|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{About|the fish|the Canadian band|The Northern Pikes}}
| | Friends contact him Royal. The factor I adore most bottle tops gathering and now I have time to consider on new issues. Delaware is the place I love most but I require to move for my family. Bookkeeping has been his working day job for a whilst.<br><br>Have a look at my web-site; [http://Gamesitdown.com/profile/ba8074 extended car warranty] |
| {{Taxobox
| |
| | name = Northern pike (''Esox lucius'')
| |
| | image = Esox lucius1.jpg
| |
| | image_width = 250px
| |
| | image_caption = Northern pike
| |
| | status=LC
| |
| | status_system = IUCN3.1
| |
| | regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| |
| | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| |
| | classis = [[Actinopterygii]]
| |
| | superordo = [[Protacanthopterygii]]
| |
| | ordo = [[Esociformes]]
| |
| | familia = [[Esocidae]]
| |
| | genus = ''[[Esox]]''
| |
| | species = '''''E. lucius'''''
| |
| | binomial = ''Esox lucius''
| |
| | binomial_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| |
| | range_map = Distribution map of Esox lucius.png
| |
| }}
| |
| | |
| The '''northern pike''' (''Esox lucius''), known simply as a '''pike ''' in [[Great Britain|Britain]], [[Ireland]], most parts of the USA, or as jackfish in Canada or simply "Northern" in the [[Upper Midwest]] of the USA), is a [[species]] of carnivorous [[fish]] of the genus ''[[Esox]]'' (the pikes). They are typical of [[brackish water|brackish]] and [[freshwater]]s of the northern hemisphere (''i.e.'' [[holarctic]] in distribution). Pike grow to a relatively large size; lengths of {{Convert|150|cm|in|0}} and weights of {{convert|25|kg}} are not unheard of. The average length is about 70–120 cm (28-47 inches). The heaviest specimen known so far was caught in an abandoned stone quarry, in Germany, in 1983. She (the majority of all pikes over {{convert|8|kg|disp=or|abbr=on}} are females) was {{convert|147|cm|abbr=on}} long and weighed {{convert|31|kg|abbr=on}}. The longest pike ever recorded and confirmed was {{convert|152|cm|abbr=on}} long and weighed {{convert|28|kg|abbr=on}}. A pike of 60.5 inches (154 cm) has been caught and released in May 2004 in Apisko Lake, Manitoba. Historic reports of giant pike, caught in nets in [[Ireland]] in the late 19th century, of {{convert|41|-|42|kg|abbr=on}} with a length of 173–175 cm (67-68 inches), were researched by Fred Buller and published in "The Domesday Book of Mammoth Pike". Neither Britain nor Ireland has managed to produce much in the way of giant pike in the last 50 years and as a result there is substantial doubt surrounding those earlier claims. Currently, the [[International Game Fish Association|IGFA]] recognizes a {{convert|25|kg|abbr=on}} pike caught by Lothar Louis in Lake of Grefeern, Germany, on October 16, 1986 as the all-tackle world record northern pike. | |
| | |
| ==Etymology==
| |
| [[File:Brochet Luc Viatour .jpg|thumb|Northern pike in the {{Ill|fr|Aquarium Dubuisson}}]]
| |
| [[File:Esox luciusZZ.jpg|thumb|''Esox lucius'' skull]]
| |
| | |
| The northern pike gets its name from its resemblance to the pole-weapon known as the [[Pike (weapon)|pike]] (from the Middle English for pointed). The [[genus]] name, ''Esox'', comes from the Greek and Celtic for "big fish" and "salmon" (see [[Esox#Name|Esox: Name]]). Various other unofficial [[trivial name]]s are: American pike, common pike, great northern pike, Great Lakes pike, grass pike, snot rocket, slough shark, snake, slimer, slough snake, northern, gators (due a head similar in shape to that of an alligator), jack, jackfish, Sharptooth McGraw, Mr. Toothy and other such names as Long head and Pointy nose. Numerous other names can be found in ''Field Museum Zool. Leaflet Number 9''.
