I consider northern pike to be akin to the “final boss” on any fishing trip. Large, strong, and armed with fearsome teeth, you’re going to need the proper tackle to bring them to the boat, and the best fishing line for pike is a huge part of that.
I prefer to use braided fishing line for pike as they aren’t particularly line shy and you’re going to need the strength of braid. The best fishing line for pike fishing that I’ve found is PowerPro Spectra Fiber Braided fishing line in anywhere from 20-50lb test, depending on what cover you’re fishing. You could use other braids as well, but I don’t know why you would as PowerPro is simply an incredible product.
While I prefer to use a solid braided line when fishing for pike, don’t worry. I’ll also talk about what monofilament, fluorocarbon, and even wire lines I’d consider for specialized applications. Sometimes they’re the best option depending on what you want to do.
Can Pike See Fishing Line?
Northern pike are sight predators and I promise you, they can see your fishing line. However, you shouldn’t worry about it, because pike don’t care. After all, they can also see your boat, you, and your rod figure eighting in the water right in front of them. They don’t care. They are neither line nor boat shy predators and often their aggression gets the best of them. Don’t believe me? Consider that some of the best pike waters are crystal clear lakes in Canada, and the pike grow so massive there that everyone and their brother is throwing a wire leader. Even though pike can clearly see this wire fishing line, it isn’t stopping them from biting now, is it?
Catching pike isn’t easy, but using the right fishing line helps.
The Different Fishing Lines for Pike To Choose From
There are several broad categories of fishing line on the market. While this may be old hat to some, if you’re new, here’s the major differences and also an explanation of when you should use these types of fishing line while fishing for pike. After all, the question of “what’s the best line for northern pike?” all depends on the situation.
Monofilament
Monofilament lines are what many of us started on. Their basically the go-to all around option for a host of fishing applications. They are relatively translucent, strong, and are quite affordable. They’re also significantly easier to handle than fluorocarbon lines of the same line test as they don’t have the same memory, or tendency to coil. One aspect of monofilament that you should be aware of is that they tend to stretch more than other lines. This can be a good thing or a drawback depending on what you’re looking to do.
When to Use Monofilament Fishing Lines for Pike
You’ll want to use monofilament line for for pike fishing when you’re using topwater lures, or other ones with thin treble hooks. Monofilament fishing line is ideal for both situations. It has a tendency to float, which means it won’t pull your topwater plug down and change its action. Further, the stretch it gives makes it less likely that you’ll pull a thin treble hook from the mouth of a pike while fishing with it. This can mean that monofilament is also a good fishing line for pike if you’re using crankbaits or other treble hook lures, at least in open water.
My personal favorite monofilament is simply Berkley Trilene XL. I’ve been using this as a kid and find that it has all the qualities I want in a monofilament line. While there are other brands out there that cost more (implying, right or wrong, that they might be “better”) I’ve never been let down by Berkley Trilene XL. Case in point, I actually received a letter of commendation, a pin, and a hat from them when I was seven or so and caught my first large northern pike while using their fishing line. I don’t know what that care package cost them but they secured a customer for life! If you want to try out the best monofilament fishing line for pike, pick up some Berkley Trilene XL today.
While monofilament fihsing lines aren’t renowned for their abrasion resistance, Berkley does offer another variation of their line which is tougher. Aptly named, “Berkley Trilene XT Extra Tough,” this can be a good monofilament fishing line for pike if you’re fishing near heavy cover but still want the stretching and floating nature of mono vs. fluoro.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon lines are more difficult to use than monofilament as they have a high memory. This means that they will retain the shape of the spool on your reel and can be a pain to handle. You can, however, treat this with line conditioner such as Kevin Van Dam’s Line & Lure Conditioner. You should definitely do this, because once you tame it, flurocarbon is a great fishing line for pike. First, it’s nearly invisible underwater compared to other lines and also is very abrasion resistant. Many pike leaders are made with fluorocarbon for both of these reasons.
When to Use Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines for Pike
Fluorocarbon is the best fishing line to use for pike if you’re fishing near a bunch of abrasion-causing structure, such as rocks, or if the water is extra clear and the pike are spooky. While you will need to cut off line and retie after some time fishing near rocks and other sharp structure, chances are that fluorocarbon will at least last long enough to get your lure and your fish to the boat when hooked.
My favorite fluorcarbon fishing line for pike (or any species, really) is Seaguar InvizX. I’m kind of a meat and potatos guy and frankly the lines I’ve chose are ones that were recommended to me many moons ago over on ultimatebass.com. The guys over there really liked this stuff back when I was starting to really get into fishing as an adult. The reason I love it is I find it is much easier to use than other types of fluorocarbon, especially if you match it with that line conditioner I talked about above. I’m sure there are other products by now that also do the trick, but when I find a product I like, I tend to keep buying it forever.
You can also use regular fluorocarbon line as a leader, though I’d definitely up the pound test if you’re hoping to get past pike teeth. The more common reason to use fluorocarbon line as a leader is for situations where fish are line shy and you don’t want them to focus on your main line of braid or such. Since pike aren’t really too line shine of a species, this may not be a big deal for you.
Braid
Braided fishing line is the best fishing line you can use for northern pike. They aren’t a line shy species at all, and so the fact that braid is so visible doesn’t matter. Braided fishing lines are exceptionally strong for their diameter, which makes fishing for northern pike with spinning gear viable. Since 20lb test braided line has the same diameter as 6lb monofilament, it easily can work on even 3000 series spinning reels. Braid has absolutely no stretch however, so it can be a poor choice when treble hooks. You can compensate somewhat by reducing your drag.
In my opinion, PowerPro is the best braided fishing line for pike.
When to Use Braided Fishing Lines for Pike
Braided fishing line works well for pike in most conditions. It’s easier to talk about the times you shouldn’t use it than the times you should. I hesitate to use braid when I’m fishing with treble hooks as it has so little stretch that it can easily pull the hooks out of a fish’s mouth. You also don’t usually want to use braid in situations where the fish are line shy, though that usually isn’t a problem for northerns. If it is, you can always tie on a fluorocarbon leader to help out.
