Winter Pickerel from Shore...Locations?

[BruceC2C]

Recent reading has Winter Pickerel on my radar.

Any suggestions for Shore/Wade fishing access options are appreciated.

Prefer Maryland/Delaware Water.
Thanks

[John Smith]

I have caught them with spinning gear walking along the bank of Tuckahoe Creek below the dam (Crouse Mill Rd) over on the eastern shore. There is a very small trib (Piney Branch) that enters from the eastern side of the creek that had some nice beaver ponds to fish when I was there last. Been awhile though so things may have changed. 

[samuel newcomer]

Hey Bruce,

If you need a partner to find these guys, let me know. I really need to cure the pike/ pickerel/ musky fever I got,  

 

[BruceC2C]

John & Samuel....Thank you both. 

Samuel, between more research and additions to this thread, we could head out in the nxt 2-4 weeks. 

Nymphing #18 emergers in spring creeks can only carry me so far.

Craving to chuck some big uglies ( at least a clouser), and get a vicious reply.

Please, more thoughts on locations are welcome

Thank you, in advance.

On Friday, December 27, 2013 3:11:26 AM UTC-5, BruceC2C wrote:

[samuel newcomer]

Bruce,

I like the idea of checking out Tuckahoe state park on the eastern side of MD.  send me an email (samueln...@gmail.com) and lets coordinate in the next couple of weeks.  

 

[John Smith]

Good luck to you guys if you go. Make sure the water levels aren't too high and stained or it will be tough fishing. My kayak friend and his buddies have been catching them up in the Severn, South, and Magothy rivers for the last month or so pretty regularly but seems like you would need a boat up there. I would think any of the eastern shore mill ponds would have them too. Most of my pickerel spots are in Virginia so I cant help you too much other than the Tuckahoe idea. 

On Friday, December 27, 2013 3:11:26 AM UTC-5, BruceC2C wrote:

[HeaveToo]

Where are the Virginia Locations?  They interest me as I am always game to catch a new species on the fly!

On Friday, December 27, 2013 3:11:26 AM UTC-5, BruceC2C wrote:

[Steve F]

I've been poking around for info on pickerel in the past couple days and I've found the same info on the Severn, South, and the Magothy.  I grew up on the South and my parents currently live on the Magothy.  If I can convince my father on putting the kayaks in the water, I might give it a shot in the next few weeks. I'll let you guys know if I have any luck. 

[samuel newcomer]

Any thoughts on flies for these bad boys?

Seems like they are normally smaller than most pike/ musky.  So medium bass poppers/ deer hair type flies in darker winter colors?

[Jeffrey Silvan]

It has been a very long time since I've targeted or caught pickerel, but I always used to catch them on baitfish imitations. I can't remember if I ever got one on the fly rod, but the spinning rod pickerel used to be on a slug-go (soft plastic) or rapalas. They're ambush predators, and will take just about anything a bass would take. I seem to remember the flashier the better for pickerel, so maybe try tying up some clousers with extra flash. They're almost always smaller than pike and musky (a 5 lb pickerel is VERY big, and the world record is around 9 lbs), but their teeth are still sharp. You don't NEED a steel leader, but I'd definitely consider a beefy shock tippet - maybe 20 lb. test, checked carefully after every fish.

On Tue, Dec 31, 2013 at 1:09 PM, samuel newcomer <samueln...@gmail.com> wrote:

Any thoughts on flies for these bad boys?

Seems like they are normally smaller than most pike/ musky.  So medium bass poppers/ deer hair type flies in darker winter colors?

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[Daniel Davala]

I picked up this one on the Jackson River right below the dam a few years ago.  It took a #4 Woolly Bugger on 0X Fluorocarbon which held up fine to the teeth.  Truth be told, I was actually just bombing long casts into the deep tailrace pool hoping to score a Moby Trout, so I can't say I was targeting it.  Apparently, before the dam was built, the Jackson was a major Pickerel river.  Wish I could have fished it back then, but I suppose you always lose something to gain something.  Oh, and definitely watch the teeth!  I grabbed onto that fly to get it out and the fish snapped my finger and left a few perfect tooth holes which proceeded to bleed for the next hour or so.  Those suckers are quick!

Dan Davala

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/CANiFxBxNiEeG11CwWsiPN-4ikuCqwxVcib9mdQ6qF0qrYYj1%2BQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Lane]

My favorite pickerel fly is a chartreuse and white bunny fly on a 1/0 hook.  I trail 3 or 4 inches of white magnum strip and then palmer a crosscut chartreuse bunny strip up the shank.  I rub a bit of Softex on the tail to retard fouling.  Sometimes I use flash.  This is my main almost indestructible pickerel fly.  I generally use 12 inches of 20 pound wire bite tippet but will use 30 pound fluoro if it's all I have.

