Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel:

Appearance:

Chain pickerel are deep olive-green on the back, shading to a creamy yellow on the belly, with the back and anal fin about the same size and located far back on an elongated body. A distinct black chain-like or interwoven marking on the sides give them their name.

Habitat:

Found statewide, normally in vegetated lakes, swamps and backwaters of small to large rivers.

Behavior:

Spawning occurs in late winter to spring among heavy aquatic weed growth or flooded grasses, in water from a few inches deep to several feet deep. Large number of adhesive eggs are scattered over vegetation.