Blog

Right around now, most fishermen except the surfcasters and ice fishermen are hanging up the rod and picking up the gun or bow - or just staying inside and hunkering down till spring.

This is a big mistake. There are species that will cooperate all winter long, which you can catch even in the coldest conditions, and the best part? In the winter, you will often have the water to yourself.

Arguably the best of the winter species is the chain pickerel (Esox niger).

With a range that spans basically the eastern third of the United States, from Maine to Florida, the chain pickerel is a willing, scrappy fighter and one that will put a bend in your rod, no matter the month.

Here’s what you need to know.

Winter Chain Pickerel Fishing Lures and Techniques

Fishing for chain pickerel in the winter isn’t going to vary that much from fishing in the summer, but there are three big techniques that are effective on chainies in cold water.

One is to use a stickbait like a Rapala Husky Jerk. Choose either a neutral buoyancy or one with slightly positive buoyancy - nothing that rises or sinks too fast. This is because you want to keep the lure in the strike zone for longer. Plus, being able to pause the lure without it rising, falling or moving at all keeps it right in focus for any pursuing pickerel, giving the fish time to think about making a strike.

As in the summer, cast to structure. But whereas in the summer fast, aggressive techniques are extremely effective on pickerel, in the winter a slower presentation will prove more effective. Let the lure pause and twitch it very slowly back to you. Make small twitches and take long pauses. You need to be patient when fishing a stickbait in the cold. As in the summer, most strikes will occur on the pause, and when using this technique you might get a few bass mixed in.

Another great technique is to fish a spoon, just like in the summer. In the winter, you might want to pursue a more steady retrieve just to keep the spoon from sinking too rapidly. Here, the objective is to draw a reaction strike from the pickerel, which the flash of a spoon can often accomplish.

The third and final technique, and the one that is likely the most effective on chain picks in cold water is to fish a spinner. Cast to structure, then count the lure down to the depth you want to fish, and slow roll it back to the yak. You want to retrieve the lure only as quickly as necessary to turn the blade. It can be worked either high or low in the water column, depending on what works. In the winter, chain pickerel are slower and can be lethargic; be patient, sometimes the pickerel will follow the lure all the way back to the yak before striking.

Chain pickerel will also hit soft plastics and flies in the winter, but the three techniques mentioned here, used with spinners, spoons, and suspending stickbaits, will be all you need to boat some cold-water picks this winter.

Why a Jackson Coosa X?

There are two great things about the Jackson Coosa X that make it great for chain pickerel fishing in the winter.

One is that it is so stable. It’s rock solid to the point that you can stand and cast in it; in fact, you could even fly cast in it. Try that in another kayak (caution: don’t).

The stability is a bigger deal in the winter than in the summer, since it can help prevent you from taking a spill in the drink, which can be life-threatening in the cold.

The other thing that’s great about this Jackson kayak is that it has no pedal drive. Chain pickerel predominantly occupy skinny water and bogs that are very shallow and often weed choked. Being able to paddle is actually an advantage here.

Why Fish for Winter Chain Pickerel?

So now let’s talk about why you shouldn’t waste those winter months inside when you could be fishing for chain pickerel:

• Chainies are found all over the eastern half of the country.
• If you catch a pickerel, you’re catching a native fish. They don’t breed in captivity and there are no effective stocking programs.
• Chain pickerel are aggressive and cooperative at all times of year. When other fish won’t bite or are cold, you can catch chain picks.
• You can catch them on basically any live or artificial bait. There are almost no lures or flies that pickerel won’t hit.
• If you eat them, winter is the best time, as fish are sweeter and taste better in the winter.
• When you fish in the winter, you will likely have the water to yourself, almost no matter where you fish.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there are lots of other good reasons to fish for chain pickerel in the winter.

Rig Up Your Jackson Kayak, Get Out There and Be Safe!

Some of the best pickerel fishing of the year awaits you, and the crowds will be thin on top of that. Rig up your Jackson kayak, get some spinners in the tackle box, and hit the water.