| |
| | |
| ==Description==
| |
| [[File:Esox Lucius.JPG|thumb|Northern pike in public aquarium in [[Kotka]], [[Finland]]]]
| |
| [[File:Europaeischer Hecht.jpg|thumb|Northern pike in the [[Straussee]] at [[Strausberg]]]]
| |
| | |
| Northern pike are most often olive green, shading from yellow to white along the belly. The [[wikt:flank|flank]] is marked with short, light bar-like spots and there are a few to many dark spots on the fins. Sometimes the fins are reddish. Younger pike have yellow stripes along a green body, later the stripes divide into light spots and the body turns from green to olive green. The lower half of the [[Operculum (fish)|gill cover]] lacks scales and they have large sensory [[Canal pore|pores]] on their [[head]] and on the underside of the lower [[jaw]] which are part of the [[lateral line]] system. Unlike the similar-looking and closely related [[muskellunge]], the northern pike has light markings on a dark body background and fewer than six sensory pores on the underside of each side of the lower jaw.
| |
| [[File:Esox lucius A. F. Lydon.jpg|thumb|Drawing of Northern pike]]
| |
| A hybrid between northern pike and muskellunge is known as a Tiger Muskellunge (''Esox masquinongy × lucius'' or ''Esox lucius × masquinongy'',<ref>http://www.gen.umn.edu/research/fish/fishes/tiger_muskie.html</ref> depending on the sex of each of the contributing species). In the hybrids, the males are invariably sterile, while females are often fertile, and may back-cross with the parent species.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=677 |title=tiger muskellunge (Esox lucius x E. masquinongy) - FactSheet |publisher=Nas.er.usgs.gov |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02}}</ref> Another form of northern pike, the silver pike, is not a subspecies but rather a [[mutation]] that occurs in scattered populations. Silver pike, sometimes called silver muskellunge, lack the rows of spots and appear silver, white, or silvery-blue in color.<ref>Craig, John F. ed. Pike: Biology and Exploitation. Chapman & Hall, London. 1996 pp. 1</ref> When ill, Silver pike have been known to display a somewhat purplish hue; long illness is also the most common cause of male sterility.
| |
| | |
| In [[Italy]], the newly identified species ''[[Esox flaviae]]'' ("southern pike") was long thought to be a color variation of the northern pike, but was in 2011 announced to be a species of its own.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0025218 |title=Molecular and Phenotypic Evidence of a New Species of Genus Esox (Esocidae, Esociformes, Actinopterygii): The Southern Pike, Esox flaviae |publisher=PLOS ONE |date= |accessdate=2012-11-20}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ===Length and weight===
| |
| In addition to the stats earlier presented, (see above), Northern pike in North America seldom reach the size of their European counterparts; one of the largest specimens known was a {{convert|21|kg|abbr=on}} specimen from New York state. It was caught in [[Great Sacandaga Lake]] on 15 September 1940 by Peter Dubuc. There are reports of far larger pike, but these are either misidentifications of the pike's larger relative the [[muskellunge]], or simply have not been properly documented and belong in the realm of legend.
| |
| | |
| [[File:northern pike weight length graph.jpg|thumb]]
| |
| As northern pike grow longer, they increase in weight. The relationship between length and weight is not linear. The relationship between total length (''L'', in inches) and total weight (''W'', in pounds) for nearly all species of fish can be expressed by an [[Standard Weight in Fish|equation]] of the form:
| |
| :<math>W = cL^b\!\,</math>
| |
| | |
| Invariably, ''b'' is close to 3.0 for all species, and ''c'' is a constant that varies among species. For northern pike, ''b'' = 3.096 and ''c'' = 0.000180. (c=7.089 enables you to put in length in meters and weight in kg)<ref>R. O. Anderson and R. M. Neumann, Length, Weight, and Associated Structural Indices, in Fisheries Techniques, second edition, B. E. Murphy and D. W. Willis, eds., American Fisheries Society, 1996.</ref>
| |
| | |
| The relationship described in this section suggests that a {{convert|20|in|adj=on}} northern pike will weigh about {{convert|2|lb|abbr=on}}, while a {{convert|26|in|adj=on}} northern pike will weigh about {{convert|4|lb|abbr=on}}.
