Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
Last Update/Review: August 6, 2002
Sometimes called jackfish, the northern pike is a long, slender fish with sharp, backward-slanting teeth, duck-like jaws and a long, flat head. Its back and sides are predominantly dark green to olive-green, with yellow to white spots. Because of a tiny gold spot found on the tip of most scales, the pike appears flecked with gold. In Alberta, northern pike have been known to weigh up to 22 kg (50 lbs). A popular sport fish, the pike is found throughout Alberta, except in the foothills and mountains. It prefers shallow, weedy clear waters in lakes and marshes, but also inhabits slow streams.
Spawning occurs in flooded areas of vegetation in early spring, often when ice is still on the lakes. Pike will eat insects, but as voracious predators, they also consume large numbers of fish and other vertebrates, such as frogs, mice, and even ducklings. Because of their size and stealth, the only important predator of the northern pike are people.
