Northern Pike

Description
The northern pike can be easily identified by its long slender body with light spots on a darker greenish background. The upper part of the fish is dark green, becoming lighter, almost milk-white, along the belly. A prominent feature of the pike if its very large mouth with many teeth, and the dorsal fin located far to the back of the body.

In Idaho, pike are found in the northern part of the state. They are not native. They arrived in Idaho accidentally, emigrating downstream from waters in Montana where they had been planted by agencies or stocked illegally by anglers.

Life History
Northern pike spawn in April and early May. Spawning occurs in shallow, slow waters of heavily vegetated areas in rivers, marshes, and bays of lakes. A larger female is usually attended by one or two smaller males. Only a few eggs are laid at a time so an individual fish spawns for several days. The eggs are scattered at random and adhere to the vegetation. Fertile eggs will hatch in four or five days. The young pike grow rapidly during their first summer. Juvenile fish eat aquatic insects until they are two inches long, and begin feeding on other fish.

Feeding Habits
Northern pike are a predatory fish. They feed primarily on other fish, and are known to eat frogs, mice, young muskrats and ducklings.

Angling Techniques
Morning is considered one of the better fishing periods as pike are mainly daylight feeders. Medium and shallow-running lures, jigs or large bait are generally used. Many types of artificial lures will work. Jigging a spoon or hook is also an effective way of taking pike through the ice.