| |
| | |
| ==Behavior==
| |
| | |
| ===Aggressiveness===
| |
| The Northern pike is a relatively aggressive species, especially with regards to feeding and other such activities. For example, when food rations are poor, [[Cannibalism (zoology)|cannibalism]] develops, starting around five weeks in a small percent of populations.<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com">Giles, N., Wright, R. M. and Nord, M. E. (1986), Cannibalism in pike fry, Esox lucius L.: some experiments with fry densities. Journal of Fish Biology, 29: 107–113. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1986.tb04930.x http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1986.tb04930.x/abstract</ref> This cannibalism occurs when the ratio of predator to prey is 2 to 1.<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com"/> One can expect this because when food is scarce, Northern pike fight for survival, such as turning on smaller pike in order to feed. We see this in other species such as [[tiger salamander]]<nowiki/>s. Usually, pike have tendencies to feed upon smaller fish, such as the [[Banded killifish]]. However, when pike exceed 700mm, they will feed on larger fish.<ref name="Mann, R. H. K. 1976">Mann, R. H. K. (1976), Observations on the age, growth, reproduction and food of the pike Esox lucius (L.) in two rivers in southern England. Journal of Fish Biology, 8: 179–197. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1976.tb03930.x, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1976.tb03930.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false</ref> As one can probably assume, these pike are the ones most likely to develop cannibalistic traits.
| |
| | |
| We see in pike that there is a fairly high young mortality rate. This occurs from cannibalism when food is short.<ref name="jstor.org">R. H. K. Mann. Journal of Animal Ecology , Vol. 51, No. 1 (Feb., 1982), pp. 81-95 Published by:British Ecological Society http://www.jstor.org/stable/4312</ref> As a result, the pike suffers from a slow growth rate during cool summers. Cannibalism is more prevalent in such conditions as the upcoming pike will not reach a size that deters the larger pike to back off. Cannibalism is likely to arise in low growth and low food conditions.<ref name="jstor.org"/> It should be noted that pike do not discriminate well between siblings, and as such, cannibalism between siblings is likely. However, further information is needed to determine if pike have a preference to not cannibalize relatives like other cannibalistic species.
| |
| | |
| Aggressiveness also arises from a need of space.<ref name="Reproduction, Early Life 1967 pp. 651-693">A Study of Reproduction, Early Life, Weight-Length Relationship and Growth of Pike, Esox lucius L., in Windermere. Winifred E. Frost and Charlotte Kipling. Journal of Animal Ecology , Vol. 36, No. 3 (Oct., 1967), pp. 651-693. Published by: British Ecological Society. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2820</ref> We see that young pike have a tendency to have their food robbed by larger pike.<ref name="Reproduction, Early Life 1967 pp. 651-693"/> The reason why pike are aggressive if not given enough space is because pike are territorial species.<ref name="sciencedirect.com">Peter Eklov. Group foraging versus solitary foraging efficiency in piscivorous predators: the perch, Perca fluviatilis, and pike, Esox Lucius, patterns. Scient Direct. August 1992. Pages 313-326. Volume 44, Part 2. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000334729290037A</ref> They undergo a form of foraging known as Sit and Wait. Unlike species such as perch, pike will undergo bursts of energy instead of actively chasing down prey. As such, there is a fair amount of inactive time until they find prey. We see from experiments that hunting efficiency decreases with competition.<ref name="sciencedirect.com"/> The larger the pike, the larger the area that is controlled by that particular pike. In addition, there is a preference from larger pike. There is an inverse relation to vegetation density and pike size, which is due to the possibility of cannibalism from the largest pike.<ref name="nrcresearchpress.com">P. Eklov. Effects of Habitat complexity and prey abundance on the spatial and temporal distributions of perch and pike. April 09, 2011. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/f97-059?journalCode=cjfas#.UmnbgxBTVBz</ref> This makes sense as the smaller pike needs more vegetation to avoid being eaten. Large pike do not have this worry and can afford the luxury of having a large line of sight to work with. They prefer a tree structure habitat.<ref name="nrcresearchpress.com"/>
