Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey, new guy here. Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I'm trying to find info on where to catch a grass pickerel... Go ahead make fun, I can take it Just trying to add a new species to the list.

Anyway I know Cow lake used to have them but then they treated the lake. Did they come back after the treatment? Anyone catch one there recently? Eloika is the other one I'm looking at. Any recent sightings there? Any tips for catching one? I'm assuming it's just like pike fishing... but smaller. Rooster tails and little jigs etc.?

Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks!

When I owned Downs Lake Resort (I sold it about seven years ago) we caught several grass pickerel every year. We fished the edges of the lilly pads using a jig and full night crawler fished about a foot off the bottom, changed bait often so the worm had plenty of wiggle in him.

We used to catch them in Rock creek between Bonny and Rock lake.
Mepps spinners or small jigs.

Nothing wrong with pickerel. Very cool fish. I'm sure they are in a few other lakes in the region but I'd certainly take YB and hewesbob's advice. As you already mentioned, Eloika is another. Good luck out there and keep us posted.

Wow! You owned Downs HewesBob? I caught pickerel there a few years in a row, quite a while ago, while targeting perch in the pads. I'd hit Downs the day before the Williams opener, sometimes stay there at Downs while fishing Williams and other nearby lakes for a few days, sometimes not. It was a very affordable base for the area.

Ya Mark when I owned the resort we wanted every body to feel welcome and have fun. I owned the place for about six years, I worked hiway construction so I was only there week ends most of the time, my wife took care of the resort mostly until she became ill. I sold the place three months before she passed away. Most recently I have tried to buy Chapman Lake resort but it looks like WFG has out bid me.

Thanks for the replies guys! I appreciate it. I'll let you know if I ever come up with anything.

Bonney lake has quite a few. Eloika has em but I've never caught one there so they must be pretty few and far between. If I had to catch one I'd head to Bonney lake or try Downs