Pickerel hunters report
March 18th, 2006 by Fishing admin
One way anglers can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is by catching “green” fish. We have two viable options — the chain pickerel and northern pike. Both fish are cooperating right now in their selected home waters.
The pickerel is a greenish fish with a yellow chain-like pattern on its sides. Its average size is 12 to 20 inches with trophy class fish pushing the two-foot mark. They have long, torpedo-shaped bodies allowing the fish to make very fast darting slashes at baits and lures. Experienced pickerel hunters often report hard slamming hits and long initial runs when the fish is hooked. In the fish world, one of the tradeoffs for speed is low stamina. Pickerel usually tire quickly. You can improve the angling fun by using light lines and rods.
Look for pickerel in Avery Pond, Babcock Pond, Beseck Lake, Billings Lake, Blue Lake, the three Bolton Lakes, Dog Pond, Halls Pond, Hopeville Pond, Lake of Isles, Leonard Pond, Lower Moodus Reservoir, Mamanasco Lake, Messerschmidt’s Pond, Mudge Pond, Pataganset Lake, Powers Lake, Silver Lake, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Waramaug Lake and Winchester Lake. Pickerel are found in many other lakes, but anglers must review the regulations booklet as trout-stocked lakes are closed until April 15. The legal length minimum on pickerel is 15 inches with a six-fish daily creel limit.
Northern pike are similar in shape and color to the pickerel only they are considerably larger. The average pike measures between 20 and 30 inches. Keeper pike lengths are 26 inches with a two-fish daily creel limit. The waters currently open to pike fishing are Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Pachaug Pond and the Connecticut River.
Both pickerel and pike can be caught on artificial lures and live bait. Some of the best early season lures include Sassy Shads, tube lures, jerkbaits, such as the Rapala Minnow and Thunderstik,