COMMON NAMES: Northern pike

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Esox lucius

IDENTIFICATION: The Northern pike is a long and slender fish with a duckbill shaped mouth and lots of needle sharp teeth. The dorsal fin is soft and located near the tail fin. In contrast to the muskellunge, the lower half of the opercle (gill cover) does not have scales while the cheek is fully scaled. Northern pike also have numerous white or yellow-green spots on the sides of the body which are arranged in oblique rows. There is no teardrop below the eye.

RANGE AND HABITAT: The Northern pike is native to Michigan and is more widely distributed than any other pike species. Historically, they were abundant in Lake Erie and its tributaries. Today, its distribution is limited to a small portion of Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake St Clair, Lake Huron, Lake Superior and the marshlands and tributary streams of these areas. Northern pike were also introduced into inland waters between. Northern pike prefer marshes, bays and pools of slow moving water in clear streams where aquatic vegetation is abundant.

LIFE HISTORY: Northern pike spawn in Lake Erie tributaries as soon as the ice breaks, usually in late February or early March. Females spread between 15,000 to 75,000 eggs freely into vegetated areas. As the eggs settle they adhere to vegetation, rocks, sticks and other debris until they hatch in about two weeks. Young Northern pike feed on zooplankton for about two weeks and then begin switching to a diet of fish. After spawning, females return to the bays, marshes, streams, and inland lakes through streams and  Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake St Clair, Lake Huron, Lake Superior. Adult pike feed primarily on fish but will take nearly anything they can fit in their mouth, including frogs, muskrats, and small ducks.

ADULT SIZE: Most Northern pike caught in Michigan weigh between 2 and 10 pounds. However, individuals up to 39 pounds have been State recorded.

FISHING METHODS: Most Northern pike in Michigan are caught by anglers using large minnows as bait. Ice fishing often produces nice catches in inland lakes and ponds. Anglers have Better success with artificial lures in Michigan than in states farther South.