[Dave]

I fish for them every year on a lake in the Poconos, usually in the summer. One of the old timers up there who fishes for them with a fly rod told me years ago to use "anything that's white." White and also white/chartreuse clousers work well, foxy clousers have too for whatever reason, and white deceivers and other big saltwater flies work well as do things I've tied with white zonker strips and flash. Anything bright and flashy that's good sized and moving pretty steadily. I never use a wire tippet, typically use a straight 20 or 30 pound fluoro leader on an intermediate line. I've caught pickerel up to 25 inches and have only had a handful sever the line in the past umpteen years. Used my switch rod with a skagit line and ten feet of T-10 this past summer, also with success.

They do not seem leader shy but I did an half hearted experiment a couple summers ago. I had a spinning rod rigged for pike from a trip to Gananoque Lake in Canada, with a 12 inch wire leader. Used it in that lake for pickerel and had absolutely no action. I took the wire off and started getting takes immediately. Could just be a coincidence, have certainly cast for long stretches before getting takes in the past so who knows, but I avoid wire when targeting them in that lake. 

[John Smith]

In Virginia, there is good fishing for pickerel in the South Fork of Quantico Creek in Prince William Forest Park south of DC on I95. This is a hike-in spot. I have never caught any pickerel in the North Fork so I would stick to the South Fork. But, if you have a canoe and don't mind a bit of a drive, you'd be hard pressed to beat Dragon Run in the Northern Neck. This place offers a wilderness like setting with great fishing. I have never fly fished there but there are sections of this swamp that open up and would be ideal for that. My wife and I caught 65 pickerel one November day there. We launched at one of the bridges paddled upstream and then fished our way back down. If you plan a one-way bridge to bridge trip allow several extra hours to complete the trip. It is easy to get confused on this waterway. Another beautiful pickerel stream but very different than the Dragon is Craigs Creek which is a James River Trib down near the Jackson River (where Dan mentioned in his post) except Craigs runs from the south to the north. This stream is a clear mountain stream with a good pickerel population. I have caught them during the winter in all three of these locations. Ironically, my biggest pickerel ever actually came from the Washington Channel so they are definitely closer to home, just not in the numbers like these other spots. Hope this helps you pickerel hunters.

[Dave Marcus]

I agree that the white and flash is a great combo for pickerel. I've had some luck with white deceivers and I usually use ~12 inches of 10-15 lb braid. I like the braid because I find it to be thinner and more supple then a thicker piece of 20-30 lb mono.

David

[Sean]

CCA Md Tidal Pickerel Championship. Information provided on website.  http://www.ccamd.org/?p=1043

On Friday, December 27, 2013 3:11:26 AM UTC-5, BruceC2C wrote:

[Matthew Longley]

Had some time off yesterday so checked out Tuckahoe at Crouse Mill Road.  The water was coffee, maybe a few inches of visibility at most.  Walked around a bit below the small damn, an though the winding creek and marsh down there is really cool it didn't produce.  The pond above the damn was just as muddy and unproductive.  I'd love to check that place out again.  John, how far down from the damn do you usually fish?

On Friday, December 27, 2013 3:11:26 AM UTC-5, BruceC2C wrote:

[John Smith]

Yeah, cold water is fine but muddy cold water is the worst. Sorry you didnt find it more productive. I actually fished that trib (Piney Branch I think) that comes in on the left hand side looking downstream of the dam. I parked out on the paved road that crosses that creek before you turn into the dam area and hiked down that trib toward Tuckahoe. It is a little ways downstream. You can check it out on Google Maps. It doesnt look big enough at first but I caught pickerel in beaver ponds where it got close to the Tuckahoe. You have to do some bushwacking to fish it. Its been a few years since I have fished that area but that is where I had success.

[Ian Susens]

I have heard that Loch Raven has a ton of Pickerel.  I'm not sure how good the shore fishing is but it may be worth it to look into it.

On Friday, December 27, 2013 3:11:26 AM UTC-5, BruceC2C wrote:

[BruceC2C]

Thank You to Everyone for your helpful replies..

Your Continued thoughts and suggestions are welcome & appreciated

BruceC2C

On Friday, December 27, 2013 3:11:26 AM UTC-5, BruceC2C wrote:

[Bryce Comstock]

I was wondering if anyone has had luck with pickerel fishing in Sout Fork Quantico creek. I have been going the last few weeks, but can't find any. Are folks fishing above the little lake next to the campgrounds?