Seeing a lot of big Chain Pickerel while Bass fishing

[jawmaw]

Especially in the ends of the sloughs off the Kissimmee river. I cant get them to bite on anything I throw at them. Whats the trick? They look like they would be fun to catch.

[texasbasser]

i have never fished for them, but i hear they LOVE spinnerbaits. also chatterbaits, and anything shiny.

[bassfisher02]

Never have tried to catch them, i'd try worms or shiners or something along those lines if you really want to catch them. Spinnerbaits and ratltraps work only when the fish if aggressive enough to make a reaction strike. And if you do use spinnerbaits or what not, either use a leader or dont use a good lure. They have some sharp teeth on them!

[Christopherkeene9]

White spinnerbait on about 22# wire with it haywire twisted onto the bait and a albrite knot to you main line.

[Marty]

I'm a long way from Florida, but up here pickerel will readily take any bait that exists, from topwater to bottom-crawling and everything in-between. But I agree with Texas that spinnerbaits might be #1, but not by a huge margin. I have always felt that pickerel fight better than largemouth.

[HulaPopr]

Spinnerbaits, spinnerbaits, and more spinnerbaits...

[pig n jig]

Originally Posted by Marty

I'm a long way from Florida, but up here pickerel will readily take any bait that exists, from topwater to bottom-crawling and everything in-between. But I agree with Texas that spinnerbaits might be #1, but not by a huge margin. I have always felt that pickerel fight better than largemouth.

Hop the hell out of a jig in front of them.As Marty said they will bite any bass lure going., But when I fish Pickerel tournaments here, I use inline spinners with a chartreuse trailer,Tube baits, and white bladed spinnerbaits and perhaps the best bait of all, the Zoom super flukes, and senko type baits.The tournaments are usually held to eliminate the numbers of pickerel here.10 fish limit per person.I release them back to the water after weigh in, but I am probably only one of a hand full that does.Then later, I curse at them,I don't like losing tungstun weights, spinnerbaits, jigs to them as I do all summer long.When they hit topwater baits, there is nothing like it here on the water I fish, they will explode on the bait most times doing somersaults in the air.I would rather catch Pike and pickerel any day of the week when they're smashing topwater baits. P N J

[jawmaw]

Not to long ago I was on a thick patch of them and was throwing a white and chartreuse chatterbait at them. I will try some different spinnerbaits next time and go from there.

Thanks everybody

[skeeter944]

i caught this nice one on a plastic worm while pond fishing

he did fight better than a bass,and about 10 minutes after i caught him,i had this one,a 4.62lb largemouth

[Sluggo Man]

Don't waste your time going after the pickerel; stick to the bass.

Pickerel destroy lures, don't fight very hard, and have sharp teeth. I'd rather catch a small bass than a large pickerel.

But if you insist, they'll hit absolutely anything that a bass will.

[Christopherkeene9]

Dang it skeeter after seeing this now I'm just gonna have to plain out go catch a 5pounder!

[skeeter944]

oh,this one i caught a while back,dont worry!

[Christopherkeene9]

No good for this tourney?

[skeeter944]

nope. sorry!