Skip to main content

Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel are native to only the southwestern portion of Maine but through widespread transplants have expanded their range to much of the southern half of the state.

These torpedo-shaped predators are characterized by distinctive chain-like patterns on their greenish sides, fully scaled cheeks and gill covers, and razor-sharp teeth.

Scientific Name: Esox niger

Physical Characteristics:
  • Torpedo-shaped predators characterized by distinctive chain-like patterns on their greenish sides, fully scaled cheeks and gill covers, and razor-sharp teeth.
  • Most pickerel caught in Maine are ages 3-5, ranging 14-19 inches in length, with productive waters growing good numbers of 2-3 pound fish and occasional 4-pounders.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native to only the southwestern portion of Maine but through widespread transplants have expanded their range to much of the southern half of the state.
  • They inhabit oligotrophic lakes and shallow, warm bodies of water but thrive in environments with prevalent aquatic vegetation like weed beds, lily pads, and bulrushes.
  • Found in 781 waters totaling over 514,000 acres statewide.

Key Locations

  • Numerous lakes and ponds in the Sebago Lake region.
  • Androscoggin Lake (where state record was caught).

Specific Spots

  • Weedbeds and vegetation cover, weed pockets, deeper weedlines in 10-20 feet near the thermocline.

Chain Pickerel FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Chain Pickerel in Maine?

Live shiners (4-5 inch Arkansas shiners, pond shiners, emerald shiners, or sucker minnows), weedless silver spoons with trailing pork rind, small spinners, chugger plugs, slim-minnow lures, jigs, plastic worms, live minnows.

When is the best time to fish for Chain Pickerel in Maine?

Winter through early spring being prime time for trophy specimens. February offering the best chance at big pre-spawn females. Spring and fall offer the best action.

How do you catch Chain Pickerel in Maine?

Ice fishing with tip-ups. Cast parallel to cover with steady, moderate-speed retrieves, or use topwaters with twitch-and-stop presentations in weed pockets. Live minnows fished naturally near cover.

What do Chain Pickerel eat?

They're voracious feeders with yellow perch, white perch, sunfish, minnows, and smelts comprising their principal prey, along with crayfish, frogs, and dragonfly nymphs.

Where do Chain Pickerel live in Maine?

Native to only the southwestern portion of Maine but through widespread transplants have expanded their range to much of the southern half of the state.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Chain Pickerel.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Chain Pickerel water

    Pick Chain Pickerel and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Chain Pickerel

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Chain Pickerel are.

Open the map, filter by Chain Pickerel, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Maine licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Explore Maine waters

Top fishing waters

Popular Cities

Loading popular cities...

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.