Fish-On! Chapter 6

Pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus)

There are four species of pike in North America, but the best known is the northern pike, Esox lucius Linnaeus. Although the fish is still looked upon with disdain in some areas and derogatorily called the "jackfish " or "snakefish, " pike fishing continues to maintain considerable prestige. Fishing for the "northern " or the "great northern " carries with it a certain myth, much of it due to some strange fish stories.

One of the popular misconceptions is that pike fishing is poor in August because pike shed their teeth around that time and their sore gums keep them from feeding. Scientific evidence doesn't support the theory that the teeth are shed entirely at one time but reveals that pike replace worn-out or broken teeth as they are lost.

Many local tales also claim their waters carry such large fish that no ordinary line will hold them. Although northern pike do grow to a formidable size, these tales have probably originated because of the inevitably tangled or frayed line or cracked guide resulting from the pike's characteristically savage rush when taking lures rather than because of any greatness in fish size.

There are some fishermen who are even convinced that the northern pike is a completely different species from the smaller juveniles, confusing the younger pike with some pickerel and the older pike with muskellunge. The confusion is furthered by the fact that northern pike exhibit considerable variation in size, markings, and proportions, depending on aquatic environment. There are even a few mutants around: the silver pike (Esox lucius), which seldom weighs over ten pounds, can be found in the U.S. and Canada; and the tiger muskie, a hybrid cross between the northern and the muskellunge.

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