9/11 Big Pickerel

[catfishonthelake]

Had this bigazz pickerel smack a 10-inch musky crank on Hopatcong this afternoon. One of the bigger pickerel I've seen in awhile. That musky net in the pic is 38-inches across so take your best guess.

[Skunk City]

Impressive Snot Rocket! How did he fight? Did you think it was a muskie?

[Gatto1227]

Awesome fish. A pickerel that big is almost as cool as catching a musky

[catfishonthelake]

Thanks guys. Not too much of a fight with a musky rod and 80-pound braid. I did think it was a musky when I first saw it.

[FASTEDDIE29]

SHEEEEEESH, thats a big pickeral. Id love to catch him threw the ice on my ultra lite panfish popper with 2lb test. Keep em alive, thats an ice fishing tourney winner!!!

[bunker dunker]

did ya weigh him in??

[jmurr711]

Originally Posted by catfishonthelake

Thanks guys. Not too much of a fight with a musky rod and 80-pound braid. I did think it was a musky when I first saw it.

geez chill out Jeremy wade!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bunker dunker]

i'm with you catfish.i just let them go unless i'mm fishing one of the contests.congrats on the grand daddy slime dart.

[catfishonthelake]

Originally Posted by jmurr711

geez chill out Jeremy wade!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol. Almost...but not quite. The heavy line for musky fishing is more for the lures than the fish. Believe it or not , when you're tossing 3 to 8oz. baits, 65-pound braid can actually fail on you if you get a backlash or a snag. I've had it happen, which is why I use 80.