Pickerel hunt

[Aesiegel]

I made it out today for a few hours. Fished Weem's Creek and found fish in all the same spots JA Veil and I found them in a few weeks ago. I had trouble today getting the fish into the boat . I had several hook ups that came unbuttoned and several fish hit the lure right at the boat but not hook up. Seeing that up close was pretty cool. I finally landed one 15.5" fish and got myself (and Angler's) on the board for the CCA Pickerel Challenge. Beautiful day on the water.

[chex]

Nice, thanks for the report.

Do you think the fish were coming off because you weren't using treble hooks since they're against the rules?

Congrats to you and Anglers! Keep 'em coming...

[CB kayak 02]

Nice work!!

[Aesiegel]

Chex, that might be a factor. I also mash the barbs down so I guess I handicap myself pretty well. At one point I saw a fish follow my lure up to the boat, so I just started vertically jigging it. I could see the fish making passes at it but the fish wasn't being all that aggressive. Maybe the colder water temps are a factor too. I'm still trying to figure this sh*t out!

[Shady]

I think pickerel are notorious for coming off a lot just before landing. Maybe it has something to do with all of their teeth stopping a good hookup?

[ictalurus]

I only use single hooks, even on my Rapalas, and I haven't lost that many fish, surprisingly. I couldn't tell you why that is, though. I have had hooks bend when I was using light jigheads. What kind of lure were you using? I have had them just hit the tail of a grub and hang on until they get to the boat.

[J.A. Veil]

I only use single hooks, even on my Rapalas, and I haven't lost that many fish, surprisingly. I couldn't tell you why that is, though. I have had hooks bend when I was using light jigheads. What kind of lure were you using? I have had them just hit the tail of a grub and hang on until they get to the boat.

I fish mostly live minnows on jigheads in the winter. In mid-December, I had several trips in which I had frequent bites, fought the fish part way to the boat with good rod-bending action, then the pressure was gone. I reeled in and found the minnow still alive and intact. Apparently, the pickerel did not bite down on the minnows -- it must have taken the minnows into its mouth cavity without biting them. I don't know about pickerel feeding habits. Perhaps they swallow their food whole instead of biting it first?????

[kevinfry]

in Canada, I've even had BIG Northern Pike grab the plastic grub tail on a weedless spoon and come all the way to the boat and just let go (or give it a big pull taking off with the twist tail)

[DOGFISH]

You all are some dedicated pickerel hunters.