Andrew, I am a chainsides addict between now and late March. And it seems there aren't very many of us. I love their torpedolike explosions from the side and V-wakes when on the chase. Took 4 of them like this one this weekend. Quantico ponds are loaded with them and here is info on fishing Quantico. https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/waterbody/quantico-mcb-ponds-lakes/ I have also seen them caught from Burke Lake but not by me. (And yes, I'm sure they were chain pickerel.)
Tactics: I use a floating line. Although when I started targeting them years ago, I initially did fine with 6 and 8 pound mono (I got lucky) because all fish were hooked in the corner of the mouth like yours. After my first "sliceoff," I went to 20-lb wire. Used wire for a few years and then somebody told me to use 20-pound fluoro because I'd scare less fish and I'd be fine. Although 20-pound fluoro has generally worked, I have had a few biteoffs/sliceoffs. Two weeks ago, I was using 20-pound fluoro, stripping the fly, saw the v-wake coming in, kept stripping, saw the explosion and strip-struck to nothing. My 20-pound fluoro had been sliced (from thick to threadlike). I never even felt the strike on the strip. So, I immediately grabbed my bag and saw that I only had 30-lb wire. It worked that day and then again this last weekend. I tie the fly on with a "jam knot." Way too easy. And it has never failed me.
As for flies, I started with clousers and half-and-halfs years ago. As you can imagine, bucktail and feathers generally last for exactly one fish. I have experimented with various flies and now really only use one. A bunny-strip fly. I generally have a 2-inch white or yellow section as a tail, add some flash if I feel like it (and I have felt like it lately using red flash), and I then palmer a chartreuse strip up the shank. I generally use 1/0 but I've taken pickerel on 6s up to 2/0. And I always mash that barb down.
In colder weather, look for shallow weedy bays protected from the wind.
I have caught them on topwater, but generally fish a non-weighted bunny strip fly a foot or so under the surface. In deeper places, I will at times resort to dumbbell eyes.
http://www.tpfr.org
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