I like using braided line when trolling for pike or pickerel as I’m usually doing this near weeds. Braided fishing line does a good job of slicing through weeds and it can reduce the amount of times you get hung up and have to reset your approach.
Of all the braids out there, I’ve been fishing with PowerPro forever. Again, this is another thing I picked up over at ultimatebass, where it seemed everyone was tossing this stuff. Near as I can tell, they still are. It’s a great product that holds up well over the years. I don’t normally have to respool until my spool runs low due to retying lines. You don’t need to bother changing it out each year as it is still fine. I definitely recommend heading over to Amazon and picking a spool or ten up.
Should You Use a Leader for Pike?
The question of if you should use a leader for pike is, as most things, situational. Pike have a nasty habit of biting through many lines, especially if they’re large. Some lures like spinnerbaits have a bit of built-in tooth protection in their bent wire frames. Still, the bigger the pike the more likely it’ll inhale a lure to the point that it has a chance to cut the line regardless of what you’re fishing.
If you’re using a lure that you don’t want to lose, such as an expensive jerkbait, a wire leader can be a godsend when fishing for northern pike. You have a few different options for leaders. You can purchase premade leaders made of steel or fluorocarbon, or you can buy a knottable wire product and use your own knots.
What Line Strength is Best for Pike?
Northern pike aren’t generally buried in heavy cover like largemouth bass sometimes are, so I don’t know that you’d really need the same monster line strength braid as you do fishing frogs in the slop, for example. You should be just fine using 20 – 30lb braid when fishing for pike. This is strong enough to handle the largest pike you’re likely to encounter in North America. If you’re fishing in Europe, you may want to bump this up a bit.
The Best Pike Line for Special Situations
To further complicate matters, different types of fishing line will prove best when fishing for pike in certain situations.
Best Fly Line for Pike Fishing
I don’t fly fish, but if I was going to fly fish for pike, I’d check out this page by esoxonly to learn about the best fly line for pike. The author gives all sorts of recommendations for the best fly line for pike fishing depending on if you want a floating line or one that sinks. He’s pushing a brand of line called Scientific Angler and makes a good case for it. Go show his site some love and check it out. To be honest, it’s one of the best articles on line I’ve ever read.
Best Line for Trolling for Pike
I’m a big believer in using braided fishing line when trolling for pike. Usually when you’re trolling for pike or pickerel you’re doing so in a weedy bay. The braided line cuts through the errant weed here and there very well. Another benefit that makes braided fishing line the best for trolling for pike is how it doesn’t stretch. Pike will do a good job of hooking themselves on a trolling pass if you use braid.
As mentioned earlier, I like using PowerPro braided line for pike, and it’s no different when I’m trolling. I’ve had much success with this fishing line over the years and see no difference to change things up and try anything else.
Best Pike Line for Heavily-Pressured Waters
If you’re fishing for pike in heavily-pressured waters, you might want to try using fluorocarbon. While northern pike aren’t normally afraid of fishing line, and will bite lures right next to a boat, to the extent they’re heavily pressured, even they will (eventually) learn. When pike are spooky, fluorocarbon might give you an extra edge as it is more difficult fishing line for pike to see. Seaguar InvizX is a solid choice.
Best Pike Line for Night Fishing
When fishing for pike at night it can help if you can see your line even if the fish can’t. Power Pro makes a high visibility yellow version of their line that you might find useful for nocturnal pike fishing. This will help you detect bites when you are using lures that don’t make the bite obvious.
Best Pike Line for Ice Fishing
Those who ice fish for pike tend to recommend using a specially “ice braid”. Suffix 832 makes such a product that you can purchase here. This line is specifically designed to be used in icy waters because the braid has a tighter weave than traditional braid and also has a coating that is water-repellent. Because of this, the braid is less likely to freeze up and get ice chunks on it than regular braided lines would as it doesn’t have the microscopic nooks and crannies for water to collect in that normal braid does.
Conclusions: The Best Fishing Line for Northern Pike Is Situational
In conclusion, the best fishing line for northern pike is highly dependent on the situation. If you’re on a budget, or tossing lures with thin treble hooks, then monofilament line might work well for you. On the other hand, fluorocarbon is probably the best line for pike when fishing around obstructions. With all that said, my favorite line for fishing with pike is by far braid. It’s strong, reliable, easy to use, and doesn’t seem to scare pike away any. When I’m trying to catch the biggest predator in the lake, I’m tossing braided fishing line for pike, all day long.
If you’ve ever handled a northern pike or prepared it for dinner, you’ve probably noticed it is slimy. In fact, pike are such slimy fish that they’re sometimes referred to as “snot rockets.” This is a far cry from the more prestigious “water wolf,” but why are pike so slimy to earn it?
In short, northern pike are slimy because it helps them move through the water faster, protects them from fungus, parasites and disease, acts as a medicine against wounds, and affords them a measure of protection against predators. Read on to find out all about this in more detail.
What Is Fish Slime?
Fish slime is created when glycol-proteins that are produced in the epidermis combine with water to create a mucus coating for the fish. The point of this slime is multifold:
Slime acts as a natural barrier that helps protect fish from fungi, bacteria, and parasites.
A fish’s slime provides lubrication so it can move through the water with less friction.
Slime can sometimes contain medicinal properties for fish, which helps them heal their wounds.
The slime aids in balancing essential electrolytes for the fish by basically acting as a filter, and allows respiratory gases to move across a fish’s skin more easily.
As with other animals, some fish’s slime has toxins that either aid them in hunting or offer them some protection from predators.
A few fish are known to use slime to create nests, or even a food source for their offspring (source).
Clearly, slime provides many benefits to fish. One should therefore take care not to remove it unnecessarily when fishing.
Why Are Pike So Slimy?
Now that we know what fish slime is, the next question is why are pike so much slimier than many other fish? There are a few theories. First, a pike’s slime acts as a lubricant which helps it move through the water faster by reducing friction. Given that pike are speed hunters that chase down their prey, this makes a lot of sense. The less friction they have, the faster they can move through the water. Over time, pike that had more slime than others would likely thrive and thus the species has evolved to become the snot rockets we all know and love today.
