Fishing this morning in my local Richmond area pond I snagged this fish on a jerkbait. I believe it to be a northern pike, this was my first time ever using Jerkbaits and shocked I snagged this. Is it a northerner and are they common here in central VA?

 

I never heard of anyone catching a northern pike in this pond?

 

 

Chuck

In another forum someone said this was a chain pickerel, are these common in SE, and will they hurt bass population?

its a pickerel for sure and they are all over the place here in central VA.  You'll get to the point where they become a nuisance in some lakes after they bite you off 4-5 times in a day. 

x2 chain pickerel

Yep, ax handle for sure!!

Here is a Northern. notice the different markings, etc.

 

Same family...Pike's southern cousin. Fun to catch....buzz a spinner and watch them destroy it. They love minnows or anything fast, shiny, and noisy.

We have Walleye, Muskellunge and Chain Pickerel in Virginia's fresh waters.

If they are hitting your baits then go and catch them.

Just watch their teeth and also be ready to lose some baits to them when they pop your line.

Consider bringing a net with you on your next trip to help land them.

Walleye, great eating fish. We used to catch them up North.

 

Where are the Walleye in VA????? Anywhere around Richmond?