Hay Esox!!

[SALMONATOR]

I posted a question in the fly fishing/tying forum the other day that atn't gettin' the response I hoped for. I'm looking for some info redfin (grass) pickerel. Where can I catch some of these little guys this summer on a little fly rod.
They sound like a hell of a lot of fun from what I've read, but I've never seen or caught one (though, I must admit I ain't been trying verry hard). Is there a lake around here or in northern Michigan that may be able to fill a couple of afternoons this summer?
how big of fly should I tye on, and what type of leaders should I use? I know these guys are on the small size in the pike family, But teeth is teeth. What do you use? where would you go if you were targeting these little dudes?any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Al

[jaid]

World record, 2lb 4 ounces...how....cute! Sorry man, you make it too easy :p

Why not go for the chain pickeral, or regular ole pike?

Everything Ive recently read on the redfin suggests their behavior is very similar to that of any other member of the esocidae family. So similar methods would probably work for them, assuming you can locate them. The range seems to cover most of lower michigan.

I didnt see any specific lake references, but lots of things saying they tend to prefer streams and drainage areas.

[ESOX]

I have caught Pickerel, but I don't think I have ever caught them in Michigan. Go right around the corner to Stony, place has lots of pike. Think big and gaudy. My flycasting technique is perfect for them, beat the water into a frenzy.......:eek:

[SALMONATOR]

ESOX,

Thanks anyway. It seems no one else has caught any Pickerel in Michigan either. I do plan on hitting stoney, as well as St. Clair this year for pike, and I'm going to hold jaid to our deal and get out musky fishing too. I just thought it sounded like fun to go out with a 3-5 wt. and get into a few of these little guys too. Something a little different I guess. Well, if you hear anything or find anything new I'd appreciate hearing of it. Thanks again.

[djkimmel]

Check out this map of grass pickerel locations from the MDNR. It's only general in areas: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/fish_atlas/esoame.pdf.

I'd call the MDNR fisheries office in the area you want to fish if you want to catch one. Ask them where.

I've only caught about 10 in Michigan between grass and chain. The only place I ever caught them more than once in the same spot is at the mouth of a little creek in Bennett Lake near Flint. There's a bunch of marshy backwaters. I've caught them along the edge of Saginaw Bay and in the St. Clair River 'delta' marshes.

The most I've seen near are just across the border in Lake Wawasee in Indiana. While practicing for a spring bass tournament, I found the little guys spawning and sunning in the backs of shallow canals in sparse weeds.

The biggest I've caught were in Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Long way to drive for a pickerel.

[Shoes]

I've caught occasional chain pickerels in Michigan, but I don't recall which lakes. While most members of the pike family are found in Michigan, they are not all present in fishable populations. Local DNR offices might be the best source of info.