Chain Pickerel

All members of the genus Esox look very much alike. The chain pickerel can be recognized by its markings.

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY A CHAIN PICKEREL

The sides which are yellowish to greenish (almost black when young) are overlaid with a reticulated, or chain-like, pattern of black lines. Also, the pickerels (including the redfin and grass pickerels), have fully scaled cheeks and gill covers. The northern pike usually has no scales on the bottom half of the gill cover, and the muskellunge, E. masquinongy, usually has no scales on the bottom half of either the gill cover or the cheek.

 

WHERE TO CATCH CHAIN PICKEREL

It inhabits the eastern United States and Canada, from Nova Scotia southward through all of the Atlantic coast states and most of Florida, and westward through Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana to as far as the Navasota River in eastern Texas. From Louisiana, it extends northward in the Mississippi River drainage through eastern Arkansas to southeastern Missouri and southwestern Kentucky. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

 

CLIFFS AND STEEP SHORE BANKS           GRADUAL SHORES

INLETS AND OUTLETS                ISLANDS OR SAND BARS

OPEN WATER                        PIERS, DOCKS AND PILINGS

ROCKS                             SPRING HOLES

WALKWAYS AND BRIDGES              FRESHWATER LAKES AND PONDS

HOLES                             INSIDE TURNS AND COVES

LILY PADS                         OVERHANGING TREES AND BUSHES

POINTS AND BREAK LINES            SHORELINE SHALLOWS

SUNKEN OBJECTS                    FRESHWATER WEED BEDS

 

HOW TO CATCH CHAIN PICKEREL

The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

DRIFT FISHING        STILL FISHING       TROLLING

CHAIN PICKEREL LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

INSECTS                      LEECHES            PLUGS

SPINNER BAITS JIGS           MINNOWS            SPOONS          

JIGS                         SOFT PLASTICS