Just got punked out by a really big pickerel   I have been after one like this and finally got one and it got away. I wasn't even using my ultralight, I had a medium with a rapala on it and felt something on my line and it didn't feel like anything special. Was reeling it in and the more I reeled it in the more it started to fight. Then it started darting to the left and I started thinking this was something bigger than i thought. Plus I couldn't see it because it wasn't coming up near the surface. then it darted to the left and put on on an amazing aerial display. I still wasn't 100% sure what it was but I knew it was big at that point. 

 

I continued to fight it and it was pulling my drag and this thing was refusing to give in. I caught a nice pickerel last week and this thing put up a fight that was no comparison. I walked off the ledge I was fishing on and walked to the shore and was slowly but surely getting this fish near shore and finally got it there. Each time I got it near shore it took off and then as I would get it back it started running under this lip on the shore. After it did that a couple times I just had a feeling that thing was on the verge of getting away. It gave one last massive jerk and all that was left was what you see in the pic (* piece of its mouth ). The funnest fight I have ever had fresh water fishing but at the same time that one left a permanent scar I think. Ugh so depressing. 

 

They are fun, you sure it wasn't a Pike?

They are fun, you sure it wasn't a Pike?

 

My fav fish to catch so far. I was fishing in Lake Musconetcong and there are no Pike in there so it had to have been a pickerel. I got a good look at it to. Just a really big and powerful pickerel! 

I just hate when they make my square bills disappear like magic...

Been there done that, they like rippn' up your hollow body frogs also.

They don't get that big, but they put up a heck of a fight.

they call them Jack fish.

they call them Jack fish.

Yeah every one around here calls I'm jack... And they do grow to a decent size.... At least around here

Yeah every one around here calls I'm jack... And they do grow to a decent size.... At least around here

 

They do here as well. But it depends on the spot. My main fishing spot right now has the biggest pickerel of any spot I have ever fished at and they are consistently big there. 

How big can they get, they only get about 24"to 30". Anything bigger it's a Pike or Musky