Great Lakes Water Life Photo Gallery

Fish

Pikes

Family: Esocidae - Pikes

Scientific Profile - University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology

ID Guides

Muskellunge/Northern Pike ID

Distribution and Habitat

N=Native, I=Introduced (exotic), X=Extinct, P=Extirpated

Image/Link	Scientific Name	Common Name	Lake Superior	Lake Michigan	Lake Huron	Lake Erie	Lake Ontario	Habitat
	Esox americanus vermiculatus	grass pickerel		N	N	N	N	stream/creek/littoral
	Esox lucius	northern pike	N	N	N	N	N	stream/creek/river/littoral
	Esox masquinongy	muskellunge	N	N	N	N	N	stream/creek/river/littoral
	Esox niger	chain pickerel				I	N	stream/creek/littoral

Table modified from "The Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery" MI Sea Grant Extension, Michigan State University.

Species Profiles

Esox americanus vermiculatus - grass pickerel

Profile - Fish of Indiana
Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Scientific Profile - University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology

Found in quiet, weedy waters over mud bottom. Feed on fishes. Length to 35 cm.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Fish of Indiana

Esox lucius - northern pike, pickerel

Profile - Wisconsin Sea Grant
Profile - Fish of Indiana
Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Identifying Michigan Sport Fish - MI DNR
Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
Profile - Great Lakes Field Guide - A Superior Adventure - Bell Museum
Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Scientific Profile - University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology

The northern pike is a lie-in-wait pisicivore (fish-eater). Young pike start out feeding on waterfleas, copepods, and aquatic insect larvae; but once they reach 50 mm long, they switch to fish. Adult pike have been known to add the following to their basic diet of fish: frogs, sandpipers, ducks, moles, shrews, red squirrels, and full-grown muskrats. Length to 120 cm and 8 pounds.

GLERL WaterLife Photo Gallery

Fishes of Minnesota

Other drawings/artwork:
GLIN TEACH
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Fish of Indiana
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Inland Fishes of New York

Other photos:
WI Sea Grant
University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology
The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

Esox masquinongy - muskellunge

Profile - Wisconsin Sea Grant
Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Identifying Michigan Sport Fish - MI DNR
Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
Profile - Great Lakes Field Guide - A Superior Adventure - Bell Museum
Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Prefer cool water where temperatures stay below 26° C (80 °F), but they can endure temperatures as high as 32° C (90° F) for a limited time. Muskies most often reside in water less than 4.5 m (15 ft) deep. A piscivore (fish-eater), sometimes it lies in wait other times it fins itself along slowly until it is near enough to make the lunge. Larval muskies begin by eating waterfleas and copepods, but at about 50 mm (2 in) long, they add small fish to their diet. As do large northerns, adult muskies supplement their fish dinners with the occasional duck or muskrat. Maximum size exceeds 5 feet and nearly 70 pounds. Females grow faster and bigger than males do. The world angling record is 31.8 kg (69 lbs 15 oz), caught in the St. Lawrence River.

Tiger muskies are a hybrid of northern pike and muskellunge.

GLERL Waterlife Photo Gallery

Wisconsin Sea Grant

Other drawings/artwork:
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
GLIN TEACH
Inland Fishes of New York

Other photos:
GLIN TEACH
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech
Fishes of Minnesota

Esox niger - chain pickerel

Profile - Inland Fishes of New York

Scientific Profile - University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology

