Fishing For Chain Pickerel & Northern Pike In Oklahoma

Guide to catching chain pickerel and northern pike in local lakes

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

Last updated on January 26, 2026.

Best lakes, lures and bait

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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.

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Fishing For Northern Pike

Northern pike tend to roam a lot. They are not inclined to stay in one spot for too long, but will use the same spots over and over across time. Reading current fishing reports and northern pike tournament results from the lake you wish to fish, can give insight into the type of spots northerns are currently using. Reports and results from this time last year can also be helpful. Use this knowledge and look for spots on contour maps to identify spots and areas that meet criteria outlined in the reports. Use these maps to also identify creek channels, flats, and depth variations. This information can help you plan your time on the water, well before you head to the lake.

Once you arrive at the lake, focus on finding the fish, by covering lots of water, and specific type spots that match the reports. Northern pike move up and down in the water column in search of the best available water temperatures, availability of food, and a variety of other factors. Begin the day fishing shallow, medium and deep water in search of the best depth for the day. Northern pike also migrate throughout the lake, often following schools of baitfish. Once you locate fish, concentrate on that depth and similar locations. Shallow, weedy areas, next to deeper water are the most common feeding areas for northern pike. Keep lure selection simple. Northern pike are not as picky as many anglers tend to think. Stick to basic colors as long as they are biting, then experiment with brighter color options.

Ice fishing for northern pike can be fun and effective on lakes that freeze over. Cut bait, flashy jigging spoons or live minnows are popular bait choices.

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Popular Fishing Lakes

Larger lakes across the state include Broken Bow Reservoir, Fort Gibson Reservoir, Grand Lake, Great Salt Plains Lake, Hugo Lake, Kaw Lake, Keystone Lake, Lake Carl Blackwell, Lake Eufaula, Lake Hudson, Lake Murray, Lake Texoma, Oologah Lake, Sardis Lake, Skiatook Reservoir, Tenkiller Lake, Waurika Lake and Webber Falls Lake.

State Fish Records

The state record chain pickerel came from the Mt. Fork River.

The state record northern pike came from Lake Carl Etling.

Information About Catching Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike

Check out the northern pike fishing page and the chain pickerel fishing page to get tips, tactics and methods for catching more pike. Also visit the top producing northern pike lures page to assist in selecting the best baits.

Additional Oklahoma Fishing Information

Oklahoma Wildlife Department

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Kim Cummings from Glenpool Oklahoma snagged this paddlefish from the Arkansas River weighed at Woody's Bait and Tackle at 109.4 lbs

Information on fishing for unique species, by state

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