Fishing For Chain Pickerel In Louisiana

Guide to catching chain pickerel in local lakes

Last updated on January 26, 2026.

Best lakes, lures and bait

Chain Pickerel

Fishing For Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel are aggressive, ambush-oriented predators, commonly found in slow-moving rivers and lakes with abundant vegetation. Recognizable by their green, chain-like markings and duckbill snout, pickerel are members of the pike family and are known for explosive strikes, sharp teeth, and a willingness to hit lures year-round. Though often overshadowed by northern pike and muskellunge, chain pickerel provide excellent sport, especially in waters where they are the dominant predator.

Pickerel favor shallow, weedy environments with access to deeper water nearby. They position themselves along weed edges, fallen timber, lily pads, and submerged grass, waiting to attack passing prey such as small fish, frogs, and insects.

In cold water, chain pickerel slow down but remain catchable. They often hold near deep weed edges (8–15 feet), creek channels, or submerged timber adjacent to shallow flats. In waters that freeze over, pickerel are a popular target through the ice, using tip-ups baited with live minnows set just above vegetation. Pickerel spawn early in Spring in shallow, flooded vegetation when water temperatures reach the 40s–50s°F, typically in 1–5 feet of water. As water warms in Summer, pickerel remain shallow but become more cover-oriented. They relate heavily to weed beds, lily pads, and shaded structure, often in 3–10 feet of water, with quick access to deeper water. Early morning and late evening are often the best fishing times. Topwater frogs, weedless spoons, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics rigged weedless shine in summer. As Fall brings cooler water, pickerel prepare for winter by feeding heavily along weed lines, points, and channel edges, often in 5–15 feet of water.

Popular Fishing Lakes

Morning fishing in the fog Larger lakes across the state, with chain pickerel populations, include Caddo Lake, Caney Lake, Lake Claiborne, Lake D’Arbonne, Toledo Bend Reservoir and others.