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Redfin Pickerel

Redfin Pickerel

Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus) are a subspecies of freshwater fish in the pike family found in Indiana waters.

Listed as "Redfin (Grass) Pickerel" on Indiana's official fish list, they are unique among pike family members with their distinctive bright red fins and small size.

Scientific Name: Esox americanus americanus

Also known as Redfin (Grass) Pickerel

Physical Characteristics:
  • Typically growing only 8-16 inches and reaching around 12 inches maximum length.
  • These ambush predators have large eyes for vision-dependent hunting, hydrodynamic tube-shaped bodies, and mouths lined with sharp conical teeth.
  • Their coloration ranges from green to brown laterally with white to pale amber undersides, marked by dark vertical bars and distinctive red pectoral and pelvic fins.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • In Indiana, Redfin Pickerel prefer shallow (less than 6-7 feet deep), clear freshwater habitats with dense aquatic vegetation or decaying organic matter where they can remain hidden while ambushing prey.
  • They inhabit lakes, streams, swamps, and heavily vegetated backwater areas.

Specific Spots

  • Target heavily vegetated areas, marshlands, flooded waterways, and locations with abundant aquatic vegetation where these ambush predators hide.
  • Focus on dense cover such as weed beds, submerged logs, and decaying organic matter.

Redfin Pickerel FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What flies work for Redfin Pickerel in Indiana?

Small streamers with built-in flash, realistic baitfish imitations, and frog patterns for surface fishing near lily pads and shoreline structure. Popular streamers include Woolly Buggers, Deceivers, and Flashtail Whistlers in bright colors like white and chartreuse.

When is the best time to fish for Redfin Pickerel in Indiana?

Best targeted outside of their spawning period (avoid late February through early May). The most effective method involves dragging long-handled dip nets through heavy vegetation, particularly effective during summer months.

How do you catch Redfin Pickerel in Indiana?

The most effective method involves dragging long-handled dip nets through heavy vegetation. Traditional rod-and-reel fishing with small live fish as bait with a bobber or float in extremely shallow water.

What do Redfin Pickerel eat?

As apex predators in their small, shallow aquatic environments, they feed primarily on smaller fishes, crayfish, and insect larvae, with newly hatched larvae feeding on water fleas, amphipods, and insects.

Where do Redfin Pickerel live in Indiana?

In Indiana, Redfin Pickerel prefer shallow (less than 6-7 feet deep), clear freshwater habitats with dense aquatic vegetation or decaying organic matter where they can remain hidden while ambushing prey. They inhabit lakes, streams, swamps, and heavily vegetated backwater areas.

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