Went to a new lake today. Hadn't been there for 5 minutes when I caught this guy. Felt a couple light taps and then my bait started to swim away to the right. Set that hook and let me tell you this fish was a fighter. I know some of you don't like pickerel but it was my first so I was excited. Turned out to be the only fish of the day but thats better than being skunked.

Hey, it's a fish! And a toothy one that puts up a decent fight. Congrats.

When I don't target them, I don't like it when they steal a bait. But that said, I've caught two big picks at a couple of my favorite laydowns the last two times I've been there. Both times I thought they were bass at first, and each was hovering at the 3 lb mark, so nothing to sneeze at.

I prefer to unhook 'em and let 'em go from the net if I can. Handled enough to hate the slime. Not as bad as the American Eel slime, tho.

I put him back after the photos. Definitly didn't expect them to be that slimy.

Congratulations, you will now begin to hate them

Oh yeah, never underestimate them and never forget they have rows of teeth inside their mouth