Pike

Pike is a freshwater game and food fish (Esox lucius) of Europe, Asia, Canada and North America identified by their elongate compressed body, covered long snout and reaches a length of over 1.2 meters (4 feet).  It is also known as the American, Northern, or Great Northern pike.  This species is known as jackfish in Canada which is particularly rapacious or greedy and prefers to lurk in weedy, shallow water to ambush its prey.

Make sure to handle Pike carefully and return quickly if you are not keeping it

This pike, believed to be the same species as the European pike, has the capacity to consume food that is one fifth of its own weight (10–35 lb or 4.5–16 kg) and they have the capability to do it on a daily basis.

Pikes are obstinate fighters and are valued as game fishes, known for their delicious taste. European Pike has tiny scales, a long head and snout with a very large mouth armed with tough and lengthy teeth in the jaws and broad bands of smaller teeth on the palate and tongue. The dorsal and anal fins are positioned far back on the tail, thus significantly escalating the boosting power of the fish.

 Pikes are known for their rapidity in motion that no other fresh-water fish can excel. By just a single stroke of the tail they rush upon their prey or dart out of danger if it is the prey to be. In addition these types of fish are not too violent and only there a few insignificant incidents of pike ‘attacks’ on people being substantiated

The pike feeds on extensive variety of food sources.  Their main prey is the other fish around them including their own kind but frequently the smaller shoal fish. Pike is a bit cannibalistic as they are preying upon minor members of their own species. They can also eat insects and amphibians such as newts or frogs during times when the food is scarce, and occasionally on small mammals like moles or mice when caught water-borne. Small birds such as ducklings may also become pike’s target when they are hungry. Pikes are also known to prey on swimming snakes such as vipers.

An excellent illustration of the Pike

Catching pike is one of the most exciting and interesting angler’s sports in the UK, Europe Canada and North America. It is becoming an increasingly popular pastime for anglers. The most effectual method in catching this hard-fighting fish includes dead baits, live baits and lure fishing. Pikes can easily be damaged when handled since they are not as robust as their reputation suggests.

Since pike has abundant sharp teeth, it is wise to take extreme care when unhooking the pike. The use of a wet leather gauntlet and surgical forceps to get rid of hooks is highly recommended for safety reasons. Concern for the pike should be the pike angler’s chief apprehension.

A mounted Pike for display purposes

The formerly recommended procedure of grabbing a pike is by their eye socket which has resulted in limitless released pike that quickly died from the inability to see its prey. The current recommended method of taking hold of pike is to close the hand firmly over the gill covers, and to make the period of handling the pike as short as possible before release.  The Pike Anglers Club was established in 1977 to do promote the conservation and preservation of this species and for the sport’s known as pike fishing.  A practice known as ‘gut hooking’ was formerly widely exercised in seizing pike.

Upon getting the bait the pike will grip it for a short while in its mouth as it shifts position or doing movements. The pike will then, habitually twist the lure or bait in its mouth so that it is positioned within the pike’s throat to ease gulping it down.

It is being recommended that during pike fishing the process is not allowed to go this far and a strike is suggested as soon as a bite is designated. Otherwise what is known as ‘gut hooking’ will often cause the fish to be killed or seriously harmed. Other techniques of catching or seizing pike which are now frowned upon are the gaff and the gag. The gaff is a metal hook on the end of a pole used to clasp through the fish’s body in place of a more humane landing net while the gag is a device for gripping the open pike’s mouth whilst unhooking. These practices are now illegal as they put a massive amount of pressure on a pike’s jaw thus causing irreparable damage.