Chain Pickerel

[l1ranger]

pickerel are some of my favorite fish to catch - very aggressive
topwater will of course work
clouser
marabou streamers also have worked for me and bunny strips as well

unless its an unusually large pickerel, your leader should be safe as long as its not too light, 6 or 8 lb test will work fine for most

good luck

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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW-What a Ride!"
Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive.

[Pleco]

I've done pretty good using a Mickey Finn steamer. I tie them bendback style to make them a bit more weedless.

Like Farmer Bob said, fish them fast. A few years ago, between Christmas and New Years, the wife and kids wanted to hit up some of the outlet stores in the Pocono's. I knew one of the places had a nice pond behind it so I brought along the fly rod. The pond was half iced over and after 15 minutes of fishing I was about to give up when I noticed a swirl just as I was starting my back cast. Saw the same thing on another cast and figured maybe I was retrieveing too slow. I was!, end of December in north eastern PA and them pickerals wanted a fast retrieve! Picked up about 8 fish in the next 1/2 hour until the clan said it was time to move on...

[jkilroy]

I caught one on 5X tippet. 16" 5wt rod. That was fun, yellow bunny strip

[LadyFisher]

Welcome abaord Kilroy! We do appreciate and thank you for your service.

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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL