Northern Pike
Also known as: Pike, Northern, Jack, Snake, Slough Shark or Hammer Handle
The Northern Pike is one of the most common and widely found fish in Manitoba. They are a favourite with anglers for both their size and their ability to put a hearty fight on the hook.
Five Foot Monsters
The elongated pike has a long head that ends in large duckbill shaped jaws with canine teeth. The dorsal fin is located far back on the body with 16 to 19 soft rays. Colour changes but is usually bluish-green to grey on back with irregular rows of light yellow or gold spots on sides. With fully scaled cheeks, the lower half of opercula doesn’t have scales. Fish weighing 10 or more pounds are fairly common in Manitoba lakes and rivers. In larger lakes and rivers, Northern Pike will attain a length of 3 – 5 feet and typically weigh over 40 lbs.
Big Eater
The Northern Pike is a voracious feeder and one of the most predatory fishes in our waters. They are an opportunistic carnivore that feeds primarily on living organisms. The food of the young consists largely of insects and their larvae. As the fish matures, it feeds primarily on fish – Perch, Drum, small Suckers, Walleye and even smaller Northern Pike. Large pike have been known to eat small muskrats, ducklings and shore birds.
Manitoba’s most sought after game fish is sensitive to water temperature. Smaller fish can tolerate higher water temperatures and will be caught in shallow water. Pike favour moving slowly in heavily vegetated areas and as the season progresses they will move deeper. They like to play with their food – don’t lose patience if a big one lets go multiple times before hanging on for good. They are always hungry, so they will eventually come back again, and sometimes again and again.
Stiff Competition – Pike vs. Walleye
Although the Pike is generally found throughout much of the province and is held in high esteem by most fishermen for its fighting ability and excitement generated during the catch, sport harvest remains moderate in comparison with Manitoba’s most sought after sport species: the Walleye. If you are stranded or lost and need something to eat, a Pike is always willing to bite. The flesh of the Pike in spring and fall in the south is excellent. In the north it is excellent throughout the fishing season.
A large fish over 60 lbs was recently caught by a commercial fisherman. Many fish of this size are suspected to prowl the waters of Manitoba.
Expert’s Tip: Big lures with lots of flash will entice most Northern Pike.
For more great tips on Northern Pike fishing, check out our Norther Pike Tips & Tricks page.
Manitoba Record: The largest Northern Pike caught was 153.67 cm (60.5”) and released in Apisko Lake.
Get the all time record records information from our Master Angler records.