Pike benefit from their slime in other ways. As with all fish, slime is basically an outer layer that offers a degree of protection from bacteria, fungus, parasites, and disease. Protecting a fish’s slime is a huge reason why Major League Fishing, for example, has rules that give anglers penalties if they treat a fish in such a way that would remove the slime, such as dropping it. While those rules are meant to protect bass, it stands to reason northern pike should have their slime protected for the same reason.
Some even theorize that a pike’s slime is a good way to protect its skin from damage, or even it from being eaten. Folks note that a pike spends a good amount of time in or near cover such as weeds and wood, and that their slime may help prevent them from bruises or cuts if they slide across the cover too harshly. Likewise, a pike’s slimy skin could, in theory, help them escape predation. This likely isn’t that big of a boost once a pike is fully grown, but on its way there, any little edge helps!
Tips for Handling Slimy Pike
Your approach to handling slimy pike is going to depend on if you intend to keep your catch or not. If you intend to release the fish, you should try and protect its slime as much as possible and not rub it off. Given that the pike’s slime is necessary to fight off bacteria, fungus and disease, as well as the benefits it gives the fish in terms of speed, it would be a shame to rub it off. Thus, you should handle pike with care while landing them. If you don’t feel comfortable landing them by hand, you should use either a net with rubber mesh, or, ideally, a landing cradle. These will help safely land the pike without wiping off too much slime or unnecessarily injuring it.
Frankly, if you fish for northern pike routinely, you should certainly consider buying the products I listed above. They make the landing process safer for the fish, and for you. Keep the slime on pike where it belongs and off your hands!
On the other hand, if you intend to eat your catch, you really won’t care if you wipe off some of the pike’s slime, as you’ll need to remove it prior to cooking, anyway. I personally don’t find it that difficult to handle pike regardless of how slimy they may be, but if you struggle, consider buying yourself some fishing gloves. They’ll give you a little bit better grip on slimy fish and keep your hands warm to boot.
Likewise, you can purchase yourself a good fileting glove so the pike doesn’t cut you from beyond the grave. These slimy fish are difficult to handle while fileting and accidents happen!
How Can You Remove Slime from Pike?
The slime from a northern pike smells and tastes awful, so if you intend to eat this fish, you need to remove it. Your options will depend on how you caught it and what you have at hand.
First, if you intend to eat the fish, kill it quickly so it will stop producing slime. You can do this by thwapping it on the head or by putting it on ice.
Once the pike is dead, some people then proceed to scrape the slime off where they are fishing. You can roll it in the grass or sand to accomplish this. Tossing them in an old gunny sack also helps remove the slime, and let’s you pretend you’re Huckleberry Finn to boot.
Many people simply swear by wrapping the pike in newspapers and waiting 20-30 minutes before attempting to clean them. It’s certainly a cost effective option assuming you still purchase a newspaper these days.
Others recommend freezing the fish and then as it thaws, wiping it down. Ice fishermen claim this takes the slime away easily and also stops the fish from secreting more.
A final option is to take a five gallon bucket, fill 1/3 of it with warm water, and another 1/3 with vinegar. Toss your pike in and stir it around. The vinegar helps the slime fall off of the fish which makes fileting it much easier.
Conclusions
While northern pike are so slimy that they deserve the name, “snot rocket,” the slime is there for good reason. It helps the fish move through the water quickly. The slime helps protect pike from bacteria, fungi, and parasites. It might just give pike a little extra edge when a predator is about to nab them. Finally, it can give northerns a good revenge, as the slime might cause an angler to cut themselves while fileting the pike for the table!
A pike’s slime is so important to its health that you should try to preserve it when practicing catch and release. If you do intend to harvest the fish, do so humanely and then practice the tips above for removing the smelly slime before you cook it. Otherwise, your dinner guests might have to leave unexpectedly.
I hope this article helped you understand why pike are so slimy. Feel free to leave me a comment below or send me an email with any other questions you have!
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.
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.
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!
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!
So I’m in a crazy kind of mood and thought I’d try something a little different for this article. I just went into Google, typed “northern pike” and then went down a giant rabbit hole of “People also ask.” I wanted to check out all the looking to see all the questions I could find about the water wolf and answer as many as possible. So, without further ado, here are a mess of interesting questions (and answers) about northern pike!
1. Are Northern Pike dangerous?
While there are certainly more than a few tales of Northern Pike attacking humans, confirmed incidents are extremely rare, and usually a case of a foot misidentified as a tasty minnow. Indeed, many of the attacks on humans may actually happen from the larger muskellunge.
Regardless, northern pike are a dangerous fish to land and handle for a few reasons. First, they have extremely sharp teeth and large specimens tend to deeply take your lure. You’ll want to ensure you’re removing your hooks with the help of long needle nose fishing pliers, and possibly a good fishing jaw spreader.
You’re better off using a net with these fish, but if you don’t have one available, make sure you check out my tips on how to safely land fish without a net.
2. Are Northern Pike Good to Eat?
Many people quite enjoy northern pike and find it a tasty. However, if you are not careful while dressing it, they do have tiny little “Y” bones that are easy to miss. This video from Thundermist Lures has a good demonstration of how to properly filet a northern so you don’t have this issue.
3. How Does Northern Pike Taste?
Many people quite enjoy the taste of pike, finding it a white-fleshed fish with a fairly mild flavor. You might be surprised by this if you ever smelled one that was being cleaned as it is quite pungent. Still, some folks feel northerns taste even better than walleye. It’s likely they aren’t more popular table fare given the issues with the y-bones described earlier as well as their scent and slimy texture prior to cleaning.
4. Are Northern Pike Invasive?
While northern pike have an extensive range across the entire northern hemisphere, there are certainly some lakes and other water bodies where they are considered invasive. For example, northern pike are an invasive species in the Columbia River in British Columbia. They are doing so much damage to local trout populations that in 2019, a $10 bounty was offered for each pike caught.
