Identification
Look for an elongated snout with a large toothed mouth, a dark vertical mark beneath the eye and linked dark markings along the sides. Both the cheek and gill cover are scaled. Compare several features rather than relying on green coloration alone.
Size and Habitat
The length and weight are separate published maxima, not measurements of one fish or a current certified angling record. Pickerel occupy vegetated shallow water but may use deeper areas during winter.
A Practical Fishing Approach
A fish-shaped lure worked along openings and edges in vegetation is a reasonable starting point based on its ambush habitat and fish diet. Leave room to work the lure past cover. This is a habitat-based suggestion, not a ranking of tested baits.
Read the Linked Markings
The chain pattern is the memorable feature, but the eye bar and scaled cheek provide additional checks. A full side photograph is useful when comparing pickerel species.
All Lakes With Chain Pickerel
Browse all lakes and reservoirs with confirmed Chain Pickerel records in our database, listed alphabetically.
Showing 1–24 of 5,574 lakes · Page 1 of 233
- A1 Site Worcester, MA
- Aaron River Reservoir Norfolk, MA
- Abbee Pond Piscataquis, ME
- Abbott Pond Northeastern Connecticut, CT
- Abel Reservoir Stafford, VA
- Aberdeen Lake Monroe, MS
- Accord Pond Plymouth, MA
- Acme Pond Northeastern Connecticut, CT
- Adams Pond Belknap, NH
- Adams Pond Rockingham, NH
- Adams Reservoir Jefferson, NY
- Adder Reservoir Lower Connecticut River Valley, CT
- Addison Pond Capitol, CT
- Adirondack Lake Hamilton, NY
- Adjidaumo Flow Essex, NY
- Adkins Pond Wicomico, MD
- Agwaterra Pond Broome, NY
- Ailes Lake Westchester, NY
- Akers Pond Coos, NH
- Akron Reservoir Wyoming, NY
- Alamoosook Lake Hancock, ME
- Alberta Lake Monmouth, NJ
- Albion Reservoir Number One Orleans, NY
- Albion Reservoir Number Two Orleans, NY