Finally a pickerel in 2010

[attml]

I got out in the rowboat for about an hour today and finally caught my first pickerel of 2010. I was fishing with a lure that I often use earlier in the year but I was fishing it in a much different way. I had 3 hookups on the day but only landed one fish. The first fish that I hooked up with was larger than the one that I landed. I got it to the surface and about halfway to the boat he gave the signature pickerel head shake which threw my lure. If I had to guess I would say it was a 23-24" fish. Initially I was supprised it was a fish because I though I had snagged a log because it didn't seem to move when my rod bent over. My second fish (that I landed) was a fiesty 20 incher. The third fish came off quickly and I never actually saw it on the surface. Not a fast and furious day but it was sweet to get some pullage for a change!

Mark

[J.A. Veil]

Way to go, Mark. I'm glad someone caught a pickerel this year.

[27 sailfish]

Nice catching .

[msd58]

I got out in the rowboat for about an hour today and finally caught my first pickerel of 2010. I was fishing with a lure that I often use earlier in the year but I was fishing it in a much different way. I had 3 hookups on the day but only landed one fish. The first fish that I hooked up with was larger than the one that I landed. I got it to the surface and about halfway to the boat he gave the signature pickerel head shake which threw my lure. If I had to guess I would say it was a 23-24" fish. Initially I was surprised it was a fish because I though I had snagged a log because it didn't seem to move when my rod bent over. My second fish (that I landed) was a feisty 20 incher. The third fish came off quickly and I never actually saw it on the surface. Not a fast and furious day but it was sweet to get some pullage for a change!

Mark

What lure?

[rem1224]

Nice looking fish, Mark. Taking the day off from work was worth it !!!

[goose70]

Given the weather, you may end up with the only fish in this tourney. Avg. daytime temp should be about 45 this time of year. This snow pack should keep the air and water temps well below normal for the rest of the month.

[attml]

Thanks Guys,

MSD58 - I won't reveall my lure until the tourney is over but I will tell that I was jigging with it really, really slowly which wasn't it's intended purpose ! :-)

Jeff - I was hoping to fish today but even Round Bay is completely frozen over again now (as of last night).

[deadlowtide]

Wow, who would have thought a 20-inch pickerel would be in the lead by February 10, with a very good possibility of winning it...

[goose70]

I'm hoping that we get a sudden warm up near the end of the month, and all of those Pickerel turn voracious to make up for a winter in semi-hibernation. I'm thinking that with the first real mild spell (sustained 50s and sun), casting to some dark-bottom flats might be worth a try. Right now, though, any "mild spell" seems like a loooong time away.

[corddry]

Nice job Mark
My only boat time has been shoveling snow out so it doesnt sink ;-(