| |
| | |
| ===Physical behavioral traits===
| |
| Pike are capable of “fast start” movements, which are sudden high energy-bursts of unsteady swimming.<ref name="jeb.biologists.org">David G. Harper and Robert W. Blake, Fast-Start Performance of Rainbow Trout Salmo Gairdneri and Northern Pike Esox Lucius. January 9, 1990. The Journal of Experimental Biology. http://jeb.biologists.org/content/150/1/321.short</ref> Many other aquatic fish exhibit this movement as well. The reason that most fish utilize this mechanism is to avoid life-threatening situations for most fish, similar to an [[Adrenaline Rush|adrenaline rush]]. For the pike however, it is a tool used in order to capture prey from their sedentary position. They flash out in such bursts and capture their prey. These fast starts terminate when the pike has reached terminal velocity.<ref name="jeb.biologists.org"/> During such motions, pike make S conformations while swimming at high rates. To decelerate, they, simply make a C conformation, exponentially slowing down their speed so that they can “stop”.<ref name="jeb.biologists.org"/> An interesting behavioral trait that pike have is that they have short digestion times and long feeding periods.<ref name="Mann, R. H. K. 1976"/> It makes sense in the fact that they can undergo many of these fast-bursts in order to collect as much prey as they can. For pike, their time of least activity is during the night.<ref name="sciencedirect.com"/>
| |
| | |
| ===Reproduction/Habitat===
| |
| Pike have a strong homing behavior;<ref name="nrcresearchpress.com"/> they are privy to inhabit certain areas by nature. During the summer, pike tend to group closer to vegetation than during the winter.<ref>Jepsen, N., Beck, S., Skov, C. and Koed, A. (2001), Behavior of pike (Esox lucius L.) >50 cm in a turbid reservoir and in a clearwater lake. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 10: 26–34. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0633.2001.100104.x, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-0633.2001.100104.x/full</ref> The exact reason is not clear, but it is very likely this is a result of foraging or possibly reproductive needs to safeguard young. Pike diel rhythm changes significantly over the year.<ref>Jepsen, N., Beck, S., Skov, C. and Koed, A. (2001), Behavior of pike (Esox lucius L.) >50 cm in a turbid reservoir and in a clearwater lake. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 10: 26–34. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0633.2001.100104.x, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-0633.2001.100104.x/full</ref> We see that on sunny days pike stay closer to the shallow shore. On windy days, they are further from shore.<ref name="Chapman, C. A 1984">Chapman, C. A. and Mackay, W. C. (1984), Versatility in habitat use by a top aquatic predator, Esox lucius L. Journal of Fish Biology, 25: 109–115. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1984.tb04855.x, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1984.tb04855.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false</ref> When close the shore, pike have a preference for shallow vegetated areas.<ref name="Chapman, C. A 1984"/> In an experiment done, scientists have found that pike are more stationary in reservoirs than lakes.<ref>Jepsen, N., Beck, S., Skov, C. and Koed, A. (2001), Behavior of pike (Esox lucius L.) >50 cm in a turbid reservoir and in a clearwater lake. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 10: 26–34. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0633.2001.100104.x, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-0633.2001.100104.x/full</ref> A possibility is that lakes have more prey to feed upon, or possibly in reservoirs prey will ultimately cross paths with the pike. As such, this could be a form of energy conservation. Pike prefer to breed in the spring.<ref name="Reproduction, Early Life 1967 pp. 651-693"/> They also mature in around two years before they are physically capable of [[breeding]]. Pike also have a tendency to lay a large amount of eggs.<ref name="Reproduction, Early Life 1967 pp. 651-693"/> A likely explanation for such actions are to produce as many surviving offspring as possible as many most likely die early in life. As such, to ensure the greatest genetic success, pike will produce a large amount of [[offspring]]. In females, the [[gonads]] enlarge when it is time to shed her eggs.<ref name="Reproduction, Early Life 1967 pp. 651-693"/> However, after they are shed, these eggs will not spawn if the water is below 6 degrees Celsius.