5. Can a Pike Bite Your Finger Off?
Northern pike are very unlikely to bite your finger off, but their teeth are super sharp and they could do significant nerve and tendon damage if they bit you. Under no circumstances should you place anything you don’t want destroyed into a pike’s mouth.
6. Are Pike Aggressive?
Northern pike are extremely aggressive fish that will often hit lures repeatedly even close to the boat. They, like muskie, are often caught by using a figure 8 sweeping motion of the rod near the boat to get them to come and attack a lure they missed the first time. In clear water it is incredible watching a large northern dart out from the depths to hit your lure. They will routinely chase down spinnerbaits and other fast-moving lures and strike viciously.
Northern pike are extremely aggressive fish. This is sure to put a smile on your face when they hit your spinnerbait!
7. How Long Do Pike Live For?
The typical life span of northern pike is anywhere from 7 to 15 years, though there are reports of some living to 25 years or longer (source). There was, of course, also the celebrated myth of the “Mannheim Pike” which allegedly lived to the age of 267, though this was later proven to be a fabrication.
8. How Old is a 40 Inch Pike?
The age of a 40 inch pike is going to change depending on the body of water it is caught. For example, in Northern Ontario, it is estimated that a 40 inch pike is approximately 20 years old. However, there has been some discussion that the same-sized pike would only be a few years past 10 in Lake Champlain. In general, northern pike grow a bit slower the further north you go than in the south.
9. Do Pike Eat Pike?
Yes, northern pike are known to eat other pike basically from as soon as they fit one of their siblings into their mouth. If you fish long enough in pike-infested waters, you might even see the phenomena yourself as a giant comes and smacks a smaller pike near the boat. Northern pike are voracious feeders that prefer cylindrical soft-finned prey. This, coincidentally, is exactly what a northern pike itself is, so they’ll have no qualms about cannibalism.
10. Do Northern Pike Eat Muskie?
While muskellunge or “muskie” typically grow much larger than northern pike, and thus are usually the predator throughout much of their lives, the tables change when they are young. Because the pike spawn happens so much earlier than the muskie spawn, baby pike prey on baby muskie. The predation is so bad that fishery managers are careful not to stock muskie near well-known pike lairs.
11. Do Pike Eat Baby Ducks?
Northern pike are a main predator of a variety of ducks across their range. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there showing pike prey on ducklings. I will not share these given they are graphic and this is a family site, but it certainly occurs.
Because of that, many anglers use topwater lures that are shaped like ducks. You’ll want to use a leader with these as they are expensive. They also require heavy gear to throw as they are heavy. You can check out one of those lures at Amazon to see if looks like something that would work for you.
12. Why Are Pike So Slimy?
The coat of a northern pike is extremely slimy. Like most fish, one reason for the slime is to protect pike from bacteria, disease, and fungal infections. However, the a pike’s slimy coat offers the additional benefit of reducing friction in the water which allows it to reach explosive speeds when striking prey (source). This slimy coat is quite important to northerns, which is why many pro guides use a landing net, or better yet, a fish landing cradle.
Given that they’re the top of most food chains, northern pike will eat nearly anything, and snakes are no exception. In fact, several manufacturers make snake fishing lures that can produce some explosive action for pike! Here’s an interesting YouTube video by The Ginger Fisherman showing them in action:
14. Do Pike Eat Trout?
Pike are very capable of eating trout, and in fact prefer them. When given the opportunity, a northern pike will attack soft rayed fish such as trout long before they’ll go after something spiny like a sunfish (source). In fact, they’re so good at it that in certain areas where they are invasive (such as the Columbia River in British Columbia), bounties have to be offered for northern pike to protect the local rainbow trout.
15. Do Pike Eat Sunfish?
Pike will certainly eat sunfish if that is the forage available, but they much prefer soft-scaled fish as these are easier to swallow. If given the chance, pike can be quite selective of their meals, but when faced with the prospect of starving, they’ll have no issues chocking down a spiny sunfish.
16. How Quickly Do Pike Grow?
While it depends on location, northern pike generally grow quickest in the first three years of their life, reaching about 25 inches in that time. They then grow more gradually (about 2 – 4″ per year) after that. There is some evidence that the further north you go, the slower pike grow, though they often reach a larger size overall. A good average however, comes from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources which provides the following chart for northern pike growth rates:
Pike are visual hunters and in clear water they will look for a flash of silver or such that reminds them of their prey. This is why white spinnerbaits with tandem willow leaf blades are such phenomenal lures for northern pike. Chartreuse also works well in more stained water. Because pike’s eyes don’t adjust well to seeing in low-light conditions, you really want a lure that presents a better silhouette. This is why colors like red and black perform very well on overcast days or in very stained water.
18. Are You Supposed to Kill Pike?
No! While some anglers (particularly bass fishermen) think that they should kill northern pike, this could wreck havoc on an ecosystem. Northern pike are a valuable predator that keeps pesky panfish from becoming too prevalent. Without pike in the lake, these panfish can devastate bass beds. Thus, do your best to return northern pike safely to the water.
19. Do Northern Pike Have Predators?
Northern pike have many predators when they are young, as pretty much anything in the lake that can fit pike fry into their mouths will do so early and often. This is a good way to prevent these fish from growing into a troublesome apex predator. Some common animals that prey on young pike include perch and aquatic birds. As pike grow, they are typically the top predator in their lake with the only fish that could reasonably continue to prey on them being muskellunge.
20. Do Northern Pike Bite at Night?
Northern pike are site hunters who rely on catching a glimpse of their prey and then ambushing it with a burst of incredible speed. Thus, they are much less active at night. While you can often catch them early in the evening, they are not renowned for producing a fantastic night bite, like largemouth bass. You will note that many of the best pike lures are designed to produce a great flash and this requires sunlight. Once it starts getting darker you’ll have far less pike (and chain pickerel for that matter) start to bite.
