Northern Pike
The Northern Pike (Esox lucius) is a large carnivorous fresh water fish.
Pike usually can be found in the coastal zones, in weed beds, in stagnant waters.
It is widespread in the fresh waters of Eurasia and North America.
They may also occur in parts of desalinated sea waters - for example, in Finland, Riga and the Curonian Lagoon of the Baltic Sea, in the Taganrog Bay of the sea of Azov.
You can find it up to 1 500 m above sea level in small alpine rivers, sluggish streams, lakes as well as in rocky waters.
Pike well withstand an acid reaction in water - they can live comfortably in water with a pH of 4.
75.
An interesting fact is that the Northern pike may occur in completely isolated ponds distant from rivers.
This is due to the fact that the caviar of the pike is very sticky and is carried by waterfowl.
They can reach over 150 cm in length and weigh up to 35 kg.
There is evidence even for significantly larger specimens.
Females are generally much larger than males.
After hatching, the small fish must be fed with zooplankton, the eggs of other fish and small crustaceans.
When they reach the size of 5-6 cm pike began to eat very small fish.
A larger population of pike in the reservoir is able to destroy quickly the fish breeding material.
As a whole the benefit of the pike is great because it destroys most of the inferior and diseased fish and regulates the balance of the ecosystem of the basin.
The Northern pike is a typical predator.
The cases of cannibalism are not rare, when large specimens are fed with the small ones.
The Northern Pike is omnivorous - its menu includes also frogs, mice, and the babies of waterfowl.
Unlike the other predators, the pike is held in certain locations in the pool and attacked their victims from ambush.
After the attack the pike returns to its place again.
Chasing the victim is not something that suits the pike.
Very specific is also the way of capturing the fish it wants to eat - usually the original grip is crosswise of the body, then it takes it head-on.
This is a consequence of the specific structure of its jaws and teeth.
They are not made for chewing.
The Northern pike swallow their victims whole.
During the spawning pike is rubbing against the bushes, roots, stems of reeds and cattail.
A female is usually accompanied by 3-4 males.
In some cases the number of males is reaching 6, 7 or even 8.
They swim in groups and the male is constantly rubbing in the female.
Pike is not staying long in one place, it moves spawning grounds and spawn.
At the end of spawning all specimens rush in different directions, causing a loud splashing, while females often jump out of the water in the air.
The female, depending on the size shed 40 000 - 250 000 caviar grains per kilogram of weight.
The grains have a size of about 3 mm.
The Northern pike throw the caviar in the shallows on the aquatic vegetation.
The reproduction period is earlier than the one of other fish in the pond.
It starts from late February-early March and lasts until late March-early April.
There are many Northern Pike Fishing Tips and Techniques on the Internet or in certain fishing books where you can learn a lot about the Northern Pike fish - places you can find the pike, how they play with their preys, maximizing the attraction of a DareDevils, and many more.
Pike usually can be found in the coastal zones, in weed beds, in stagnant waters.
It is widespread in the fresh waters of Eurasia and North America.
They may also occur in parts of desalinated sea waters - for example, in Finland, Riga and the Curonian Lagoon of the Baltic Sea, in the Taganrog Bay of the sea of Azov.
You can find it up to 1 500 m above sea level in small alpine rivers, sluggish streams, lakes as well as in rocky waters.
Pike well withstand an acid reaction in water - they can live comfortably in water with a pH of 4.
75.
An interesting fact is that the Northern pike may occur in completely isolated ponds distant from rivers.
This is due to the fact that the caviar of the pike is very sticky and is carried by waterfowl.
They can reach over 150 cm in length and weigh up to 35 kg.
There is evidence even for significantly larger specimens.
Females are generally much larger than males.
After hatching, the small fish must be fed with zooplankton, the eggs of other fish and small crustaceans.
When they reach the size of 5-6 cm pike began to eat very small fish.
A larger population of pike in the reservoir is able to destroy quickly the fish breeding material.
As a whole the benefit of the pike is great because it destroys most of the inferior and diseased fish and regulates the balance of the ecosystem of the basin.
The Northern pike is a typical predator.
The cases of cannibalism are not rare, when large specimens are fed with the small ones.
The Northern Pike is omnivorous - its menu includes also frogs, mice, and the babies of waterfowl.
Unlike the other predators, the pike is held in certain locations in the pool and attacked their victims from ambush.
After the attack the pike returns to its place again.
Chasing the victim is not something that suits the pike.
Very specific is also the way of capturing the fish it wants to eat - usually the original grip is crosswise of the body, then it takes it head-on.
This is a consequence of the specific structure of its jaws and teeth.
They are not made for chewing.
The Northern pike swallow their victims whole.
During the spawning pike is rubbing against the bushes, roots, stems of reeds and cattail.
A female is usually accompanied by 3-4 males.
In some cases the number of males is reaching 6, 7 or even 8.
They swim in groups and the male is constantly rubbing in the female.
Pike is not staying long in one place, it moves spawning grounds and spawn.
At the end of spawning all specimens rush in different directions, causing a loud splashing, while females often jump out of the water in the air.
The female, depending on the size shed 40 000 - 250 000 caviar grains per kilogram of weight.
The grains have a size of about 3 mm.
The Northern pike throw the caviar in the shallows on the aquatic vegetation.
The reproduction period is earlier than the one of other fish in the pond.
It starts from late February-early March and lasts until late March-early April.
There are many Northern Pike Fishing Tips and Techniques on the Internet or in certain fishing books where you can learn a lot about the Northern Pike fish - places you can find the pike, how they play with their preys, maximizing the attraction of a DareDevils, and many more.