Chain Pickerel Management

Species Overview

The Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) is Connecticut’s only native, strictly freshwater apex predatory sportfish. Historically, Chain Pickerel were sometimes viewed as a nuisance species due to their predatory nature and competition with more sought-after fish such as trout and bass.

Today, the Fisheries Division recognizes Chain Pickerel as an important part of Connecticut’s freshwater ecosystems and a valuable year-round sportfish. Chain Pickerel remain active through the winter months, providing consistent angling opportunities, including through the ice.

Size and Population Characteristics

In certain unfished water supply reservoirs, Chain Pickerel can reach lengths greater than 24 inches and weights exceeding four pounds. However, these sizes are rarely achieved in most publicly fished waters due to several contributing factors:

• Winter drawdowns
•  Low minimum size limits (15 inches)
• High daily creel limits (6 fish)
• Mortality associated with catch and release

Despite these pressures, several lakes in northwestern Connecticut support exceptional populations of large Chain Pickerel. These waters provide anglers with opportunities to catch trophy-sized fish rarely seen elsewhere in the state.

Chain Pickerel Management Lakes

(new as of January 1, 2026)

To protect and maintain these unique populations, the Fisheries Division established three Chain Pickerel Management Lakes:

• East Twin Lake (Salisbury)
•  West Twin Lake (Salisbury)
• Wononskopomuc Lake (Salisbury)

Special Regulations

Minimum length: 22 inches

Daily Limit: 1 fish per angler per day

These regulations are intended to protect larger fish and maintain quality populations. Fisheries Division monitoring has shown that Chain Pickerel from these three lakes routinely grow larger and occur in greater numbers than the statewide average.

Chain Pickerel serve as a native apex predator in these systems—a role that in other waters is often supported by species such as Northern Pike, Walleye, and Largemouth Bass. Protecting pickerel in these lakes helps preserve natural predator-prey balance and enhances angling diversity.

Ongoing Research and Management

Chain Pickerel remain relatively understudied compared to other sportfish in Connecticut. The Fisheries Division is working to expand its understanding of pickerel populations and evaluate management strategies by:

• Collecting baseline population and age-structure data.
•  Assessing whether current statewide regulations provide adequate protection.
• Monitoring changes in size and abundance following regulation adjustments.

This work will help ensure sustainable populations and continued angling opportunities for one of Connecticut’s most unique native sportfish.

Please contact the Fisheries Division with any questions. 

Phone: 860-424-FISH (3474)
E-mail: deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov

Content last updated December 2025