Went out in the kayak today for the first time of the year. Started throwing a 1/4 lipless crank with no bites so i switched over to a 1/16oz jackall wacky hook with flickshake work in green pumpkin candy. I was in 10-12 ft water and i gave it three twitches and let it drop and miss a fish. Throw it back out there, repeat let the bait drop and bam, fish on.

 

I knew this thing was big, i was hoping it was a bass, ends up being a new pb pickerel at 4.8lbs. Beat my old record of 3.6lbs. 

 

Nice!!

Sweet, Hooligan.

Nice fish!

How long is a 4.5 pound Pickeral?

Nice fish.  I have had many a pickerel make me think of huge bass only to be disappointed once they stop fighting after a few seconds and my hopes are dashed,

man this is not what i expected lol....i can shoot a snot rocket far guess i have good lungs hahahaha

Congratulations. A 4-8 is my personal best also, but that was 30 years ago and I haven't come close since.

 

How long is a 4.5 pound Pickeral?

 

According to the New York length-weight charts, an average one of that weight would run about 28".

Awesome fish....

Thanks guys. My old record was 3.6lbs which i caught on a bullfrog colored zara spook. I catch 2.5-3lb picks all the time, i rarely get over that mark though, was definitely exciting out in the kayak 

nice fish.  a guy in the poconos told me how to cook them up last year but i haven't tried it yet. 

let me know if anyone has..

gut and cut into cross section fillets.  he said the bones are very fine so don't bother trying to remove.

soak fillets in a jar of milk over night. this will break down the bones.  dump everything (fillets and milk) in blender.   liquify.  add bread crumbs.  paddy up like a crab cake. cook in pan of butter.  

eggs and snot cakes for breakfast!