21. How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Northern Pike and Pickerel?
Many people commonly misidentify chain pickerel as northern pike. The chain pickerel is a smaller member of the Esox family. It has a much brighter green coloration and a chain like “bar” pattern whereas northern pike are spotted. Additionally, you can look at their submandular pores (basically, little holes on their chin). Northern pike tend to have 10 submandular pores while chain pickerel have 7-8.
Northern pike hang out in different parts of a lake depending on the time of year. Right after ice out, you can find them in extremely shallow water at the backs of bays. They are difficult if not impossible to catch at this time as they are spawning. They then move out to deeper areas in the 8-15′ range, usually over some sort of cover like weed beds. During the height of summer, they will seek out cooler water which is often in the 30 – 50′ range. During the fall, they return to those same marginally deep weed beds to hunt food and prepare for winter.
23. What’s the Best Bait for Pike?
The best bait for pike is something they’d want to eat naturally. Pike prefer soft-rayed fish such as smelt over pointy fish like perch or bluegill. Use a cylindrical-shaped soft rayed bait fish that has oils that will permeate into the water attracting pike to them for the best results. Smelt, alewives, small whitefish, chubs, and chubs all make great baits. Many people specifically fish for suckers too as they believe these to be amazing pike baits.
24. What is the Best Time of Day to Fish for Pike?
As with most fish, you’ll have your best luck catching pike during the early morning or evening, when they are most active. However, pike can be caught throughout the day and many people claim mid-morning is the best time. There may be some merit to that as pike are sight hunters and the mid-morning sun will give your lure’s flash the best chance to catch their eye. Most agree that pike aren’t particularly active at night and the bite will drop off.
25. What Time of Year are Pike Most Active?
The two best times of year to catch a quality northern pike are going to be the spring and fall. At these times, the waters near the shore are cool enough that even big pike will come up relatively shallow where it is easier to catch them. Pike will also be in the mood to eat, either trying to replenish themselves after spawning in the spring, or trying to beef up for the long winter ahead.
26. What Water Temperature do Pike Like?
Large northern pike are considered a cool water fish and will often seek out cold waters, especially during the height of summer. While many people consider the pike’s preferred temperature range to be about 60-65°F, Dick Sternberg was quoted in In Fisherman – Pike: A Handbook of Strategies as having found pike stacked closely together in water much colder (closer to 50°F!) during the summer. The bigger the pike are, the cooler the temperature they prefer.
27. What is Considered a Trophy Northern Pike?
What is considered a trophy northern pike is going to be different in different places, but most North American anglers would consider any pike over 20lbs to be a true trophy. Another indicators is how long it is. Not everyone has a scale on them but many anglers have a ruler. A pike over 40″ would be considered a trophy by most, but this is again dependent on where you’re fishing. For example, to qualify for the Vermont Master Angler Program, a northern pike must be at least 36″.
28. Are Pike Active in Winter?
Pike feed very actively compared to most gamefish in winter. They are more active early and late in winter, but can be caught in midwinter too, assuming you can find them. They are easier to locate early and late in the winter as they’ll be in the same weedy bays you’ll eventually find them in the spring.
29. What Depth do Pike Like in Winter?
During early winter, you’ll find pike in shallow weedy bays, but by midwinter most have moved out into deeper water and concentrate on rock piles, humps, and deep points. They then return to the shallows in late winter and start feeding heavily to prepare for their spawn which happens shortly after ice out.
30. How Deep do Northern Pike Go?
Northern pike can be found at all depths of the lake throughout the year. During their spawn, they will be extremely shallow in the backends of bays. In the spring and fall, you will often find them in 8 – 12′ of water at the edge of weedlines. During the height of summer, they will seek out cool water zones and can be found as deep as 30 – 50′ in search of it.
31. Do I Need a Leader for Pike?
Most dedicated pike anglers would recommend that you use a wire leader when fishing for these toothy predators. Certainly, this will help save you money on lures, and disappointment at seeing a once doubled-over rod suddenly straighten. Pike lures can be very pricy, especially larger jerkbaits, so the peace of mind a leader provides can be well worth it.
With that said, I don’t generally put leaders on spinnerbaits, even if I’m fishing for pike. These lures move so rapidly through the water that they generally are fine without a leader. The only time I’ve had a pike break me off with a spinnerbait was when they hit right as the lure landed and before it could get to speed.
32. Are Spinners Good for Pike?
Inline spinners are, along with spoons, some of the more traditional “pike lures.” Spinners are great at attracting pike as they have a lot of flash and also are generally retrieved quickly through the water. This provokes the predator’s instinct to hunt, chase, and kill. The only problem with inline spinners is that they are much more likely to be bit off than a spinnerbait because they don’t have a wire arm protecting the line. Accordingly, consider using a wire leader when fishing for northern pike with a spinner.
33. Do Pike Hit Topwaters in the Fall?
Fall is a great time to catch northern pike as they are extremely aggressive at this time of year. While they will hit all lures, topwater lures can provide some amazing action in the fall. One of my favorite fishing YouTubers, NDYakAngler, posted this video in early fall. As you can see, northern pike had no issues attacking his offerings that time of year.
34. What is the Best Lure for Northern Pike?
My favorite lure for catching northern pike is the simple spinnerbait. While it isn’t as glamorous as a giant musky lure, nor as traditional as a spoon, the spinnerbait has some key advantages. For one, it rarely requires the use of a leader as the bent wire frame offers some protection from the pike’s teeth. Secondly, it is a lure that allows you to catch many other species at the same time. Whereas a largemouth bass might have doubts about hitting a huge pike jerkbait, they’ll surely hit a spinnerbait. Finally, these are durable lures that can stand up to repeated punishment from pike. Certain jerkbaits, in contrast, have such thin hooks that they’re constantly breaking each time a pike hits, which can get annoying quick.
35. How Do You Dead Bait for Pike?
Some ice fishermen feel that dead bait works better for nothern pike than live bait, especially when the pike are inactive and don’t want to chase their food. However, there is a trick to hooking them you should be aware of. Many times, the initial strike of a pike will hit a baitfish from the side. To ensure a proper hookup, you will want to pause and allow the fish to take some line until they have a chance to move the bait in their mouth and successfully eat it before setting the hook.
