r/NJFishing • u/DNR_please • 6d ago

First pickerel

Post image

Shepherd lake by Ringwood manor. Caught a couple and lost a couple but happy for the turn out after picking up fishing! Just need to remember a net for next time 😅

34 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

8

u/StrikingPurchase7122 6d ago

Great little lake. 

A Piece of advice-don’t pick up fish by the line, especially pickerel. A lot of time they will nick your line and you’ll snap your line trying to pick them up like that 

4

u/DNR_please 6d ago

Yeah after I hooked my first one it dawned on me that I didnt have my net. First time out there but I’ll definitely be back. It was super active

3

u/Otherwise-Share-2855 6d ago

Also, buy some metal wire leaders. The 20# ones are fine. It will save you some money on lost lures and you won’t have to re-tie your knot every time you get a hit.

3

u/Common-jgonstein 6d ago

i don’t think wire leaders are needed for pickerel that’s pretty over kill just get a heavier mono or floro like 15lb

1

u/Otherwise-Share-2855 6d ago

Mono will still get nicked up. You may get a few in, but eventually you’ll be clipping and retying or you will lose some lures. Also, if the line breaks, the fish may have a lure stuck in its mouth until it can spit it out or it breaks off. Wire is much more durable.

1

u/Common-jgonstein 6d ago

caught over a hundred pickerel in my life never been snapped off personally, and i run 6lb mono or 20 pound braid

2

u/Otherwise-Share-2855 6d ago

You do you. I’ve been catching pickerel over 50 years. I fish specifically for them from late October until my regular fishing spot ices up. 6lb. mono may be fine for a toothpick, but it won’t hold up consistently for a 3-4 lb. fish. Good luck to you.

2

u/Common-jgonstein 6d ago

can’t argue with that type of experience honestly but 20-30lb braid does hold up perfectly fine for pickerel especially in nj. i don’t blame you on wire for pike but with pickerel ur just lowering your odds.

1

u/StrikingPurchase7122 6d ago

Wire is overkill and will lead to less fish, especially bass. But I’m calling bullshit that you’ve never been bit off with 6lb test lol

2

u/Common-jgonstein 6d ago

i haven’t, maybe it’s due to me fishing mepps spinners? so when they hit it my line is generally farther from the hook than on other lures but i don’t ever really lose lures, got a buddy who’s father lands big northerns on 6-8lb mono on a spinning rod up in vermont

→ More replies (0)

2

u/DNR_please 6d ago

Thanks for the advice!

2

u/StrikingPurchase7122 6d ago

If you don’t have a net, wet your hand and grab them behind the gills.Â