Yellow Perch fishing at Pickerel Lake

In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 10 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.

Northern Pike fishing at Pickerel Lake

Spring northern pike on Pickerel Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 10 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Pickerel Lake

Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Secondary point is the standout, a point at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Pickerel Lake

Spring largemouth bass on Pickerel Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.

Rock Bass fishing at Pickerel Lake

In spring, rock bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Secondary point is the standout, a point at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for summer rock bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.

Crappie fishing at Pickerel Lake

Spring crappie on Pickerel Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 10 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

How deep is Pickerel Lake?

Pickerel Lake is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.

What fish are in Pickerel Lake?

Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, yellow perch, common carp, longnose gar, rock bass, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Pickerel Lake. This isn't a survey of the lake — none is on record for it — but an informed estimate from the species listed for the nearest surveyed lakes in the region, filtered to this lake's depth and habitat.

Where is the best fishing spot on Pickerel Lake?

Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Pickerel Lake?

For yellow perch, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.