what are the size and numbers limits. the tx regs book indicates the c.p. is a game fish. but nowhere else are they mentioned.

or do yo'al consider them a trash fish/

what's the story on these?

Ive caught them on Scum frogs till it would not float becauseof the sharp teeth. Also they will destroy a white spinnerbait.
Dont know the regs.
Rudy

I use to catch a lot of picks on Caddo and Lake of the Pines,haven't been up in years but they sure put up a fight on light spinning or bait casting on a Rapala or small spinner bait.

They are probably great eating. They're very closely related to Northern Pike, which are excellent eating fish.

Be aware that aside from the massive numbers of razor sharp teeth, if they are anything like Pike they also have "Y-Bones" which will make them a bit tough to clean.

And again, if they're anything like Northern, they will nail anything that moves.

Top lures for Pike

1. Black and yellow 5 of diamonds Daredevle spoon
2. Red and white Daredevle spoon
3. Mepps in line spinners

In Canada the spoons would be 3/4 ounce and the in line would be a number 5 but since Chain Pickerel are much smaller I would go down a size for each.

thanks folks, I also got a reply from tx parks and wildlife today.

while the chain pickerel is classified as a game fish, there are no restrictions as to size or numbers limits.

Has anybody ever caught them on rayburn?

I've caught a ton of them on Caddo and Lake Of The Pines. Any yellow spinner bait will kill them. Very bony to eat. They are referred to as hammer handles for a reason, that's the size of most of them, fun to catch. seldom exceed two pounds.

I caught one on Caddo in '74. I had a Hellraiser on and it struck just as I was picking the bait up at the end of a cast. Startled me -I reacted by pulling up and the dang thing flew right at my face. Teeth and all!! Wasn't real big. Probably 1 1/2 to 2 lbs but real long and and a mouth full of teeth.

It's a running joke with fishing partners on Caddo. You have to delete 2 Bass for every jack fish caught. I kill them when caught because they eat young Bass big time.

And by eating young bass, as they have done for thousands and thousands of years considering they're native, they help narrow down the species enough so that there's room for more larger bass!

Your point is well taken Starless

Are they really native to Texas waters? I thought these were introduced by the TP&WD back when they were trying to stock every kind of fish under the sun in all of Texas' new reservoirs. Most failed, some succeeded like striped bass.

Yep, native. Particularly in the Sabine, and Red River basins.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/cpk/

The real question is....am I gonna be able to catch one for the multispecies contest???


Man I hate fish with teeth