Many people struggle with telling the difference between a northern pike and a chain pickerel. Some folks see a long, slender fish with a mouth full of teeth and automatically think it is a northern pike. Very often, they are wrong.
While a full-grown northern pike is much bigger than a chain pickerel, there are other ways to tell the difference. First, their body coloration and patterns are distinct, as northern pike have short, light dots on their side, whereas a pickerel’s side will have a large, chain-like pattern. Secondly, their fins are shaped differently, with the tail in particular shaped quite differently between the species. Finally, there are differences in their submandibular pores and gill plates that can help you correctly identify the species.
This article will help you correctly tell the difference between these awesome gamefish. Read on to learn more!
The Main Differences Between Northern Pike and Chain Pickerel
Some people struggling with telling northern pike (Esox Lucius) and chain pickerel (Esox Niger) apart. They are similar-looking fish, being of the same Esox genus within the wider pike family, Esocidae, and they’re even known to cross breed and hybridize! Despite these similarities, they are quite distinct fish. It’s important to properly identify your catch so you don’t accidentally keep a fish you shouldn’t. This article will help you determine how.
Size
The obvious difference between northern pike and pickerel is their size. Northern pike are substantially larger both in length and average weight. For example, a 10lb northern won’t turn any heads, while a chain pickerel would beat its current world record by nearly a pound! Pike average approximately 5 – 10lbs while chain pickerel are much, much smaller, averaging about 2-4lbs. Likewise, northern pike are substantially longer than chain pickerel. For example, the Vermont Master Angler Program recognizes a 36″ northern pike as a trophy, whereas a trophy chain pickerel can be a full foot shorter.
Coloration Differences Between Pike and Pickerel
One of the best ways to tell pike and pickerel apart is their color and spotting differences. Northern pike tend to be much paler than chain pickerel and have small white dots along their sides. Chain pickerel on the other hand are much darker and have green or yellow chains splotched across their sides. When viewed side by side, the difference is obvious as can be seen in the photo below.
Fin Shape
Another way to tell the difference between pike and pickerel is to look at their fins. A pike’s pectoral and pelvic fins are much rounder than a pickerel’s, which have a straight edge towards their rear. Likewise, a pike’s caudal (tail) fin has much more rounded ends. The pickerel’s is much sharper, though not as sharp as a muskie’s.
Submandibular Pores
A good way to tell a pike and pickerel apart is to flip it upside down and check its submandibular pores. These are little holes that are visible on what is essentially the fish’s chin, or the bottom of its mouth. Northern pike will usually, but not always, have two sets of five pores with one set on each side of the jaw. Chain pickerel, in contrast, have 7 or 8 submandibular pores.
Want to learn more about Chain Pickerel? Read this post on the Coyote of the Lakes!
Gill Plates
Another way to tell the difference between these fish is to check their gill plate. The lower half of a pike’s gill plate lacks scales, while a chain pickerel’s gill plate is completely scaled. Frankly, if you’re astute enough to check the gill plate, you probably already can tell which fish you’re looking at, but we might as well be thorough.
Distribution Range of Northern Pike vs. Chain Pickerel
One of the surest ways to tell whether you’ve caught a northern pike or chain pickerel is to ask yourself what continent you’re on. While northern pike are a worldwide phenomena found across North America, Europe, and Asia, chain pickerel are only found in the eastern and southeastern United States and Canada. Thus, if you’re sitting in Europe and wondering what you’ve just caught, it’s a pike.
Behavioral Differences Between Northern Pike and Chain Pickerel
Anyone who has caught many of these fish can tell you that they act differently when you get them in the boat. Pike tend to be fairly calm once caught, at least compared to their smaller cousins. Pickerel thrash about wildly, often tearing their fins in nets, cutting fingers trying to hold braided line still, and smashing themselves to high heaven. While it’s certainly not the most “scientific” way to determine which species you have, it tends to work.
What About Hybrid Northern Pike and Chain Pickerel?
Northern pike and chain pickerel are known to hybridize, though their offspring are sterile. This is a somewhat rare phenomena, though it does happen with some regularity in northern Lake Champlain. Fishing guides on that lake routinely post evidence of catches. The hybrid has a distinct coloration. A pike-pickerel hybrid tends to be green like a chain pickerel but with the northern’s spots. They also have a few diagonal lines across them along their side.
Why It’s Important to Tell the Difference
Misidentifying gamefish can get you in quite a bit of trouble. The last thing you need is to keep what you think is a huge pickerel only to find out it is a pike that is below the length limit for your lake. Thus, it’s important to know the difference.
Other Good Resources
Now that you know how to tell the difference between these fish, you might want to learn how to catch them! I’ve written quite a bit about both species over the years. My kids used to call them both “boo boo fish” because of their sharp teeth, after all! Here are some articles that you might find interesting!
- An article that will teach you how to catch these fish by trolling.
- Chain Pickerel: An Ultimate Guide to “Boo Boo Fish”
- 50 Interesting Questions and Answers About Northern Pike
I hope this article helped you learn how to tell a pike and pickerel apart. If you have further questions, please feel free to drop a comment below or to send me an email. Otherwise, happy fishing!
Thanks,
John Paxton
