← All species
TALE WATERS & TIDES · POCKET FISHING GUIDE
ARKANSAS SPORTFISH
RARE

Grass Pickerel

SCOUT53SCORE
BAYOU DEVIEW
Scout & adapt

Pocket-sized predator. Tiny teeth, big attitude.

SIZE
6–10 in
MAX
14 in
WEIGHT
Up to 1 lb
HABITAT
BackwatersSloughsVegetated ponds
Heavy vegetation in slow, clear backwaters.
DIET
Small minnows, insects, tiny crawfish.
BEST BAITS
Tiny inline spinners · Small streamers · 1" curl-tail grubs
SEASONAL PATTERN
BEST🌱SPRING
☀️SUMMER
🍂FALL
❄️WINTER
Summer: Tucked in dense weeds.
ANGLER INTEL · RIGHT NOWSCOUT & ADAPT
DEPTH
20–30 ft
thermocline / deep ledges
TIMING
Wait for weather change
TOP LURE · LIVE
Tiny inline spinners
slow day — give them an easy meal
TACKLE
Ultralight, 4 lb line — leader optional
TECHNIQUE · Moving bait on main-lake points — match forage size
ANGLER STATS
SPAWN 3650°F
BITE
72
FIGHT
50
STEALTH
78
FUN FACT
Often mistaken for a chain pickerel pup. The vermiculated pattern (squiggly worm-like marks) is the dead giveaway — and they almost never exceed a foot.
STATUS
Secure
Native · Esocidae
LIVE PFG SIGNAL69°F · Beaver LakeSCOUT 53
YOUR CARD · ACTIONSNOT YET COLLECTED
🪪 ID marks
  • Vermiculated pattern
  • Dark teardrop under eye
  • Smaller than chain pickerel
💡 Tips
  • Sight-fish weedlines
  • Stay back — they spook
  • Tiny lures only