Pickerel Season

Type: Nontidal
Region: Southern
Location: St. Mary's Lake

As the outside temperature starts to drop and the sun sets early I gear up for pickerel fishing.

On 11/16 I took a few cast over grass with a 1/8 oz swim bait on St Mary�s Lake. I fished for a little over two hours. I caught two pickerel and two largemouth bass. The bass are also on the move, or are in their cold water pattern. They are now lighter in color indicating that they are suspended in the water column. So, as I target pickerel I�ll pick up a few bass too.

I use a slow steady retrieve, after I cast I usually do a count of four to be sure my bait is around 4 to 5 feet below the waters surface and right above the dying Hydrilla. After I cast, I watch my line, because there will be times as the bait drops to my depth mark it may generate a bite, then just a slow retrieve. This is a fun time of year to catch these toothy guys and they put up a great fight.