<ref name="Reproduction, Early Life 1967 pp. 651-693"/> Male pike arrive to the breeding grounds before females do. In addition, the males will stay after the [[spawning]] is finished.<ref name="Reproduction, Early Life 1967 pp. 651-693"/> We see this in many fish. Male parental care in fish is not uncommon, so such behavior is to be expected. In pike, parental stock is vital for pike success.<ref name="Craig, J. F 1983">Craig, J. F. and Kipling, C. (1983), Reproduction effort versus the environment; case histories of Windermere perch, Perca fluviatilis L., and pike, Esox lucius L. Journal of Fish Biology, 22: 713–727. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1983.tb04231.x, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1983.tb04231.x/abstract</ref> In addition, we see that mortality rates do indeed change from high to low with more eggs that are laid. In fact, it is a tenfold difference.<ref name="Craig, J. F 1983"/> As such, such a behavior has been developed through evolutionary trials. For breeding, the more stable the water, the greater the fitness of the pike.<ref name="ReferenceA">Donald R. Franklin, Lloyd L. Smith Jr., Early Life History of the Northern Pike, Esox Lucius L., with Special References to the Factors Influencing the Numerical Strength of Year Classes</ref> We see this as mortality results from toxic concentrations of iron or rapid temperature changes.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> We see that adult abundance and the strength of the resulting year classes are not related. It is based upon two points of development: one during embryo stage between fertilization and closure of the [[blastophore]] and the second is between hatching and the termination of the alevin stage.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
| |
| | |
| ==Ecology==
| |
| | |
| ===Habitat===
| |
| [[File:Pike caught frog.jpg|thumb|Pike take big prey and are not very particular.]]
| |
| | |
| Pike are found in sluggish streams and shallow, weedy places in lakes, as well as in cold, clear, rocky waters. Pike are typical [[ambush predator]]s; they lie in wait for prey, holding perfectly still for long periods and then exhibit remarkable acceleration as they strike. In short, they will inhabit any water body that contains fish, but suitable places for spawning are essential for their numbers. Because of their [[cannibalistic]] nature, young pike need places where they can take shelter between plants so they are not eaten. In both cases it comes down to a rich submersible vegetation nearby. Pike are seldom found in brackish water, except for the Baltic Sea area. Pike are known to prefer water with less turbidity but that is probably related to their dependence on the presence of submersible vegetation and not to their being a sight hunter.
| |
| | |
| ===Reproduction===
| |
| Pike are known to [[Spawn (biology)|spawn]] in spring when the water temperature first reaches {{convert|9|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pikezander.co.uk/pike.htm |title= pikezander.co.uk}}</ref> The males are first at the spawning grounds preceding the females by a few weeks. The larger females tend to arrive earlier than the smaller ones. A female may be followed by several smaller males. When a pair starts slowing down the male will put his tail under the female's body and release its sperm that is mixed with the eggs due to the tail movement. The spawning consists of a great number of these moves several times a minute and going on for a few hours a day. Every move between 5 and 60 eggs are laid. A female can continue the mating for three days in a row. After the mating the males tend to stay in the area for a few extra weeks.
| |
| | |
| The color of the sticky eggs is yellow to orange, the diameter is 2.5 to 3 mm. The embryos are 7.5 to 10 mm in length and able to swim after hatching but stay on the bottom for some time. The embryonic stage is 5 to 16 days, dependent on water temperature (at 19°C and 10°C, respectively). Under natural circumstances the survival from [[Fish larva|free swimming larva]] to 75 mm pike is around 5 percent.
| |
| Pike can reach the reproductive stage in a year, females being 30 cm, males 19 cm. Pike normally live 5 to 15 years, but can be as old as 30. Life expectancy and growth are dependent on circumstances.
| |
| | |
| ===Feeding===
| |
| [[File:Esox lucius Prague Vltava 1.jpg|thumb|Prague Vltava fish exhibition]]
| |
| | |
| The young free swimming pike feed on small invertebrates starting with [[daphnia]], and quickly moving on to bigger prey like [[isopod]]s like asellus or [[gammarus]]. When the body length is 4 to 8 cm they start feeding on small fish.
