashy lures. 

Among the top offerings for winter picks, Rapala Husky Jerk Minnows, Rapala Original Floating Minnows, and Panther Martin Sonic Streamers work especially well. With the minnow imitations, the traditional black over silver pattern is surprisingly effective under most conditions but firetiger can be a big winner under cloudy skies, gold has an edge in waters that host golden shiners, and you can’t go wrong with a trout pattern in lakes that received a fall stocking from the DEC.

Because most pickerel will be caught in relatively shallow water through the winter months, you can get away with surprisingly light line for this action. A 6- to 8-lb. class spinning outfit will do just fine if you add a 20-inch leader of 10-pound test fluorocarbon to the end of your line. Set your drag to about one-third the breaking strength of the main line and don’t be afraid to let big fish take a little drag before bringing them within sight of the net. You want them to be fairly tired before they are lifted into the boat because a fresh pick can be a lot to handle – especially when you’ve got cold hands.

As a rule, you'll find winter picks near structure - but not glued to it like bass. Therefore, it is vital to work the perimeter around dead timber and several yards out from the edge of docks and prominent points. When working phragmite stands, cast parallel to the tall stalks while keeping the lure three to eight feet away from the roots.

Cloudy days see pickerel favor brighter patterns. Be sure to have a net at the ready if targeting these water wolves.

Firm But Gentle

While pickerel strike hard and often battle until exhausted, they aren't quite as tough as they appear once caught. When unhooking them for release, use a firm grip behind the gills to secure the fish, remove the hooks with long-nosed pliers, and gently revive your quarry by easing it forward and back so that clean water washes over its gills.

If you choose to target these battlers through the colder months, keep in mind they rarely fair well with heavy-handed releases. But take your time, use a little TLC, and the vast majority will survive to fight another day.

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