An aggressive solitary predator featuring a dark chain-link pattern over a golden-green body and a dark vertical bar under the eye. Pickerel remain active throughout freezing winter months, ambushing baitfish from weed edges.
How we fish for them
Twitch 3.5-inch suspending minnow jerkbaits or swim inline gold spinners near submerged hydrilla beds; use a short fluorocarbon shock leader.
Rod: 7'0" medium spinning rod Reel: 3000-size reel • 15lb Braid + 20lb FC
Gear for this in the catalog →Handle with care
Sharp canine teeth & razor gill plates. Use long-nose pliers and lip gripper; keep fingers away from mouth.
Seasons & limits are the law's, not ours
Size, season and creel rules change; always verify with the official regulations before you fish. Maryland DNR regulations →
Profile last reviewed: August 2026