Texas Pickerel

Anybody else like to target pickerel this time of year? I started targeting them a couple winters ago and feel like I'm still really trying to figure them out. My lure of choice is either a Husky Jerk or a 1/4 oz Roostertail. Sunny days are alright, but the best are cold, overcast, and rainy.

Well done sir. I have caught just a very few of them, primarily out of Caddo. I have not targeted them specifically. Small spinner baits while bass fishing worked for me. Caught a really nice one once and tried to clean it for eating. It smelled so nasty I gave up on it. I hear that Lake Hawkins also has a pretty good population of pickerel.

That sure is a pretty fish!

They are awesome little fighters. Cool looking fish. I never caught one as big as yours! Nice catch.

i have a friend
who wants to target these
why do you think they smell bad?
are they moss eaters?

As far as I know, they are pure predators. Watching some of the fishing shows, some of the anglers indicate that northern pike smell pretty strong too. May be a trait of the pike/pikerel family.

Nice fish. Never caught one.

thanks

Awesome catch! Such a gorgeous Texas native. Never targeted them myself but half the battle is simply being where they are! Chain Pickerel like the one you're holding are found in the Sabine and Red River systems, especially from Caddo to Lake O' the Pines. Redfin Pickerel are similar but more widespread and can be found in the Red, Sabine, Trinity, and Brazos rivers.

i've eaten many a northern pike.....other than being especially slimy I have never noticed a smell. They taste delicious IF you know how to take the Y bones out.

Nice fish. I have caught them with a fly rod, and fly rod without a reel. Try casting right to the bank in areas that contain vegetation. I also shocked them on Caddo for a study to establish the Caddo Lake RAMSAR area. They are a really aggressive fun fish.

Osbornfishng is a GREAT contributor here in the rough and enjoyed all his post. All I have to add is that is one beautiful stinker! Well done and Pickerel has been added to bucket list!

Caddo pickeral above, had a 4 inch baby one swim up scupper hole in kayak on Palestine.

They are cool fish. I caught one at Hawkins few years back on a BIG swimbait. He swallowed the thing. They are predators for sure.

Put up a great fight for the first moments but then gave up pretty easy. Just ever caught that one.

I did not think anyone targeted them. Pretty interesting.

That's a huge pickerel! I guess I need to work my way over to Caddo. Farthest east I've chased them is Daingerfield State Park. They came in hand-over-fist, but nothing of much size.

Dad and I fish a 2 day pickerel tournament on Caddo every year. This was a winning year. Usually takes a pickerel at least 24" is win.

Great job. Never heard of a pickerel tourney.

Here is one from Daingerfield. They get much bigger in Caddo.

Fun fish to catch....no smell that I smelled except for the reel smoking when they hit the lure.....Orange lure would catch em everytime.