Pickerel are spawning
 

I was out bass fishing today and saw a bunch of pickerel getting busy in the shallows. Thought I would let you guys know in case anyone makes any plans based on fish spawning cycles.

(BTW, no bass. :( )

Re: Pickerel are spawning
 

Open water - whats that like? All my north jersey honey holes are still under 15-20" of ice. I'm not counting on seeing any bass or pickerel for at least 3/4 weeks unless we get a serious heat wave. I'm ordering lures now. They'll come long before I can use them.

Re: Pickerel are spawning
 

Thanks for the info lard!!! Going to try to find open water tomorrow...live in nutley...and going to see if any exists!!!

Re: Pickerel are spawning
 

I'm in Monmouth County and all the small ponds by me thawed out over the past week.

Re: Pickerel are spawning
 

Hopefully they are done spawning and start eating in time for the Sportman's Center pickerel tourny next week.

Re: Pickerel are spawning
 

The latest I have caught an open water bass or pickerel going back to 2002(before that I have no detailed records), was April 2nd. That date could be in jeopardy. The earliest? January 2nd 2008. Most years(7 out of 12 years) the first bass was the 3rd week of March.

Spawning pickerel - unlike bass - don't seem particularly aggressive. Of course its hard to tell since pickerel are always shallow in the spring. I've almost stepped on them in the shallow areas of ponds where the weeds hide their presence often in water barely over my ankle.

Re: Pickerel are spawning
 

I saw a fisherman catch and keep a big pickerel on a shiner in the Millstone River yesterday evening. The bottom of the fish's tail was red and worn like it spawned recently. I caught nothing ultralight jigging in 3 spots the past 2 days. Water temp dropped to 40.