| Northern Pike one of the most exciting and | | | | They have great acceleration speed and tend to |
| strongest fighting fish for brackish and fresh | | | | catch prey by their sides and immobilising or killing |
| water. These exciting adversaries are a | | | | with their sharp teeth to which they then turn the |
| carnivorous fish. They are most abundant in the | | | | prey lenthwise and swallow. It is know to eat |
| Northern Hemisphere. These area's include: | | | | other fish however occasionally they like to vary |
| Canada, Alaska, The Ohio Valley, upper Mississippi | | | | their diet by eating water voles, insects and even |
| River and its tributaries, the Great Lakes and the | | | | ducklings. |
| states surrounding them (Missouri, Kansas and | | | | Fishing for Northern Pike can be rewarding yet |
| Nebraska). | | | | requires alot of patience and knowledge. Their are |
| An interesting fact on Northern Pike is the latin | | | | three periods of time to fish during what is known |
| translation of their name which is "waterwolf". | | | | as open water season. The first period is right |
| These fish are cunning, fast and predators to | | | | after the ice has melted and near spawning areas. |
| other fish. | | | | These area's are especially great in lakes and |
| General description of a Northern Pike: they are a | | | | reservoirs near vegetation in shallow water. |
| light green, almost olive color, with some yellow or | | | | They will put up a spectacular fight so there is not |
| white along the belly area. There fins have dark | | | | room for error when trying to best a champion |
| spots ranging from quite a few on some fish | | | | like the Northern Pike. The second period which is |
| while others may have few. Their gills have little | | | | the best for catching larger pike is during June or |
| to no scales on the bottom half and they have a | | | | early July when the water is starting to warm and |
| large pore which is for sensory on their head. | | | | the pike start to move to deeper and cooler |
| Most Northern Pike's grow to a rather large size | | | | water. The third period is when the water starts |
| with length's around 57-59 inches and weighing | | | | to turn cold again, during fall. This is when they |
| approximately 52-57 pounds are not just another | | | | start to move back to shallow water, however |
| fisherman's tale. | | | | this is also one of the most difficult times to try |
| Germany is the proud owner of the heaviest pike | | | | to catch pike as they are much more sluggish and |
| recorded, she ( most large pike's are female) was | | | | tend to not eat as often as before. |
| caught in 1983 was 5ft long and weighted an | | | | Water temperature signals the start of any and all |
| impressive 61 pounds. Northern Pike in the United | | | | movement. As the surface temperature reaches |
| States are not are large as their foreign | | | | 67-70 degree's they start to go deep into the |
| counterparts. One of the largest known caught | | | | cooler water and as the surface temperature |
| was in September 1940 in Great Sacandaga Lake | | | | cools they start to return to the more shallow |
| in New York state weighing 46 pounds. | | | | water. |
| Habitat's for Northern Pike are usually slow | | | | In summary Northern Pike's are exceptional fish |
| moving streams, lakes and reservoirs withing the | | | | to fish for, look at or simply to just admire. They |
| shallow area's with alot of vegetation. They are | | | | are very capable predators and they put up a |
| also known to be in cold, clear and rocky water. | | | | great battle. So if you are up to a challenge and |
| Northern Pike's are predators therefore they are | | | | want to fish for something unique this the fish for |
| capable of holding perfectly still for very long | | | | you. |
| periods of time while waiting for prey. | | | | |