| |
| | |
| The pike have a very typical hunting behavior; they are able to remain stationary in the water by moving the last fin rays of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins. Before striking they bend their body and dart out to the prey using the large surface of tail fin, dorsal fin and anal fin to propel themselves. The fish has a distinctive habit of catching its prey sideways in the mouth, immobilising it with its sharp backward pointing teeth, and then turning the prey headfirst to swallow it. It eats mainly fish, but also small [[mammals]] and [[birds]] fall prey to pike. Young pike have been found dead from choking on a pike of a similar size, an observation referred to by the renowned English poet [[Ted Hughes]] in his famous poem 'Pike'.<ref>[http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=7079 ''Pike''] by Ted Hughes. Poem text and audio: Hughes talks about his poem then reads it aloud. PoetryArchive.org. Retrieved 2010-08-13.</ref> Northern pike also feed on [[frog]]s, [[insect]]s and [[leech]]es. They are not very particular and eat spiny fish like [[perch]] and will even take [[sticklebacks]] if that is the only available prey.
| |
| | |
| The northern pike is a largely solitary [[Predatory fish|predator]]. It [[Fish migration|migrates]] during a spawning season, and it follows [[prey fish]] like [[Common roach|Roach (fish)]] to their deeper winter quarters. Sometimes divers observe groups of similar sized pike that might have some cooperation and it is known to anglers pike tend to start hunting at the same time, so there are some "wolfpack" theories about that. Large pike can be caught on dead immobile fish so it is thought that these pike move about in a rather large territory to find the food to sustain them. Large pike are also known to cruise large water bodies at a few metres depth, probably pursuing schools of prey fish.
| |
| Smaller pike are more of an ambush predator, probably because of their vulnerability to cannibalism. Pike are often found near the exit of culverts, which can be attributed to the presence of schools of prey fish and the opportunity for ambush. Being [[potamodromous]], all [[esocid]]s tend to display limited migration, although some local movement may be of key significance for population dynamics. In the Baltic they are known to follow [[herring]] [[Shoaling and schooling|schools]], and therefore have some seasonal migration.
| |
| | |
| ==Importance to humans==
| |
| [[File:Esox lucius.jpg|thumb|''E. lucius'' caught by an angler in the river [[Dráva]], [[Hungary]]]]
| |
| | |
| Although generally known as a "sporting" quarry, some [[Angling|anglers]] release pike they have caught because the flesh is considered bony, especially due to the substantial (epipleural) "Y-bones". Larger fish are more easily filleted, and pike have a long and distinguished history in cuisine and are popular fare in Europe. Historical references to cooking pike go as far back as the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]]. The flesh is white and mild-tasting. Fishing for pike is said to be very exciting with their aggressive hits and aerial acrobatics. Pike are among the largest North American freshwater game fish.
| |
| | |
| Because of their prolific and predatory nature, [[law]]s have been enacted in some places to help stop the spread of northern pike outside of their native range. For instance, in the [[United States|states]] of [[Maine]] and [[California]], anglers are required, by law, to remove the head from a pike once it has been caught.<ref>[http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/FreshFish-Mar2013/ccr-t14-sec5_20-5_51.html ]{{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref> In Alaska, pike are native north and west of the [[Alaska Range]], but have been illegally introduced to the south central Alaska by game fishermen. In south central Alaska, there is no limit in most areas. Pike are seen as a threat to native wild stocks of salmon by some fishery managers.
