[crazybass85]

caught my first yellow perch and pickeral ever today, I kept the fish in the water because i wasnt sure if the cold air would take a toll.

They were released without a problem, but the release could have been quiker if I knew where/where not to touch the fish, any help is greatly appreciated

 

[carsandfish]

grab pick around gill plate, and you can lip the perch

 

[MaxKatt1]

Agree on the Pickerel. I assume the prior advice meant OVER the gill plates. If you're going to keep a fish you can stick finger in the gills. If you plan to release, best not to do this as that. Gills are their lungs, they're delecate and you can hurt the fish.

Just try to grab him firmly on the shoulders one time. The more times you grab, drop, regrab, the more protective slime you rub off. Firm behind the head where he can thrash you with the teeth. Use forcips to pluck the hook out. I keep those on a little pulley on my right hip. If you do it right, you can land the fish, grab him, get the forcips on, pluck the hook, turn him loose, all in a matter of seconds.

For pickerel, try the new Chatterbait in Chartruese. Single hook is easier to get out than anything with trebles. Weedless. Runs through shallow weeds the picks like. May look like a meaty frog or something. I've got one lake I'll hit for picks and they love the Chatterbait.

 

[crazybass85]

thanx guys