Hi Fisherman98,
If you are targeting pickerel for catch & release then I strongly suggest that you use single hooks rather then treble hooks. Catching a pickerel on a treble hook makes it difficult for you to unhook the fish and the fish are often times mortally wounded by treble hooks because they swallow and you end up either gut hooking them or nicking a gill which will cause them to shock out and die. I recommend that you use a net when landing them because they are slimy and toothy fish.
My preferred pickerel lure is a gold 1/8 oz Johnson's silver spoon with a 3" orange twister tail grub trailer. I have the barb mashed down so releasing the fish is generally quick and easy. I really like the action on the silver spoon because it flutters on the fall and it wobbles from side to side like a wordens flatfish the way I have it rigged.
I also recommend 1/8 oz lead free moon eye jig with a 3" orange twister tail grub as alternative lure to catch pickerel.
Good Luck
If you are targeting pickerel for catch & release then I strongly suggest that you use single hooks rather then treble hooks. Catching a pickerel on a treble hook makes it difficult for you to unhook the fish and the fish are often times mortally wounded by treble hooks because they swallow and you end up either gut hooking them or nicking a gill which will cause them to shock out and die. I recommend that you use a net when landing them because they are slimy and toothy fish.
My preferred pickerel lure is a gold 1/8 oz Johnson's silver spoon with a 3" orange twister tail grub trailer. I have the barb mashed down so releasing the fish is generally quick and easy. I really like the action on the silver spoon because it flutters on the fall and it wobbles from side to side like a wordens flatfish the way I have it rigged.
I also recommend 1/8 oz lead free moon eye jig with a 3" orange twister tail grub as alternative lure to catch pickerel.
Good Luck
Cool thanks! YA I target Pickerel in a small pond next to Long pond (Little Long Pond) and I've gotten some nice 4 - 4 1/2 pounders in there. I just wanted to see if I could get a really big one to place me 1st in the state tournament. Right now the leader for the tournament has a 4.9 lbs Pickerel. So hoping to beat that!! 
speaking of Johnson, I caught a nice foot long pickerel on the upper Charles this past Saturday on a 1/8 oz silver spoon. I use a trout net to pull them in as they can really tear their mouths up otherwise.
Later that day I tried my luck on Bass at Jamaica Pond but was skunked by cormorants and even a great blue heron in my favorite spots. Can't beat the birds.
Later that day I tried my luck on Bass at Jamaica Pond but was skunked by cormorants and even a great blue heron in my favorite spots. Can't beat the birds.