What do you consider a big pickerel?

[MickeyFinn]

Trophy size is really in the eye of the beholder, some lakes pickerel rarely get over 22" but I let the cat out of the bag,if you want trophies over 25 inches even pushing into 30+ inches, fish Delta..22inchers are common place and 25-28 inches are caught regularly It wouldn't surprise me if the next record came out of there... Here's a pic of my average catch of pickerel when fishing for Northern..


I think the smallest in that pic is 24,25 inches , I keep any of them over 24 that's about when you get a decent cut off them in my opinion...

[trapper2000]

nice  fish 

[FishinNY]

Trophy size is really in the eye of the beholder, some lakes pickerel rarely get over 22" but I let the cat out of the bag,if you want trophies over 25 inches even pushing into 30+ inches, fish Delta..22inchers are common place and 25-28 inches are caught regularly It wouldn't surprise me if the next record came out of there... Here's a pic of my average catch of pickerel when fishing for Northern..


I think the smallest in that pic is 24,25 inches , I keep any of them over 24 that's about when you get a decent cut off them in my opinion...

Very nice! I would have to agree with you on Delta lake being a big producer. I think the next state record pike will come out of there too.

[ShaneO19]

If you combine both size and numbers, the north end of Cayuga has to be the best pickerel spot anywhere.  Unfortunately I feel it has hurt the bass population there but that's another story. 

[RIVERRAT2]

Trophy size is really in the eye of the beholder, some lakes pickerel rarely get over 22" but I let the cat out of the bag,if you want trophies over 25 inches even pushing into 30+ inches, fish Delta..22inchers are common place and 25-28 inches are caught regularly It wouldn't surprise me if the next record came out of there... Here's a pic of my average catch of pickerel when fishing for Northern..


I think the smallest in that pic is 24,25 inches , I keep any of them over 24 that's about when you get a decent cut off them in my opinion...

GREAT,GREAT, fish keep up the good work.
 
RAT

[fishnutterbutter]

I got some nice ones out of Oneida Lake this spring

[MickeyFinn]

I got some nice ones out of Oneida Lake this spring

Yeah, Oneida has some good size slime darts, I don't know what it is, but they taste funny out of Oneida, Delta lake and Leland's pond they taste good out of,  but it must be the diet in oneida maybe because they forage on the white perch/bass ? or whatever they are called.. tried a couple side by side and there was a definate flavor diffidence....

But back to the original topic kinda sorta, Oneida definitely has some good size pickerel...

[RIVERRAT2]

I got some nice ones out of Oneida Lake this spring

I would love to have them to pickle[pickerel are real good pickle the meat is sweet and NOT bones]
 
RAT

[Raquettedacker]

 
   http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gone-fishin%E2%80%99/2013/01/wintertime-recipe-how-pickle-pickerel

[RIVERRAT2]

RAQUETTEDACKER
I HAVE NOT tryed that one, have you??

most times i salt the fish for several days to get the meat tought and brake down the bones
rat

[greensider]

i keep the ones that are just the legal limit of 15 inches and fillet them the bones in the smaller fish are gone when you fry them

[Fishseeker]

Cooking Pickerel or Pike in a Pressure Cooker also softens the bones.