Freshwater · Spring through autumn in lowland wetlands; best May to September

Redfin Pickerel

Esox americanus

The redfin pickerel is a miniature pike of St. Lawrence lowland wetlands in Quebec — a colourful miniature with fully scaled cheeks and gill covers and reddish fins. It is assessed Not at Risk in Canada, unlike its protected grass pickerel subspecies.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Redfin Pickerel — Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Tiny pike, rarely over about 30 cm, with a fully scaled cheek and gill cover
Reddish to orange fins, especially in breeding males
Dark vertical bar below the eye and a short, broad snout
Greenish to amber body with wavy dark markings
Both cheek and opercle fully scaled — a key mark of this species

Habits

Canada's smallest pike, living in dense shallow vegetation
Ambushes tiny fish, frogs and large insects from cover
Spawns in early spring over flooded vegetation
Often missed by anglers because its habitats are tiny, weedy and overlooked
Assessed Not at Risk in Canada, unlike its protected grass pickerel subspecies

Distribution

Québec City, QC · Quebec★ Primary

Portland, ME · MaineCommon

Boston, MA · New EnglandCommon

New York, NY · New YorkCommon

Jersey Shore, NJ · New Jersey & DelawareCommon

Sudbury, ON · OntarioOccasional

Chesapeake Bay, VA · Maryland & VirginiaOccasional

Where to find them

St. Lawrence lowland wetlands and floodplain marshes in Quebec
Slow ditches and creeks with dense weed
Shallow, sheltered bays of small lowland lakes

Where they live

Weedy wetlands and flooded marshes of the St. Lawrence lowlandsSlow, vegetation-choked creeks and ditchesShallow lake bays with dense cover

How to catch them

Micro-lure casting in wetlands Lake

Rig: Ultralight rod, small spinners, spoons or 1-2 in soft plastics worked slowly through gaps in the weed

Bait/lure: Tiny spinners, soft plastics

Key tip: Fish slow and shallow — redfin pickerel ambush from the thickest weed and strike at close range.

Bait fishing with small minnows and worms Lake

Rig: Light rod, small hook under a small float with worm or a small minnow fished along marsh edges

Bait/lure: Worms, small minnows

Key tip: Present bait still beside weed edges and pause — pike study prey before striking.

Best baits & lures

Small spinners and spoonsTiny soft plastics on jig headsWorms and small minnows

Techniques for Redfin Pickerel →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light 5-6 ft spinning rod
Line: 4-8 lb mono or light braid
Terminal: Small spinners, spoons and micro soft plastics

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 6-10 in; large fish to about 12-14 in

On the table

Fair — bony like all pike family fish; most anglers release this small, colourful pickerel.

Similar species

Chain PickerelChain pickerel is larger, with a dark chain pattern and a fully scaled cheek but only a half-scaled gill cover and no red fins

Northern PikeNorthern pike grows far larger and has light spots on a dark body; redfin pickerel stays tiny, with reddish fins and dark wavy markings

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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