I had a mission to catch the not so elusive bowfin and I was successful. I’m now on to chain pickerel, I’ve heard they are here. Does anyone have any info on these fishes?
Fish Mepps Spinners, Rebel minnows, Tiny Torpedoes around weeds/lily pads. You can catch them anywhere you usually fish for largemouth.
We call them jackfish.stlhunr covered some of the best baits.Only thing I could add is a crome rattle trap.Also have caught quite a few on minnows.Good tasting fish,but has a lot of bones.
I agree with the above comments. Several jacks have torn up 3/8 and 1/2 ounce spinnerbaits for me. They like white and chartreuse a lot. I’ve been told by guys who cook them to fillet them with the skin left on and hack them before frying. Supposedly the bones will get cooked and soft that way. Never tried one myself.
So I can basically find them in any freshwater around Charleston?
Yes.
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Originally posted by UCEASTSo I can basically find them in any freshwater around Charleston?
Fresh water side of Bushy Park has all you can stand. They love crankbaits as well.
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
Awesome, thanks guys!!
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Originally posted by SpoonmasterI agree with the above comments. Several jacks have torn up 3/8 and 1/2 ounce spinnerbaits for me. They like white and chartreuse a lot. I’ve been told by guys who cook them to fillet them with the skin left on and hack them before frying. Supposedly the bones will get cooked and soft that way. Never tried one myself.
Was showed up North how to fillet them around the bones, but you have a lot of wasted meat and really need larger fish than we have here.
Yes to scaling them then filleting them and then make close X patterns to the skin careful to not cut through. batter and fry hard.
You can also grill whole in aluminum foil with butter, garlic salt and lemon and take it very slow and pick through the meat. Keeping some bread handy just in case you miss a bone.
Only thing I can add to Sthuntrs baits are live Shinners under a cork. They can’t seem to resist them if in the area.
“Why Bruce?”
WHat’s great about Jacks is everything plus they love to bite when the water is cool/cold so that’s coming. Everything they said but add Johnson weedless spoon and all those baits in RED.
Went out in the fog and got a few this morning for my annual jack fish fry .They taste better when the water is cool.They’re biting if you haven’t got one yet.Cooper river,between Wilbur’s and farm creek,on a Mepps minnow.
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Everything they said but add Johnson weedless spoon and all those baits in RED.
I still use those spoons for bass. Have caught many Pickerel on them as well. I often added pork strips to the spoon, and yellow or red were good for Pickerel.
Used to catch them often in the colder months too looking for panfish, they’ll hit many lures. We used the safety pin type spinner with small curltail grubs often & the Pic’s would slam them. They tear up small spinnerbaits too.
Anything flashy will catch them.
That said… get a spinnerbait with red blades and a red skirt…jackfish love them
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Originally posted by bigjim5589quote:
Everything they said but add Johnson weedless spoon and all those baits in RED.
I still use those spoons for bass. Have caught many Pickerel on them as well. I often added pork strips to the spoon, and yellow or red were good for Pickerel.
Used to catch them often in the colder months too looking for panfish, they’ll hit many lures. We used the safety pin type spinner with small curltail grubs often & the Pic’s would slam them. They tear up small spinnerbaits too.
Did you know they have discontinued Uncle Josh pork rinds? 
You brought up a bait that I’m sure all old timer freshwater fishermen had in their tackle box.
bucktail piggy backed with some Uncle Josh’s pork strips was always a go to artificial.
always entertaining to catch. anyone ever catchthem at wilsons mixed in with the shad? should be there in a few days
quote:plenty of jack fish at Wilson’s sonny
Originally posted by OhioNavyNukealways entertaining to catch. anyone ever catchthem at wilsons mixed in with the shad? should be there in a few days