{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Pickerel on the fly?

They can definitely be caught year 'round. But I target them heaviest from November through March when the weeds die back. I go for bigger pickerel and throw a 6- or 7-weight to handle bigger flies. I really only like a 6-weight with an aggressive taper and when there is little wind. Otherwise, I fish the 7. In heavy winds this year, I even once overlined with a 9-weight pike taper on a fast 7 and that really helped tame the winds.

In a topwater mood, I use a 2/0 gurgler and either strip it so it spits OR lower my rod tip and do a hand-over-hand steady retrieve to throw a steady V-wake, anything from slow to fast. Sometimes a slow hand-over-hand is best, particularly in colder water. And I absolutely catch them on topwater even on the coldest days of January and February as long as the water is open. I'm generally throwing all white, all yellow, or either of them with a chartreuse body.

My most effective flies 12 months of the year are 2/0 rabbit strip flies with plenty of flash (see below). Olive/Yellow, Chartreuse/White (with red or gold flash) are probably my two primaries in that order. With epoxy or otherwise cured heads they are quite durable and half a dozen will generally last me all winter. Keep the tails shorter so they don't wrap around the hook too much. I would say my top fly here should have half that tail. And I use red flash on the olive/yellow, too. 

As Eric says, Eastern shore ponds and even creeks are prime. Burke Lake has a few. So do the Quantico ponds. Also as Eric says, heavy leader material. I have used wire. But most of the time I'm using saltwater 20-pound mono and check after every fish. It's all about the take.   

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 3:07:39 PM UTC-4 Brookes Outdoors wrote:

Anyone have any "skinny" on chasing pickerel on the fly in the area? 

You know: bars, restaurants, metro stops, lakes, ponds, and or streams…? Rod weight and terminal tackle? 

Thanks,

Pete

Dr. Peter Brookes

Brookes Outdoors

Award-winning Outdoor Media

Washington, DC  

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