- Science Name: Esox Lucius
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- Other Names: great northern pike, jack, jackfish, pickerel, snake, gator
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- Ideal Temp: 68 to 75
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- World Record: 5 lbs. 3 ounces, Miss.
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- Environment: river and lakes
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- Techniques: fly tackle, casting
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General description
The northern pike is an aggressive predator fish found throughout Minnesota in lakes, ponds and rivers.
Identification
General description: A long and toothy fish that has a head shaped like a large duck bill and is often mistaken for a muskellunge.
Length: On average, about 26 inches long.
Weight: The average is about five pounds.
Color: Mostly light yellow and silver markings on a dark olive background.
Reproduction
Northern pike spawn in early April on the edges of flooded grassy meadows and swamps connected to lakes. The water temperature during this period is about 40 degrees. The eggs hatch in about 10 days and the fry (newborns) stay in their spawning areas until they're about two to three inches long. Then they move to deeper water. The northern pike is one of the fastest growing freshwater fish.
Food
Upon juvenile pike reaching just 2 inches, they will begin preying on other fish species. Adult pike primarily eat a hearty diet of fish, but birds such as ducks and even large vermin such as muskrat are at risk. Pike also eat each other. For example, biologists from the Alaska Fish & Game found a 4-pound pike in the stomach of a 12-pound pike. Northerns hide in and around underwater plants to ambush their prey.
Predators
Large pike sometimes eat smaller pike.
Habitat and range
The northern pike is found throughout Minnesota. This fish can tolerate both cold and warm temperatures and can survive in some polluted waters.
Population and management
The Minnesota northern pike population is strong. However, most of these fish are small. DNR fisheries managers are working with fishing groups to find harvest regulations that may help increase the average size.
Fun facts
The world record pike (55 pounds, 1 ounce) was caught from a lake in Germany. Northern pike look a lot like muskies. But pike have light markings on a dark body background. Muskies usually have dark markings on a light body background.
Angling Methods
Pike are aggressive and will strike at almost anything you throw at them. The more action your lure or fly produces, the better. Almost all spoons and lures work and spinners are a favorite. Regardless of your choice of tackle though, you must use a steel or wire leader.
Top water tackle and flies are also effective and exciting, especially in calm water. Large mouse patterns are effective for fly fishing and plastic or wooden frogs work equally well for spinning rods. One advantage of using top water tackle is that your less likely to pickup weeds or become snagged. Pike will often lay in shallow water that is difficult to fish. In winter, ice fishing in deeper lakes will yield pike but they can be difficult to find unless you are at a lake where they are notorious.
