Chain Pickerel

[jcoberley]

Terry, I would have thought a man of your culture and back ground would have eaten them if thay were indeed eatable.

[Terry Beeson]

Never had the chance...

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't think Missouri has enough of them to plan on a fish fry. It would be interesting to catch one though.

There are 2 species I believe, Chain and Grass.

[jcoberley]

I haven't a clue as to how many there are. I only know what I have read that was posted here and there is mixed feeling as to that. All I know is it looks like you wouldn't want to place your fingers in their mouth. :0

[jdmidwest]

I don't know about alot of fish, but some watersheds have several pickerel. They can be hard to find sometimes. I have kept a few in the past to fry if they were hooked too deep, they are good eating. Some of the watersheds that used to hold them have been fished or gigged out. I know that Castor river and its tributaries used to have alot of pickerel, but it has been many years since I have seen one around there. Water quality is important, they need clear running streams or lakes just like the larger cousins the pike.

[taxidermist]

I posted for Phil how to properly fillet a northern pike a few weeks back. Yes they are very edible a friend of mine in east Arkansas gave me some fillets, chains that was grass pics just dont get to big.

I was doing some research on fishing for them earlier this spring and just never had a chance.

Good luck and use light line and tackle for a fun time.

[jcoberley]

taxidermist, thx I will try and look it up. I think I will try to catch 2 or 3 one day.

[gonefishin]

Lot of good info guys. I hope to get out and catch some but it will probably be this fall. Any info on these fish is appreciated. Thanks

[jcoberley]

Well I think their kind of ugly so thay might just tast great!

[MOFishwater]

I landed this "monster" on the Eleven Point back in April of this year

Hammered a shadrap in a deep backwater pool that looked like some great smallmouth habitat. I was pretty surprised when I pulled him up.

I've caught numerous others on (I think) the Jack's Fork, might have been the Current? They were nailing a brown curly tailed grub on a jighead. They can get a pretty decent size. Worst thing about them is their randomness, I lost quite a few lures that trip due to my line breaking clean when I would set the hook, most likely a pickerel's teeth. It can make for some frustration.

I have a buddy who seems to have a knack for catching them, always has one or two in his weekend photos. Catches a lot of them on 4" worms on a jighead. Never really know where they will pop up:) They seem to be omnipresent on the streams we float. (11 Pt, Jack's Fork, Current, Black)