36. How Do You Catch Northern Pike From Shore?
The trick to consistently catching northern pike from shore is finding a section of shoreline that has access to deep water. Larger northern pike are rarely in the shallows, so you’ll want to fish somewhere that you can cast into 6-20′ of water easily. If you can find a shoreline that has a weed edge abutting the deeper water, all the better.
While a good pair of waders will help in extending your reach, look on topographic maps for points and such that drop into deeper water quickly to enhance your chances.
37. Are There Pike in Canals?
There are northern pike in canals, especially in Europe. These are essentially man-made rivers and so long as there is enough structure, cover, and food, pike will be present. Further, canals often connect other waterbodies to each other. There is no reason pike wouldn’t follow along if their habitat requirements are met.
38. Where Do Big Pike Go in the Summer?
During the summer, big pike go deep. They are often caught by folks trolling for salmon by accident and can be found at depths of 30 to 50′ with some even lower. They are usually cruising around deep underwater islands searching for cisco or other prey. The water temperatures are much cooler down there, which larger pike certainly prefer. If you want to catch a true monster in the summer peak you should consider searching for these underwater islands and points and seeing what you can jig up.
39. What is a Good Pike Rod?
There are a few qualities to look for in a fishing rod for northern pike. First, it should be long enough that you can cast your lure out far to cover a lot of water. It should also be strong enough to throw the big lures that you’ll often use when casting for pike, and to handle them when they attack. While you could use a dedicated muskie rod, that might be a bit overkill for the situation. I tend to use medium-heavy rods by St. Croix when I’m fishing for northerns. The St. Croix Premier model is a reliable rod you can trust and that will stand the test of time.
While many folks would consider baitcasting reels the better option for fishing for pike, it really doesn’t matter. Most guides out there who are in the business of taking novices out are going to be using spinning rods, and they land plenty of fish worthy of a photo. Use whatever makes you comfortable.
I had no issues catching this northern pike on a regular old bass rod.
40. What Do I Need For Pike Fishing?
There is no reason northern pike fishing can’t be accessible to everyone. All you need to get started are the following five items:
Fishing license or permit;
A good rod and reel combo (a medium-heavy rod works great).
Some braided line (20lb test on a spinning rod, 30lb test on a baitcaster).
A spinnerbait with tandem willow blades (1/2oz works well for starters).
A good pair of long needle nose plyers.
Additionally, some sort of net would come in handy. I prefer nets with a rubber coating as they are easier on the fish.
Note that I didn’t mention a leader. While these are useful for some lures, I don’t find them as necessary when tossing spinnerbaits.
41. Are Pike Active in the Fall?
Fall is one of the best times of year to catch northern pike. The water cools down and the toothy critters start chomping at everything they can to prepare for the long winter ahead. Try throwing a white tandem willow spinnerbait over submerged weeds near a drop off and hold on.
42. What is a Good Hook Size for Pike?
You will want to use larger hooks when fishing for northern pike. Hooks in the 1/0 to 3/0 range work well when ice fishing for them. When you are casting, use hooks that are about the same size as those on a spinnerbait. You’ll want something strong enough to handle this fish as they are known to bend and destroy lesser offerings. Also, ensure you’re using a leader if there is any chance the pike’s razer sharp teeth can get near your line.
43. Do Pike Swim in Schools?
Northern pike do not generally swim in schools, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be several hanging around the same area. It’s not uncommon to catch several in the same bay or along the same drift, and occasionally they’ll be quite close to each other. With that being said, they don’t normally follow each other around throughout a lake as true schooling fish do. They simply are willing to tolerate each other in the same general area.
44. When Do Pike Spawn?
Pike spawn very early in the year (typically March – May) when the water temperature is between 40 to 45 degrees. In some parts of the country, this means shortly after ice-out, or even while there is still some ice on the surface. They tend to spawn in very shallow bays that are thick with vegetation.
If you’re interested in knowing more, I also wrote a full article about when northern pike spawn.
45. Do Pike Live in Saltwater?
When I went to research this, I thought for sure the answer would be no, but I was wrong. An angler from Europe has written a great article on fishing for northern pike in saltwater, or more specifically, brackish water. It seems that there are plenty northern pike swimming around the brackish waters near Denmark, Northern Germany, and Sweden in the Baltic Sea.
According to that author, many rivers dump freshwater into the generally sheltered Baltic Sea which makes several marshes tolerably brackish for northern pike. Thus, if you’re seeking a saltwater pike it would seem heading across the pond is going to be your best bet.
46. What are Hybrid Pike?
Northern pike can breed with several other species in the Esox family, but their offspring are sterile. This makes such hybrids quite rare. The most common hybrid pike is a cross between a northern pike and a chain pickerel. They basically look like bright green pike but often have some stripes across them along with their bars. Their tails also have a distinct shape from northerns.
If you’re interested in catching a hybrid pike, one of the better places to search is Lake Champlain. Captain Mick Maynard of www.LakeChamplainAngler.com routinely pulls these in throughout the year. Granted, it is a bit of a lottery, but your chances are better there fishing with Captain Mick than going it alone. Book your trip with him today!
While many fishermen swear northern pike have an anticoagulant that makes you bleed more, there is no scientific evidence to support this fact. Pike do not have saliva to hold an anticoagulant in the first place. The reason pike bites make you bleed so much is because pike have razer sharp teeth. When viewed under an electron microscope, their teeth look like blades. Other fish who are thought to have “sharp” teeth, such as walleye, don’t even come close when viewed under the same microscope. If you want more details, check out my post on if northern pike anticoagulant is true or just a bloody myth.
48. What are Good Books About Northern Pike?
There are several great books about northern pike that have been published over the years. My favorite, hands down, is In-Fisherman’s Pike: A Handbook of Strategies. However, this can be hard to find at times as it goes in and out of printing. Another good one is The Freshwater Anglers’ Northern Pike and Muskie by Dick Sternberg. There are several others for sale, but these are two I keep going back to. I have several copies of the In-Fisherman book and it was one of the first fishing books I loved and adored as a kid!