| |
| | |
| Notably in Britain and Ireland, pike are greatly admired as a sporting fish and they are returned alive to the water in order to safeguard future sport and maintain the balance of a fishery.{{Clarify|date=March 2013}} The Pike Anglers Club has campaigned to preserve pike since 1977, arguing that the removal of pike from waters can lead to an explosion of smaller fish and to ensure pike removal stops, which is damaging to both the sport fishery and the environment.<ref name="PAC">{{cite web|url=http://www.pacgb.co.uk/aboutpac/intro.html |title=What the PAC is All About |publisher=Pacgb.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| {{clear}}
| |
| | |
| ==Geographic distribution==
| |
| ''Esox lucius'' is found in freshwater throughout the northern hemisphere, including [[Russia]], [[Europe]] and [[North America]]. It has also been introduced to lakes in [[Morocco]] and is even found in brackish water of the [[Baltic Sea]]. However pike are confined to the low salinity water at the surface of the Baltic sea, and are seldom seen in brackish water elsewhere.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}
| |
| | |
| Within [[North America]], there are northern pike populations in [[Illinois]], [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Minnesota]], [[Michigan]], [[Montana]], [[Maryland]], [[West Virginia]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Indiana]], [[Connecticut]], [[Rhode Island]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Maine]], [[New Jersey]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Vermont]], [[Iowa]], [[Utah]], Northern [[New Mexico]] and [[Arizona]], [[Colorado]], [[New York]], [[Idaho]], [[Alberta]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Manitoba]], [[Ontario]] and [[Québec]] (pike are rare in [[British Columbia]] and east coast provinces), [[Alaska]], the [[Ohio]] Valley, the [[upper Mississippi River]] and its tributaries, the [[Great Lakes Basin]] and surrounding states, [[Missouri]], [[Kansas]], [[Nebraska]], [[Colorado]] and parts of [[Oklahoma]]. They are also stocked in, or have been introduced to, some western lakes and reservoirs for angling purposes, although some fisheries managers believe this practice often threatens other species of fish such as [[Bass (fish)|bass]], [[trout]] and [[salmon]], causing government agencies to attempt to exterminate the pike by poisoning lakes.<ref>{{cite news
| |
| | last = Young
| |
| | first = Samantha
| |
| | title = Calif. Aims to Rid Lake of Northern Pike
| |
| | work = Associated Press
| |
| | date = 2007-09-26
| |
| | url = http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PIKE_POISONING
| |
| | accessdate = 2007-09-27 }}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Sport fishing==
| |
| [[File:20111204 Ringovenstrand Snoek.2 Jan edit1.JPG|thumb|left|Northern Pike caught with [[fishing lure]] in [[Belgium]]]]
| |
| {{fly fishing targets}}
| |
| Pike angling is becoming an increasingly popular pastime in the UK and Europe. Effective methods for catching this hard fighting fish include dead baits, lure fishing, and jerk baiting. They are prized as [[game fish]] for their determined fighting and have been food fish since ancient times.
| |
| | |
| Lake fishing for pike from the shore is especially effective during springtime, at which stage the big pike move into the shallows to [[Spawn (biology)|spawn]] in weedy areas, and later many remain there to feed on other spawning [[coarse fish]] species to regain their condition after spawning. Smaller jack pike often remain in the shallows for their own protection, and for the small fish food available there. For the hot summer period and during non-active phases the larger female pike tend to retire to deeper water and/or places of better cover. This gives the boat angler good fishing during the summer and winter seasons. [[Trolling (fishing)|Trolling]] (towing a fairy or bait behind a moving boat) is a popular technique.
| |
| | |
| The use of [[float tube]]s has become a very popular way of fishing for pike on small to medium size stillwaters.<ref>[http://www.fishontario.com/articles/FlyFishing/index.cfm?ID=87&FN=20081412125125_FlyFishing ]{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> [[Fly fishing]] for pike is another recently developing way of catching these fish, and the float tube is now recognized as an especially suitable water craft for pike fly-fishing.
| |
| | |
| In recent decades, more and more pike are released back to the water after catching ([[catch and release]]), but they can easily be damaged when handled. Handling those fish with dry hands can easily damage their mucous covered skin and possibly lead to their death from infections.
| |
| | |
| Since they have very sharp and numerous teeth, care is required in unhooking a pike. It is recommended that barbless trebles are used when angling for this species as it simplifies dehooking. This is undertaken using long [[forceps]], with {{convert|30|cm|abbr=on}} artery clamps the ideal tool. When holding the pike from below on the lower jaw, it will open its mouth. The pike should be kept out of the water for the minimum amount of time possible, and should be given extra time to recover if being weighed and photographed before release. If practising live release, it is recommended to call the fish "caught" when it is alongside a boat. Remove the hook by grabbing it with a pair of needle-nosed pliers while the fish is still submerged and giving it a flip in the direction that turns the hook out of the mouth. This avoids damage to the fish and the stress of being out of water.
