Northern Pike (Esox lucius)

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

The northern pike is a popular sporting and food fish that inhabits freshwaters around the northern hemisphere. They can grow up to about 40 lbs and 50" long; they average 18"-20" in length; females are generally larger than males. Solitary and territorial, these fish ambush predators. Spawning occurs in the shallows when the water temperature reaches 4 to 7 degress Celsius (40-45 degrees Fahrenheit). Spawning lasts for 5 to 10 days after which the female leaves. Males remain in the spawning area for several weeks, but do not protect the eggs. At this stage the eggs are vulnerable to predators. The eggs that survive hatch in about 2 weeks. With their insatiable eating habits young pike grow rapidly in both length and weight, growing up to 6 inches before fall.  Males become sexually mature at 2 to 3 years-old and females at 3 to 4 years-old and live between 10-12 years.

As young fish they feed on small invertebrates, and as they grow older their broad diet grows to include amphibians and fish of all sorts (including their own kind), and even small mammals and birds.