49. What is the World Record Pike?
The IGFA keeps detailed records of northern pike in various categories.
The IGFA All-Tackle World Record for a northern pike was a 55lb 1oz specimen caught by Lothar Louis on October 16, 1986 on Lake of Grefeern, Germany.
By length, the IFGA All-Tackle World Record northern pike was 124 cm (just under 49 inches) caughy by Michelangelo Schenone on September 23, 2021 on Lake Maggiore, Italy.
To me, one of the more impressive records comes down to line class. On August 10, 1990, Rick Townsend caught a 23lb 15oz northern pike on just 2lb test line! That’s a true example of mastery!
If you’re interested in checking out the rest of the records, the IGFA keeps an extensive list that can be found here.
50. Where Do Northern Pike Grow the Biggest?
Northern pike grow significantly larger in Europe than the United States. If you’re looking for your best shot at catching a true giant, Ireland and Germany are both great places to start. Indeed, in years before IGFA records started being kept, there were reports of pike approaching 100lbs coming out of Ireland. Some of these “records” are from hundreds of years ago at this point, so it is anyone’s guess just how factual they are.
Conclusions
Hopefully you had as much fun reading this as I did typing it. While it might just be a collection of tidbits, at least you didn’t have to scroll through endless pages to read the information! Have any other questions about northern pike that I didn’t answer? Leave a comment or drop me an email and I’ll look into it for you!
While most anglers have heard stories of fishing for bass on the beds, you don’t often hear of people fishing for northern pike during their spawn, and for good reason. Throughout much of their range, pike spawn very early in the season before most casting anglers are seriously thinking of fishing.
What Time of Year Do Pike Spawn?
Northern pike spawn at different times of year depending on the ice breakup as well a latitude and climate. A good rule of thumb is that northern pike spawn shortly after ice out. In parts of Ireland, this can mean February. In New England, it is March to April. Deep in Alaska or Russia, some pike have been observed to spawn into July. It really depends on where you are.
If you aren’t quite certain when pike spawn in your area, a good rule of thumb would be to check if there are any local regulations prohibiting fishing for them at certain times of the year. Some states and local waterbodies prohibit fishing for pike during the spawn. The closed pike season is when pike normally spawn in a given area.
Where Does Pike Spawning Take Place?
Northern pike tend to spawn in weeds in the shallows. They’ll either swim up streams to find backwater marshes, or find shallow water bays off a main lake. They prefer silted and sandy bottoms to rocks, and will look for areas that are about 40 to 45° F, which generally means locations that have recently experienced ice out.
In rivers, pike seek out calmer areas in the shallows to give their eggs, and eventual fry, a better shot at survival
Do Pike Spawn at a Certain Depth?
Pike tend to spawn in very shallow water. Ideally, they deposit eggs in waters from about 6″ to 3 feet in depth. Their eggs sink slowly and are quite sticky, so they tend to attach to the vegetation found at these depths early in the year. This gives the eggs a better chance of survival.
How Do Pike Spawn?
Unlike bass which build nests, northern pike are random spawners, meaning that they deposit their eggs across a wide range. The process by which pike spawn is as follows:
Male pike move into the spawning area a few days before the females.
Spawning takes place over a period of about 5 to 10 days, during which it’s very difficult to get a pike to bite.
As the females release eggs and the males release milt, the males go crazy, thrashing their tales to try and help scatter the eggs to give individuals a better chance of hatching. Sometimes, they over do it and injure themselves (on occasion, mortally)!
The females leave the spawning area before the males do. While the male pike stick around for several weeks after the spawn, they don’t actually protect the eggs like bass do.
How Long Do Pike Spawn For?
The actual act of Northern Pike spawning takes about 5 to 10 days, but they’re in the spawning grounds for longer than that. Males show up a few days earlier than females to stage, and stay a few weeks after spawning completes. Thus, you can find pike in spawning areas for approximately a month or so.
How Long Does it Take Pike Eggs to Hatch?
A 1965 study by D.R. Swift (source) found that water temperature was key to determining how fast northern pike eggs would develop and hatch. Swift found that the number of days it took for pike eggs to hatch ranged from 26 days in 43°F water to only 5 days once the water temperature reached 61°F. Granted, in most waters, pike prefer to spawn in water much cooler than 61°F, so the likely egg incubation range is between about 12 to 26 days.
What Spawns First, Pike or Muskie?
Northern pike tend to spawn earlier than muskie. This is because pike prefer to spawn in water temperatures of about 40 to 45°F, whereas muskie prefer 49 to 59°F. While muskie usually spawn a bit deeper than pike, this doesn’t save their young from predation from the older pike fry. As a consequence, fishery managers need to be cognizant of this when selecting areas to stock with muskies. When placed in waters with high populations of pike, it can be challenging for muskie to survive.
Can You Catch Pike During Their Spawn?
By all accounts it is extremely difficult to catch pike during the actual spawn. Indeed, if you are catching a northern pike during their spawn and in their spawning marsh, chances are you’ve caught one that either hasn’t started spawning yet, or has already finished. During the act itself, pike rarely bite. However, they can be caught prior to and after completing their spawn.
Judging from my toasty outfit, this pike was likely caught not too long after spawn.
Is It Legal to Fish For Pike During Their Spawn?
You should certainly check your local regulations before attempting to fish for pike during their spawn. Some countries, states, or even specific lakes within states forbid fishing for pike during their spawning season. Others don’t bother regulating it. It all comes down to how the locality treats the resource.
For example, in Connecticut, you can fish for northern pike year round in most waters, but not in Bantam Lake. This is because Bantam Lake is designated as a northern pike lake, and fishing for the species is prohibited between March 1 to April 30 in an effort to protect the spawn.
SHOULD You Catch Pike During This Vulnerable Time?
