Bluegill
Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
Rock Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Walleye
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Northern Pike| Average Length | 20 to 30 inches | Average Weight | 1 to 7 pounds |
| Record Length | Record Weight | 46 lb. 2 oz. |
| Also known as | Pickerel, Pike, Jack |
The northern pike is easily identified by its alligator-shaped snout, speckled skin, and slimy body. Some fishermen consider the pike to be a very rugged and respectable gamefish while others consider it to be a "slimy snake" and destroyer of worthier gamefish habitats.
The pike is perhaps one of the most voracious predators of freshwater lakes and typically stalks its prey solo in weedbeds. During early spring, the pike moves into shallow marshes to spawn and returns to the cooler depths as the summer wears on. Feeding on a very wide variety of fish (often perch), frogs, crayfish - even birds, the northern pike tends to attack anything and everything within its range and sometimes exhausts the environments of other fish (which is why it has earned its disdain among some fishermen).
Trolling along the outskirts of weedbeds usually proves to be very successful at catching pike. Casting and the use of live bait in weedbeds can be extremely successful as well. During a fight with an angler, the pike tends to dive and sometimes manages to entangle itself in weeds, logs, or other underwater obstacles.
Pike have several rows of extremely sharp pin-like teeth. Because of this, the angler needs to take special care when handling a northern pike. The pike's jagged teeth are also very capable of severing fishing line during a fight - it is generally a good idea to use a steel leader to prevent this when pike fishing.
Since pike are considered a threat to some habitats, several lakes have no size limit on pike. Check your local rulebook for details on which lakes do not have pike size limits.
