Pickerel overload

[striper51]

 So i have fished this pond on the cape for 4 years now and have always caught a variety of fish such as perch, white perch bass and pickerel. This winter me and a couple of friends have fished it 3 times for about 20hrs total and have caught 5 perch and no lie 50 pickerel. The sizes have ranged from 2lbs to 4lbs 14ounces. I was wondering if there is a chance the pickerel are taking over this pond? It is not a small pond at all and connects to another and the max depth is 40ft. Anyone know what the reason could be for the population growth? Here is the pic of the biggest.


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[Capt.Dana]

Nice Fish! Did you register for a State Pin?

[striper51]

Nice Fish! Did you register for a State Pin?

no, i honestly didn't want to kill it and only measured the length, she was 27 inches. Both of my buddies also caught one each that qualified that day.

[Artic Cat]

Thats a nice size fish there!

[Damurpha]

Nice fish!!! had the same Problem Saturday on a pond in plymouth no bass a couple perch and a bunch of pickerel maybe they just got the feedbag on

[BASSandICE65]

Pickeral are very agressive and can take over a pond if the breeding is right.

[Team Bud Fish]

THEY ARE STILL FUN TO CATCH NICE SIZE FISH

[Canalratt]

Many ponds on the Cape go through cycles like that. I fish some that will have huge perch one year then runts the next. I have a few ponds that I'll get plenty of bass open water few pics then load up on pics on ice. There are days ice fishing when you catch no bass even in good lakes, the pics are much more aggresive.

[GrizlyGarou]

I've had pickerel come up to three feet below the ice in 14 feet of water to eat shiners I was waiting for a trout or salmon to hit, so they are certainly good at eating.  There's a lot of variables that can change what you're catching, so it may have just been a pickerel day.  If pickerel weren't so strong and exciting to pull back in, I might be annoyed by them.  They do taste pretty good if you can keep the bones out of your mouth, though.

[JustOsmo]

Nice Fish! Did you register for a State Pin?

Got a link or a list of what qualifies for a state pin? I;d like to keep track if I ever can get one.

[GrizlyGarou]

Got a link or a list of what qualifies for a state pin? I;d like to keep track if I ever can get one.

It's on the mass DFW website, somewhere in the fisheries section.  You have to take them and get them weighed at a certified scale and fill out a little paperwork if you get one big enough.

[Capt.Dana]

Got a link or a list of what qualifies for a state pin? I;d like to keep track if I ever can get one.

Here it is:

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/awards/sportfish_awards_program.htm

[JustOsmo]

Thanks guys.

[striper51]

Here it is:

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/awards/sportfish_awards_program.htm

I would like a state pin but i really didn't want to kill the fish, just not worth it to me. I know it qualified and have 2 witnesses and pics.

[Capt.Dana]

I would like a state pin but i really didn't want to kill the fish, just not worth it to me. I know it qualified and have 2 witnesses and pics.

I keep them alive and bring to the weight station. Afterwards return them to the pond. I only have had one die only to find it washed ashore when the ice melted. I guess you can't win them all.

[jf5]

Nice pickerel.

Remeber that most other species are very inactive under ice most times of the year, where as picks and Y perch are very active under ice. So it may seem that they are taking over, but its very, very rare that they do.

I love pickerel. Especially 3+lbs bad up!

[striper51]

Nice pickerel.

Remember that most other species are very inactive under ice most times of the year, where as picks and Y perch are very active under ice. So it may seem that they are taking over, but its very, very rare that they do.

I love pickerel. Especially 3+lbs bad up!

fished the same spot last weekend and my Buddie caught two nice bass, the biggest was 3lbs 11ounces. Both were caught in the same hole with in a half and hour. the pickerel bite was still on but not s good as two weeks ago.

[VTtrophychaser]

hell with pickerel....them fish ruin pike fishing....they pester the pan fish and steal bait

[THE JIGGER]

There is alot of bait in that pond.