The Freshwater Fishing Blog of New England: Chain Pickerel

The Freshwater Fishing Blog of New England

Welcome to The Freshwater Fishing Blog of New England.

http://freshwaterfishingblog.blogspot.com/

Great photographs, diagrams and analysis of fish caught in New England. Catches, spots, techniques and lures. All fish are caught and identified while stream, river, pond or lake fishing in and around New England.

I am a Fisherman in the Massachusetts area. I post pictures of the fish I catch along with helpful anatomical diagrams. I also discuss related material and other information available on species identification.

Feel free to email me pictures of catches, especially the fish you're not familiar with. I identify species, post diagrams and discuss characteristics. (keel33@gmail.com)

Posts begin below this message starting with the most recent and get older as you scroll down.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Chain Pickerel

The Chain Pickerel's back and sides are olive green to brown, grading to white on the belly. Its sides are overlain with yellowish green blotches, which cause the darker green background color to form chainlike markings on the sides. Caught this one in a stream by Amherst College (Fort River)

The chain pickerel is distinguishable from the grass or red-fin pickerel by a longer snout and the chainlike markings. If you look in the underside of the enlarged gill cover (that also characterizes the chain pickerel) you will find what are known as Branchiostegal rays. Branchiostegal rays are slender bones supporting the membranous edge of the gill cover. The chain pickerel has more branchiostegal rays (14-17) than others (10-13)

This younger pickerel has a series of incomplete chain markings that will segment with age.

Fishing Laws of the Land

1. Smash your barbs.

Probably the most important rule. Every hook (or tri-hook) has a barb (see image) by taking a pair of pliers and pressing the barb back against the hook you can De-barb a hook. This is important for two reasons. First, Its easier to remove the hook; The fish can be caught but not ensnared to the point where it cant be removed. Second, it is Less Harmful to the fish.

2. Catch and Release. If you catch a great looking fish throw it back so it can make babies and more beautiful fish. The more the fish certain spots the more docile fish will be once you catch them. Fish, after a period of "training" will actually behave less violently each time they are successfully returned to the river unharmed.

3. Don't litter. Maybe toss a butt here and there but keep a bag for trash, empty beers, excess line ( whichcan harm fish & wildlife severely). a cigarette butt pollutes 4 gallons of water.