While many places prohibit fishing for pike during their spawn, others don’t. However, just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. Pike are quite vulnerable during their spawn. They are stacked up and relatively easy to find when you know where to look. While you probably won’t have luck catching them while they’re spawning, they will feed before and after the act.
Unfortunately, the act of spawning in and of itself is exhausting for pike. Males thrash so violently during the act that they often injure themselves severely. Catching one could plausibly put one over the edge. If you’re interested in maintaining quality fishing for years to come, I would suggest you avoid fishing for pike during their spawn, even when it’s legal.
By taking this simple step, and giving these important creatures a fighting chance, you can help quality preserve fishing for your children and grandchildren for years to come.
My kids call northern pike, “Boo Boo Fish,” because of their sharp teeth that can do a number on an unwary angler’s hands. While it’s fair enough to expect a pike to bite you by accident, their ferocity does lead one to wonder. Do northern pike attack humans? Could a swimmer be in danger in pike-infested waters, or this just the stuff of bad daydreams and legends? What of dogs and cats? Will northern pike eat them like a duckling? Let’s find out…
The Legend of the Water Wolf
I have been fascinated by northern pike ever since I was little. I credit three reasons:
The biggest fish on our wall was a huge northern my Uncle Steve caught on Lake Champlain. I used to stare at it for hours and study every detail.
My first “big fish” that I caught without help was a 6lb northern. While small by adult standards, to a six-year-old, it was incredible. It still graces the wall almost like an old sports trophy from peewee hockey.
The folks at In-Fisherman produced an absolutely phenomenal book about northern pike, as seen below. It was one of the first books I wore out. The first chapter’s description of ancient pike lore will leave any child wide-eyed with wonder.
In the book they talk about legends of the Mannheim Pike, a monster that was said to have lived for 267 years and weighed over 550lbs. That’s just one of the many legends that abound about this great fish! Thus, it’s no surprise that people would come to wonder if northern pike attack humans. One 550lbs certainly could!
Are Northern Pike Aggressive?
Northern pike are famed for their aggression. In waters without muskie, they are apex predators that can rocket forth from the depths with no warning to slam your spinnerbait. They offer explosive topwater action, and are not are not afraid to follow lures fished right up to the boat. Indeed, you’re well advised to take advantage of this aggression by making a large figure eight with your lure near the boat. Often, this will produce a startling strike.
If you don’t believe me about their aggression, check out this YouTube clip from one of my favorite content producers, NDYakAngler:
Now, having said that, it has been my personal experience that northern pike are much “calmer” when captured than their smaller chain pickerel cousins. Pickerel tend to flop around fanatically while you’re trying to get them out of the net while pike are much more chill. Regardless, I’d take care not to put my hands close to either’s mouth, lest I wanted stitches.
Are There Any Reports of Northern Pike Attacking Humans?
There are several reports of northern pike and their larger muskie cousins attacking humans. Most of the attacks seem credited to the latter. Another commonality is that most of the attacks seem to be against the foot or leg, which indicates the pike or muskie probably weren’t attacking a human on purpose, but instead mistook their feet for a fish.
In 1983, a 13-year-old girl was attacked on the foot by what she described as a seven-foot muskie. Of note, this same archived article discusses other attacks in 1978 and 1980 (source).
In 2017, an 11-year-old girl was attacked by what was presumably a large pike or muskie while her feet were dangling over a paddleboard. The poor girl required multiple stitches and a surgery to repair tendons after the fish attacked her foot (source).
In 2019, a 10-year-old boy was bit on the foot while swimming at Fox Lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin (source).
In 2020, a Winnipeg woman was mauled by what she believed to be a muskie while swimming near a fishing lodge. She states that the fish grabbed her leg and thrashed, pulling her under (source).
In addition to these, you can also find plenty of stories or videos of northern pike “attacking” the hands of humans, sometimes when they’re releasing another fish, or just dangling in the water. This is by far the more likely way you’ll ever encounter these fish.
So Do Northern Pike Really Attack Humans?
I think it’s safe to say that while northern pike do bite humans from time to time, they don’t really attack humans. The rare cases where they do can almost all be attributed to the pike mistaking an extremity for a fish. If northern pike were a real danger, we’d know about it. The media is not shy about reporting such fascinating horror stories. Yet, as big as the internet is, there aren’t that many reports out there to find. I’m not a mathematician, but this does lead me to conclude that the chances of a human being attacked by a northern pike are exceptionally small.
Can a Pike Bite Your Finger Off?
No, a northern pike cannot exert enough force to bite your finger off. A 2015 study by Allegheny College and the University of South Florida examined the bite force of northern pike compared to barracuda. It found that the posterior bite force for the largest pike in the study (a roughly 32″ northern) was 44.0 N (source), well below the 154 N required to amputate a finger, according to a recent biomechanical study (source).
With that being said, northern pike can have anywhere from 300-700 teeth, none of which are particularly pleasant to touch. While you won’t lose a finger to a northern, it is completely plausible that they could sever a tendon or do some significant damage. Accordingly, you must never grab them by the mouth and instead lift them from the gill plate. The video below illustrates a safe way to lift a northern (both for you and the pike).
I wish that this was also a legend, but unfortunately it is not. While I will not reproduce the videos here as they are inappropriate for a family site, I am sad to say that you can find evidence of pike taking kittens from the waters edge. If a large pike can attack a small cat, there is no reason it couldn’t do the same to a small dog or puppy. This is something to consider when taking your pup out to play near the water.
Conclusion – The Legends are Just That, but Based on Facts
As much fun as I had in my childhood reading about the Mannheim Pike and other legends, it seems that’s all they were. Northern pike are not going to attack humans, at least not with the intent of eating them. With that said, any cornered animal will attempt to defend itself and a northern pike is no different. You should handle them with respect and care while fishing, or else you may be bit. While the bite of a northern pike won’t sever your finger, it could damage it to a point that you lose its full use. Finally, your smaller pets are legitimately in danger if they get too close to a large northern, so keep them leashed.
This was an interesting article to research, and I hope you found it informative. If you have any other questions, feel free to post a comment or send me an email.
