Common Eastern Pickerel; Green Pike; Jack 



Michigan. It is not known from east of the Alleghanies nor from 

 Texas. Throughout most of its range it is generally common in all 

 ponds, bayous and small sluggish streams, preferring those waters 

 in which there is much aquatic vegetation. It rarely exceeds a foot 

 in length which precludes it being more than a boy's fish. 



Br. ii to 13; scales 105. Colour, green or grayish; side with 

 many curved streaks, sometimes forming bars, but more usually 

 marmorations or reticulations, the colour extremely variable, some- 

 times quite plain; sides of head usually variegated; a dark bar 

 downward and one forward from the eye; base of caudal sometimes 

 mottled; other fins usually plain. 



Common Eastern Pickerel; Green Pike; Jack 



Esox reticulatus Le Sueur 



This species is found from Maine to Florida, Louisiana, Arkan- 

 sas and Tennessee, common everywhere east and south of the 

 Alleghanies. In Maine it was probably native only in the south- 

 western portion of the state, but through the agency of man it 

 is now abundant in practically all the lakes in the southern third 

 of the State, and it is found in some lakes further north. In the 

 other New England States this pickerel is a common and familiar 

 inhabitant of nearly every lake and pond. The same is true of 

 the ponds and lakes of New York, New Jersey and eastern Penn- 

 sylvania. 



The ffi'ost southern record is from Crooked Lake, Orange 

 County, Florida. The most western record is from Mammoth 

 Springs, Arkansas, and other tributaries of White River, it being 

 common in the Ozark region. This species attains a length of 

 2 feet, and a weight of several pounds. In some places it is a 

 game-fish of considerable importance. It is fished for in all sorts 

 of ways. In New England and elsewhere perhaps the most 

 common method is "skittering," using a piece of perch belly, a 

 minnow, a small frog or a frog-leg. In trolling, as in skittering, 

 almost any lure is effective. It will also take the artificial fly, 

 particularly if it be large and bright in colour, and if used some- 

 what as in skittering. In winter many pickerel are taken through 

 the ice by using live minnow bait. 



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