Any thoughts on catching them during the winter here in Texas?

go east, fish shallow.

The folks down in the fly section are fairly knowledgeable about them as well.


I make a dozen or so trips for them each "winter" (been 3 times already).

Can't help you with targeting them specifically. The ones we have caught were all by accident while targeting bass. Have caught them on topwaters and spinnerbaits at Lake Pat Mayse. I know Caddo supposedly has a good population of them but I've never fished there.

The closest thing to a guaranteed jackfish catch I know of would be at the lake in Daingerfield State Park. It is full of chain pickerel. I always use a small black in-line spinner like a Rooster Tail.

Going to be heading to Caddo Lake and parts east a little later in the year and heard them mentioned. So I'm reading up on them and thought I'd ask the experts

Sweet! Already got that in my arsenal I may just have to pitch that into the lily pads a few times and see what happens

Do they tend to be high or low or should I just stop thinking about it so much and give it a shot

Pickerel are about to begin spawning in east Texas, they are solitary ambush predators that like vegetation in shallow water, Spinnerbaits, small crankbiats, rattle baits, jigs are all good lures. Anything over 24 inches is huge & 30 inches is a monster

It seems that I have caught most as soon as the bait hit the water. I'd say fish high.

Is this the same thing we called Pike up north?

Find them at Lake Hawkins also white spinnerbait .

[quote=parttime]Is this the same thing we called Pike up north? [/quote

Different fish, same family. The muskie is in the same family.

Same family, Smaller fish

+1 Lake hawkins

My partner and I got on a bunch of them early last spring at LOTP. We were targeting shallow bass on C-rig brush hogs and caught several pickerel in the process. We didn't know what they were at first until we took pictures and did some research.

I probably don't have to tell most of you, but if you haven't caught one before, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:

Be sure to use pliers.
They are slimy, so you'll want to unhook them over the water.
Also check your line next to the knot for possible fray after each one.

Have fun!

The most exciting place I have ever fished for jack was the Okefenokee swamp in south Georgia. Used to throw large yellow or chartreuse roostertails. When they hit those bad boys, it's nothing to see your line shoot five feet left or right in a split second. The best part? Trying to reel in a large jack while you have a gator or two trying to get it before you get it to the canoe. It gets the adrenaline going to say the least.

Also, they are great eating also. You gotta filet them right though. They have an extra set of "Y" bones running down their lateral line. Filet the fish and cut out those bones lengthwise down the filet, so you end up with two long filets. Beautiful white meat.