| Pike Fishing - Statistics |
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| Common Names: |
Pike, Great Northern Pike, Jack, Pickerel.
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| World Record: |
1940 - 46 pounds, 2 ounces, caught in Sacandaga Reservoir, New York. Many larger northerns have been caught in Europe, but never verified as official records, One weighing 90 pounds, 8 ounces was purported to have been caught in Loch Deigh, Ireland, in 1862.
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| Ontario Record: |
42.12 lbs. (19.12 kg).
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| Average sizes: |
Between 4 and 10 pounds (1.8 to 4.5 kg). Northern pike over 20 pounds (9 kg) are considered trophies.
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| Length: |
18 to 45 inches
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| Coloring: |
Dark shades green, through olive green to brown on back and upper sides; lighter on lower sides; cream to milk-white on underside
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| Age & Growth: |
Northerns are long-lived, with some fish in the far North reaching ages of 25 years. Females grow faster and live longer than males. In the southern portion of their range pike will attain size faster (2 feet in length at the age of 3) but never reach the monster proportions of their northern counterparts due to a shorter life span (6 years). A 25 year old pike living at more northern latitudes will stretch to 45 inches and weigh in at 24 pounds.
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| Biology: |
Spawns in flooded areas and back-bays in spring. Fertilized eggs are scattered randomly.
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| Habitat and temperature: |
They live in deep water, often around rocks, sand, or gravel areas. They prefer water temperatures under 70°F (21°C).
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| Eating Habits: |
Northern Pike eat what they find. Fish dominate their diet, but crayfish, frogs, mice, muskrat, ducklings, and occasionally off-guard fishermen are also consumed. Generally, northern pike prefer one large entree as opposed to several smaller courses.
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| Range: |
 Throughout Ontario in lakes and rivers of all sizes.
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