Skip to main content

Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel are the most abundant and widely distributed member of Pennsylvania's pike family, native to the Commonwealth's Atlantic slope rivers.

These aggressive predators are voracious ambush predators that are sight-feeders active during daylight hours and remain active even in winter.

Scientific Name: Esox niger

Physical Characteristics:
  • These aggressive predators are distinguished by their distinctive dark, chain-like pattern on greenish sides and a vertical dark bar beneath the eye.
  • In Pennsylvania waters, they require over 5 years to reach the legal harvest size of 18 inches (approximately 1.3 pounds).

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • They're found in both river/stream (lotic) and lake/reservoir (lentic) habitats within the Delaware River, Susquehanna River, and Potomac River drainages, with self-sustaining populations throughout eastern Pennsylvania.

Key Locations

  • They're found in both river/stream (lotic) and lake/reservoir (lentic) habitats within the Delaware River, Susquehanna River, and Potomac River drainages, with self-sustaining populations throughout eastern Pennsylvania.
  • Robust populations exist in the many natural and semi-natural lakes in northeastern Pennsylvania.
  • Chain Pickerel are rarely found outside their native range, though self-sustaining populations exist in several Ohio River Basin reservoirs.

Specific Spots

  • Target weedy shallows from shoreline to 10 feet deep in spring, fall, and winter, focusing on quiet backwaters and shallow, weed-choked areas.
  • In summer, look for them along 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 Pennsylvania?

Effective lures include live minnows (the most common bait), spinners, spoons, and minnow-shaped artificial baits. Specific productive lures include weedless silver spoons with trailing pork rind, small spinners, chugger plugs, slim-minnow lures, jigs, and plastic worms.

What flies work for Chain Pickerel in Pennsylvania?

brightly colored streamers 3-6 inches long in white and chartreuse colors. Craft fur baitfish patterns with jerk-strip retrieves and wooly buggers are particularly effective. Articulated streamers provide excellent action.

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

Chain Pickerel can be caught year-round in Pennsylvania, with highest catch rates occurring in winter on medium-size reservoirs and good spring catch rates on large reservoirs and rivers.

How do you catch Chain Pickerel in Pennsylvania?

Present lures with steady, moderate-speed retrieves parallel to cover, or use twitch-and-stop retrieves with topwater lures. Live minnows with slip bobbers and split shot work when artificials fail.

What do Chain Pickerel eat?

They feed primarily on fish, including golden shiners (found in 47.3% of examined stomachs), brown bullheads (13.8%), and pumpkinseed sunfish (13.2%). They also consume crayfish (present in 42% of fish examined), frogs, snakes, worms, mice, and insects.

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.

Pennsylvania licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

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.