Thank you for supporting our journalism work. This article is only for our subscribers, who helped fund our work in the Baltimore Sun.

Now is the time to fish for pike. But first, let’s talk about security.

Ice and cold water are dangerous. Even the so-called "paper ice" can damage any ship. A more common problem is the ice on the ship's side, which makes it possible to start and pick up the boat from anywhere from dangerous to impossible.

Kayaks and other small boats need to be more careful in cold water. Getting wet, especially if dropped into water, can be fatal. The shock of sudden immersion can cause cold water shock and cause heart disease.

Hypothermia can quickly lead to exhaustion to almost paralyzed levels, making it difficult or even impossible to escape from the water. Therefore, in addition to wearing appropriate clothes-dry or wet wetsuits are preferable-you should wear a floating vest with a whistle and light before going into the water, and don't take risks when no one else is on the other boat. Sheung Shui, within sight and shouting distance.

I also recommend bringing a spare set of clothes in your vehicle and not risking too far from your ramp and vehicle.

Pickerel can be caught all year round, but the golden season is from November to April.

A large number of barracudas can be found in the Magoshi and Severn rivers on the west bank, the Nanticok and Pocomok rivers on the east bank, most of the Delmarva ponds and the Crow Lake reservoir. Please note that Maryland law prohibits the keeping of small fish from March 15 to April 30.

The ideal traditional fishing tackle is a light-to-medium-weight rotating or cast rod, matching the reel with a 15-pound test braid and/or fusion line, and a 2-foot-long 20-pound fluorocarbon or monofilament lead to prevent multi-tooth Barracuda cut off. Despite these important leaders, there have been some disruptions.

In open waters, like most rivers, the preferred bait is 1/8 ounce, wire hooks, unpainted fish heads or "horsehead" rotating fish heads, which are dressed in white or white or black slender capuchin fish The natural color of plastic slugs. Sometimes the clamp will hang, but usually a steady pull will open the hook to release the bait. Then you can use thumb pressure or fishing tongs to bend the hook back to its original shape.

In rivers or ponds with large amounts of wood mulch or water lilies or splashing algae residues, the Texas-manipulated paddle fluke, 3 to 4 inches long white or natural color is a better choice.

Pickerel experts use "the Magothy River crawl" to retrieve fishing tackle and plastic fishing tackle, basically dragging the fishing tackle or oar-tail bait slowly along the bottom, lifting the bait and shaking it into place, and then slowly turning the reel and pausing again. This also applies to the jig and minnow combination. Move the tail of the oar to swing the tail.

Rod angle is critical. Keeping the fishing rod high, at least 45 degrees above the surface, greatly facilitates this retrieval and can feel that the barracuda is receiving bait or bait. Sometimes a pickerel will slam, but usually it will be very subtle. Sometimes it is just a slight twitch (usually seen rather than felt in the line), and other times it is a simple pause or stop.

This may be an effective technique in winter. Using a 7 or 8 weight rod, match the float wire to the 8 foot lead, including 2 feet of 20 pounds of fluorocarbon or monofilament bite tube. In very cold weather, the middle sinking line can be used. The most effective flies are 3 to 4 inches of white, yellow, or yellow-green streamers attached to curved patterns or weed-free hooks, or Bruce’s articulated bullet darts working slowly in the remaining pads. Slowly retract the fly again and let it fly down when it pauses.

Usually the most effective technique in any barracuda waters is to catch live minnows that are 2 to 4 inches in size, hooked on small jigs or herring darts with thread or "golden" hooks. This can be used as a jig for fishing or hanging under a small buoy. This equipment can also accept bass, crappie and bass.

A very long fisherman's tongs may be needed to remove the hook from the multi-toothed barracuda.

Moving tides are usually important in rivers, preferably descending tides. Our team of fishermen noticed that barracudas reacted negatively to wavy waters, whether it was visibility problems or the noise of waves hitting boats or other reasons.

Pickerel is a shallow water ambush breeder, so think accordingly and look for structures and bait fish. Look for points of fall along the open coastline, the back of the bay, fallen trees, and piers—anywhere with cover and/or break lines. Throw directly to the shoreline, then slowly return to the break line, which is usually the most productive barracuda waters. If this doesn't work, please go deeper. Piles and piers provide the main cover and always work in the back vortex formed by the tides at the mouth of the creek, the bend of the river, and the deeper waters near the boathouse.

Pickerel is not a school fish, but they seem to hang in groups; usually one person can carry a few to six or more in a small area. Therefore, it pays to keep going and looking. Approach all areas as slowly and quietly as possible.

Slow trolling or simply drifting with the wind or tide may be an effective method.

Pickerel is also known for following bait or bait, so it is worthwhile to keep fishing back to the boat. When the bait or bait starts to rise, it usually strikes on the side of the boat, but barracudas usually follow it out of shallow water.

Pickerel seems to have restored their respect as a valuable cold weather game fish in the past few years.