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Calling all Michiganders. I am stumped


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#1 Guest_joshuapope2001_*

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Posted 19 May 2010 - 12:02 AM

Everything I have read states that Grass Pickerel, Esox americanus is very common in the state of Michigan. Now how can this be? I have never seen one. I have been searching for about two years and have only found the Northern Pike, Esox lucius.

So I am wondering if any Michiganders out there can tell me where to find them or better yet show me. :) I also hear tell of Red Fin in Michigan but have never seen one. Can you please shed some light on this topic.

I am also curious if they are considered a game fish since they are of such a small size. If so are they limited to a season like the Northern Pike?

#2 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 19 May 2010 - 04:22 AM

Down south here their distribution is fairly widespread, but they are difficult to capture since they're built to hunt by camouflage and rapid acceleration. I've never seen an adult, but I've caught a lot of juveniles in late spring or early summer with a dipnet making quick strokes through heavy vegetation (mostly vals here, but I doubt that's significant). If you can find a shallow ditch connected to a larger body of water that would be the best bet. Breeding season may be a little later up north than it is down here, so this may be the best time of year to go looking. A very small one may be difficult to feed though.

#3 Guest_NateTessler13_*

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Posted 16 June 2010 - 08:17 AM

I couldn't give you any stream names, however, Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) can be very abundant in drainage ditches. Do you have any ditches that you visit to capture Central Mudminnow (Umbra limi)? If so, you likely have Grass Pickerel nearby. Look for low gradient ditches with abundant vegetation. I'm finding them in just about every ditch I've been to this spring. In one watershed out here, where Northern Pike (Esox lucius) occur, the Grass Pickerel is conspicuously absent. You may have ditches/streams that are dominated by Northern Pike. Try a different watershed perhaps.

#4 Guest_PhilipKukulski_*

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Posted 16 June 2010 - 09:21 PM

I never kept an Esox so my ID skills are not good. Talk to Leo or Bob (see regional contacts/BAP) about the Graham Lakes.

Location
N42° 47.3195'
W83° 11.8945'
road crossing a stream

#5 Guest_schedule10_*

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Posted 22 September 2010 - 09:28 PM

Everything I have read states that Grass Pickerel, Esox americanus is very common in the state of Michigan. Now how can this be? I have never seen one. I have been searching for about two years and have only found the Northern Pike, Esox lucius.

So I am wondering if any Michiganders out there can tell me where to find them or better yet show me. :) I also hear tell of Red Fin in Michigan but have never seen one. Can you please shed some light on this topic.

I am also curious if they are considered a game fish since they are of such a small size. If so are they limited to a season like the Northern Pike?


I have caught only one Pickerel in my life and it was in Haven pond at Highland Rec Area, in Highland Township off of M-59. The pond, which was formed so that Edsel Ford could view water from his patio, is a very interesting place.



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