| |
| | |
| In Finland, catching a ''kymppihauki'', a pike weighing at least {{convert|10|kg}}, is considered the qualification as a master fisherman.
| |
| | |
| Many countries have banned the use of live fish for bait, but it is also possible to catch the pike with dead fish which they locate with smell. For this technique, often fat sea fish like herring, sardines and mackerel are used. This is a particularly good method for catching really big and well fed pike in the colder season. Compared to other fish like the eel, the pike does not have a good sense of smell, but it is still more than adequate to find the [[baitfish]]. Baitfish can be used as [[groundbait]], but also below a float carried by the wind. This method is often used in wintertime and best done in lakes near schools of preyfish or at the deeper parts of shallow water bodies, where pike and preyfish tend to gather in great numbers.
| |
| | |
| Pike make use of the [[lateral line]] system to follow the [[vortex|vortices]] produced by the perceived prey, and the whirling movement of the spinner is probably good way to imitate or exaggerate these. [[Fishing lure|Jerkbaits]] are also effective and can produce spectacular bites with pike attacking these erratic moving lures at full speed. For [[Troll (angling)|trolling]], big [[Plug (fishing)|plugs]] or [[Fishing lure|softbaits]] can be used. [[Spoon lure|Spoons]] with mirror finishes are very effective when the sun is at a sharp angle to the water in the mornings or evenings because they generate the vibrations previously discussed and cause a glint of reflective sunlight that mimics the flash of white-bellied prey. Most fishermen tend to use small lures but often that is not advisable because pike have a preference for large prey. When fishing in shallow water for smaller pike, lighter and smaller lures are frequently used.
| |
| | |
| ==See also==
| |
| *[[Lake Davis]]
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| {{Reflist}}
| |
| * {{ITIS |id=162139 |taxon=Esox lucius |accessdate=8 December 2004}}
| |
| * {{FishBase_species|genus=Esox|species=lucius|year=2004|month=October}}
| |
| * Broughton, Bruno. [http://www.anglers-net.co.uk/authors/bruno01.htm "A Review of the Scientific Basis for Pike Culls"]. N.p., 2000.
| |
| * Craig, John F. ed. ''Pike: Biology and Exploitation.'' Chapman & Hall, London. 1996 pp. 1.
| |
| * Eddy S, Surber T. ''Northern Game Fishes'' Univ. of Michigan Press, 1943.
| |
| * La Monte Fancesca. ''North American Game Fishes'' Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1950 pp. 126.
| |
| * Weed Alfred C. ''Pike, Pickerel, and Muskellunge.'' Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Dept. of Zoology, Leaflet No. 9, 52 pp., 8 plates.
| |
| | |
| ==External links==
| |
| {{commons|Esox lucius}}
| |
| {{wikispecies|Esox lucius}}
| |
| * [http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/fishfact/tigermsk.pdf New Jersey fact sheet on tiger musky]
| |
| * [http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=677 NAS – USGS fact sheet on tiger musky]
| |
| * [http://northernpikefishingguide.com/ Northern Pike Fishing Information]
| |
| * [http://northernpike.org/ Northern Pike Information]
| |
| * {{FishBase species|genus=Esox|species=lucius|month=7|year=2009}}
| |
| | |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2011}}
| |
| | |
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Northern Pike}}
| |
| [[Category:Esox]]
| |
| [[Category:Fly fishing target species]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of the Pacific Ocean]]
| |
| [[Category:Cold water fish]]
| |
| [[Category:Arctic freshwater fish]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of the Baltic Sea]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of the Caspian Sea]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of the Great Lakes]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of North America]]
| |
| [[Category:Fauna of Canada]]
| |
| [[Category:Fauna of Ireland]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of the United States]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of Asia]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of Russia]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of China]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of Europe]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of Metropolitan France]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of Ukraine]]
| |
| [[Category:Fish of Germany]]
| |
| [[Category:Animals described in 1758]]
| |
| | |
| {{Link FA|uk}}
| |