TALE WATERS & TIDES · POCKET FISHING GUIDE
ARKANSAS SPORTFISH
Chain Pickerel
SCOUT60SCORE
BIG LAKE
Scout & adaptSlough shark. Toothy ambusher of the Delta.
SIZE
16–24 in
MAX
30 in
WEIGHT
Up to 9 lbs
HABITAT
OxbowsSwampsSlow riversLakes
Lily pads, hydrilla, cypress backwaters. Anywhere with weeds.
DIET
Smaller fish — bluegill, shiners, frogs.
BEST BAITS
Inline spinners · Spoons · Topwater frogs
SEASONAL PATTERN
BESTSPRING
SUMMER
FALL
WINTER
Summer: Hide in vegetation.
ANGLER INTEL · RIGHT NOWSCOUT & ADAPT
DEPTH
20–30 ft
thermocline / deep ledges
TIMING
Wait for weather change
TOP LURE · LIVE
Inline spinners
slow day — give them an easy meal
TACKLE
Medium baitcaster, wire leader, 14–17 lb line
TECHNIQUE · Moving bait on main-lake points — match forage size
ANGLER STATS
SPAWN 44–52°F BITE
80
FIGHT
86
STEALTH
60
FUN FACT
A chain pickerel will hit a topwater so hard you'll think you snagged a log. Arkansas state record is 9 lb 4 oz — and southern pickerel grow bigger and faster than their northern cousins.
STATUS
Secure
Native · Esocidae
LIVE PFG SIGNAL69°F · Beaver Lake● SCOUT 60