Unrestricted State Record Chain Pickerel

Texas Parks and Wildlife has started issuing certificates again and I just received my chain pickerel state record certificate for a fish I caught in February, while Plnor fishing with a fly rod. The fish was 16.5 inches long and weighed 0.71 pounds. Not a huge fish, but still fun without a reel. I went on the trip to specifically catch a chain pickerel and the state record pickerel was the only fish I caught all day, after 6 hours of fishing. One and done.

Ok that’s cool!

Congrats!
Realizing how small they are here in Texas. But go to Florida and Georgia and regularly catch these high jumpers in the 5 to 7 pound range. I once snagged a 7 1/2 on the head with a top water and that was a battle.
She didn't jump as much but she really put up a great fight and that was 40 years ago.

Nice fish. Congratulations Barry!

Good picture. Used to love fishing for 'em in dead of winter when bass were slow.

Where did you get that one, looks like ETX

Dangerfield?

Awesome!

I caught it at Daingrrfield State Park. It was my first trip there. Very nice lake.

Lake Hawkins apparently has a good population of pickerel.

that is fabulous

it does in deed

Nice fish and congratulations on the State Record.

Congrats! Didn't know there were Pickerel in Texas, grew up fishing for them in RI, a two pound Pickerel (I guess something in RI is bigger than TX ) put up a heck of a fight.

Before you continue the potential delusion that fish are bigger in other states, the Texas rod and reel state record is 4.75 pounds.

My fish is the unrestricted state record, since I caught it without a reel. Texas has a very robust records and awards program so there are lots of record opportunities if you understand the program.

Well done!

Is this the same as a northern pike?

Northern pike (Esox Lucius) are a different species than chain pickerel (Esox niger). Chain pickerel are found mainly in east Texas. Northern pike were stocked in central Texas from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. There have not been any northern pike found in Texas in 25 years. The species are similar. Spot pattern, scales on the lower jaw, and the black line below the eye are some of the identifying characteristics.

How does that fish only weigh .7 tenths of a pound?

Congrats on the record!

Thanks, Osborne. I’ve caught pike up north before. They’re a lot of fun. I didn’t think it was the same since they’re a cold water fish.

It was a very long and very skinny fish. I fish for records and weigh my fish on certified scales. The first thing you learn when using certified scales is that typically fish weigh much less than you originally thought.

,
Kinda like deer shrink when you walk up on them after the shot

I guided big game hunts for many years, so a can definitely agree with your statement.

Good on the record! Go to Caddo and up it.

I need to get over to Caddo again. It has been way too long. I miss all the chain pickerel, bowfin, bass and redear.

The state fly fishing record for picks is 3.20# caught at Caddo.