Hello,

 

Fish in a small Pond in Mass. that has mainly Crappie, Largemouth and Smallmouth.

 

Also has Chain Pickeral, which is mainly what I need some advice on.

 

Have been trying some of those plastic 3 and 4 inch Crawdad imitations.

 

Am convinced that I don't fish them "correctly".

 

Do I just let them sink to bottom, and do nothing ?

 

Or, now and then, raise the rod tip slightly to give some motion ?

 

Or, a very slow retrieve ?

 

Or,...?

 

Do Bass like these smaller Crawdad's also ? Smallmouth and Largemouth both  ?

 

Any hints on rigging and fishing them would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Bob

I Texas-rig them. And I let it sink, then hop it, crawl it, or scoot it in.

So what is the question about chain pickerel?  I also fish small ponds in Mass and deal with them regularly.  Are you trying to catch them or avoid it?    

Pickerel are in the Pike family and use their teeth to bite baitfish, use a baitfish imitating lure like a chrome spoon or white/chartreuse spinner bait.

The crawdad imitator can be fished T-rig, C-rig or on a jig and best for bass.

Rat L Traps in any color Ive noticed work for pickerel

I fish them on a VMC shaky head jig and drag them along the bottom. Works wonders for both species of bass. We dont have Chain pickerel up here in Ontario, but the Northern Pike love them too.