January 11, 2024
Maybe there’s a warm day being forecast and you want to take advantage of the decent weather. Maybe you heard there’s an unexpected bite going off and you don’t want to miss out. Or, maybe you’re…
December 17, 2023
The chain pickerel is one of the few species of Mid-Atlantic gamefish that generally bites better through the winter months than through the summer. Still, even during the colder months of the year,…
March 7, 2023
Whether you’re exploring a new area, trying to put as many pickerel in the boat as possible, or chasing trophies, it's hard to beat slow trolling live minnows. I’ve spent countless days floating…
March 3, 2023
You wish you could shove Old Man Winter down a flight of stairs as he makes his way out of our house? Us, too — 80 degrees and sunny sounds pretty darn magnificent right about now. But short of a…
February 15, 2023
As is true with most fish, it’s tough to predict what a chain pickerel will favor from one day to the next. That said, on a consistent basis these fish like lures with blades and inline spinners are…
February 9, 2023
Countless anglers plying the waters of DelMarVa have used shad darts thousands of times and caught countless fish on them — without ever necessarily shad fishing. While fishing for shad can be a ton…
November 18, 2022
Lots of tactics work when pickerel are the target, but one few people employ is plugging. That’s too bad, because there are times and places when casting or trolling a plug like a stickbait or a…
September 18, 2022
Pickerel are one of the handful of species of fish in the Mid-Atlantic region which hit their stride during the cooler months of the year, in creeks, rivers and lakes accessible by boat, via kayak…
March 1, 2022
You say you did not partake in the ice fishing season and you’re sick and tired of sub-freezing temperatures, not to mention cold winds and being bottled up inside? Us too — thank goodness we’ll soon…
November 15, 2021
When the temps drop it’s prime pickerel season in these here parts — here are some tips that will help you get those toothy critters on the line.
Note the water temperature on the fishfinder, at…
March 3, 2021
After three solid months of very tough catch-photo-release competition with an amazing 80 anglers registered in the running, the CCA Maryland Winter Pickerel Championship drew to a close with…
January 10, 2021
As long as the fresher headwaters of tidal creeks and tributaries doesn’t freeze solid, a mixed bag of crappie, perch, pickerel, and bass awaits. One under-utilized method of prospecting for winter…
December 17, 2020
Pop Quiz: When does Chesapeake Bay fishing season end?
A. In November
B. In December
C. In December or January, depending on the weather
D. Never!
Yes, bass are on the menu when winter fishing…
November 20, 2020
Many of us cruise down the DelMarVa peninsula on a regular basis during our fishing endeavors, whether it’s to hit a Chesapeake Bay fishing hotspot or reach the beach for some saltier action. But…
November 13, 2020
Slow trolling at walking speed is a great way to pick up pickerel, which are one of the few species in our area that’s sure to get more and more active this month as the water temps get chillier and…
July 4, 2020
It was several years ago that I first heard about chain pickerel in the Eastern Shore millponds. As I read about them I was intrigued that the millponds held so many fish, and that the last two state…
February 22, 2020
Late winter and early spring is a great time to catch torpedo-shaped pre-spawn chain pickerel, which are on a mission to fatten up as the waters begin to warm. You can fish for ‘em many ways, but one…
November 21, 2019
Okay, I admit it: up until this past winter had I stopped targeting chain pickerel in specific, for many, many years. They aren’t an ideal food-fish, while other winter species like yellow perch and…