[deadlowtide]

I played sick on Monday and went fishing before the rains set in. The conditions were great--light wind, overcast skies, and a balmy, 42-degree airtemp--but I had to work hard for just four bites. Trouble was, I forgot my camera and had to use my cell phone to snap a few blurry shots. (Note: Thanks to the folks at the Verizon store for helping me get the pics off my camera earlier today.) Here's the biggest, a 24-1/2 inch hawg that hit an undisclosed lure in an undisclosed location (Read: Floater Lure in Brewer Creek). I think it's going to be a banner year for big pickerel...now where's Mully with his 25 incher of the year?

 

[J.A. Veil]

Nice fish Chris. That sure resets the bar.

 

[mill686]

Super fish Chris. :thumbup: That's gonna be tough to beat.

Glad to see that Brewer is pickin' up.

And John, congrats again. :yes:

 

[FishingRod]

That's a nice one!!!:bigfish: The bar has been set high early in the game. I'm gonna have to break out the new secret lure to beat that one:yes:.

The leadeboard has been updated, here is the link.
SRRKC 2009 Pickerel Derby - Leaderboard

 

[attml]

Nice job Chris!

 

[goose70]

Whoa. I should have logged onto TF before heading to the SRRKC meeting and parting with $10 that I'll never see again.

 

[chrisdetweiler]

Nice fish!

Chris Detweiler, Harrisburg PA

 

[27 sailfish]

Screw that backwards measuring board - I first saw 60 inches :eek2:.

Excellent catch :thumbup: - but we have plenty of time to beat you - I hope p.

 

[deadlowtide]

I've got two predictions. One, this will not be the biggest fish caught. Two, it will take over 70 inches to win the aggregate this year.

 

[mill686]

I was looking around on the Internet today and found this calclator for estimating fish weight.

Chain Pickerel Fish Identification

The Maryland state record is 6 pounds 8 ounces for chain pickerel. If one of us was to catch a good-sized fish fat with roe, that could very well be close to a new state record.

 

[corddry]

great fish chris!
good work
The bar is set early and high

 

[Virgil Poe]

Now that's a nice pickerel :yes:. Congrats man :clapping2:.

 

[J.P. Williams]

Corddry & I got out for a couple of hours yesterday, wading a couple of spots. Water temp. was 38--very cold for one of us not in neoprene waders (me). I also tripped twice on fallen logs and got my sleeves wet. Reminded me that we all need to pay attention to potential hypothermia situations.

Anyhow, we had two fish, a 19" and a "hammer handle" 16", plus two aggressive follows. Stop-and-go retrieves were most effective. Good to see some smaller fish coming along, but now I believe even more that what we catch is a **** shoot--who's hungry at the time of day we're fishing. In this cold water, they aren't all feeding at once. They also don't need nearly as much food as they do at 48 degrees (their metabolisms go up exponentially, not linearly, as temp. increases).

Also, more evidence of Bohlman's Rule #1--In mid-winter, Severn pickerel are most likely to feed between 10AM & 2PM.

Best, JPW

 

[Virgil Poe]

Also, more evidence of Bohlman's Rule #1--In mid-winter, Severn pickerel are most likely to feed between 10AM & 2PM.

Best, JPW

Over here on the Magothy you can tweak that time frame in a little tighter, and it really has nothing to do with time of day. :yes: I'd be willin to bet it's the same over there too. Goe's for sunny days, cloudy days, snow days, whatever. Thoughts anyone?

 

[attml]

Virgil,

Are you referencing the change in tide? I would think that temps on the rise during a changing tide would be the best bet for a bite but I haven't caught any fish this year so I may not know as much as think? Please let share your thoughts on the best time for fishing during this time of year. Thanks!

Mark

 

[goose70]

Over here on the Magothy you can tweak that time frame in a little tighter, and it really has nothing to do with time of day. :yes: I'd be willin to bet it's the same over there too. Goe's for sunny days, cloudy days, snow days, whatever. Thoughts anyone?

I wish I kept better logs of my trips, but I do know that I fish only a few spots, and those spots can be great one day, dead the next, or dead at first, then a strike practically every cast for 30-minutes, then dead again. When it's dead, even putting a minnow in front of them doesn't buy me a strike. Pickerel seem to turn off and on much more suddenly and over a smaller time-frame than Perch....at least for me.

I like your idea on Mummichogs, shallow mud-bottoms and late winter/early Spring. I plan to try that theory out this year in a couple places that seem to fit the bill.

 

[27 sailfish]

I've found that when we have high tide around 11:00 am - the fishing is good around 2-3 in the afternoon. One a sunny day-the shallow water warms up a few degrees -then the falling tide brings the warmer water and bait off the drop off.A lot of times- the Pickerel will feed during this time.

I've also caught them at 8am - in the shade while launching the boat .

I do agree that for some reason- they feed like crazy for a short period some days.
We used to see them laying near a dock or tree and cast to them a few times.After working the creek- we would go back and try them again- often hooking up with the same lures they refused an hour earlier. No idea why.

They are tricky to figure out - I once got a 23 incher on a bottom fished clam snout intended for White Perch.Never know what they will bite somedays.

 

[deadlowtide]

Interesting points. It makes you wonder if all these weather effects such as tide, temp, water color, wind, etc. affect us fishermen more than they affect the fish. My bass fising buddies focus a lot of energy on tide, but I can say I've caught pickerel at all tide phases from dead low to flood. I do keep a daily fishing log, and one of these days I'll go back and figure out what all the above factors were doing on the days I caught fish. Probably a bunch of different things...

 

[mill686]

I fish when I have a time frame, and try not to worry about the meteorological influences. Only when looking back, do I sometimes put 2 and 2 together.

I've told you guys before, I used to look at all of those things when I knew I was going out, and it had an effect on my attitude and confidence. Hence, it wasn't fun and felt like I was wasting my time.

And like Chris, I have caught these fish during all tidal phases, sun and shade, hot and cold.

 

[goose70]

Greg, that's a good point. I get out so little as it is, if I restricted myself to only the best fishing times, I'd almost never fish. You know what they say about a bad day of fishing....