Too many stupid pickerel are in the reservoir i fish in. They tear up flukes real bad, and just feel fragile when you grab them to unhook them. I'm afraid I crushed one's gills, but don't feel that terrible about it because those stupid things were hitting everything.

I started on flukes/traps, but read online that Pickerel go after the shad immitators, so I switched to a worm. Sure enough, one of those freaky things was on my line. Next, a texas rigged craw. Pickerel. Spinnerbait? Pickerel. I hate to complain about catching fish, but these things just don't look right.

I guess this is just something i'm going to have to live with fishing up north now.

LOL, Welcome to NYS ?

There are many of us who have always fished in the north and fishing lakes with pickerel and pike is something we get used to. Most of the time we are disappointed catching them when targeting bass, but it goes with the territory. In my opinion, pickerel fight better than largemouth, so I try and appreciate them when I catch a decent one. They are found in the same areas as bass and will readily take any lure that exists, so you might as well just accept it. What's the alternative?

I only curse the toothy's when they steal lures. I enjoy every fish that I catch of any species.

I only curse the toothy's when they steal lures. I enjoy every fish that I catch of any species.

Fishing for fun with the plan of releasing my fish I know loosing some lures is always going to happen. Given a choice for my thrill of the day, a 2# bass or a 40" pike, I know what I'm picking. Some of the far northern people call walleye pickerel, those guys I want...

I only curse the toothy's when they steal lures. I enjoy every fish that I catch of any species.

x2

I have had many a day not go as planned for LM or SM bass where pike have provided plenty of action. Heck sometimes, it's even bluegills or rockbass that save the day. Like I said, the only time I curse them is when they steal baits. I think it makes you a better bass fisherman to understand, appriciate, and even take a break from bass fishing once in a while to chase something else.

I just wish there were more Walleye around than Bass where I live, Northwest Ohio. Northern Indiana and lower Michigan get most of my time now, I quit running Charters on Lake Erie a couple years back, getting to hard on my back. But instead of throwing them Walleye back, if there leagal try fryin a mess up, you may decide that was a pretty good fishing day!! Fine eatin, don't get no better than Walleye, I know the meal I just finished was killer!! - Walleye fillets with Walleye cheecks sauteed in buter garlic and lemon peper with a side of Morels dipped in egg and ritz cracker crumbs and fried in butter!!! MMM MMM GOOD!!

LOL, Welcome to NYS ?

More like welcome to the region, some of my local lakes are dominated by pickerel, and keeper size they throw them back, what they don't realize is they taste just as good as the crappie they keep

Be happy you are catching them and not having them bite you off. Nothing worse than having to tie on a new jig or worm every 15 minutes or so.

They do taste good just a wee bit bony. Great fighters but then again I'm happy when anything hooks it's self to my lure.