I just got an answer to a question I posed to a MO Fisheries Programs Specialist some time back. A MO website said: "Missouri's numberless farm ponds are bulging with fish. You can...throw out a worm for almost any species." I asked, why not pickerel? And his reply is:
"Pickerels prefer rivers and streams and will not thrive for long in ponds. The habitat and food sources in ponds are not what pickerels need, and they are outcompeted (and preyed upon) by largemouth bass."
I guess he was telling me why they don't survive in ponds rather than why MO won't allow them to be stocked, but I think there's ample evidence that they do survive in ponds.
Yep. I fish a 100 acre pond (that's a lake to me) regularly and it has had chain pickerel in it for decades, so, that expert is wrong.
BTW, there are two lakes around here that used to have CP in them, lots of them and I haven't caught one in many a year. I note that both of these lakes have had Florida strain LMB stocked into them.
If I had a pond, I would not put CP in it because I am interested in LMB. I don't know anyone who likes CP around here; they are considered a nuisance fish. As for me, I do sometimes get a kick out of them because they do jump. But they have really nasty teeth. In a pond that kids or squeamish women would fish, a CP would not be good due to the teeth.
CP are usually pretty easy to catch. Anything that flashes, especially a spinnerbait will get them but I have caught them on many lures.
Anyone eat CP? I have not, but I am going to try one. I have been told that only the last third of the fish is edible due to a bazillion bones in the front. Also, to remove the red streak in the meat. However, here is a link to a video on how to filet chain pickerel and this kind of opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about them. He doesn't mention anything about a red streak. But he does show how to get fillets and he does brag about the good eating! (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjcelLOjh1E)
Anyone know what the mysterious red streak is? Is it down the centerline? I cut that out of catfish sometimes because my girlfriend doesn't like the taste. I guess it's a fatty streak. I talked with a man recently who said his kinfolks used to catch CP and take that red streak out and then use it as bait to catch more, lol.
Nice website you have here.
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Bill
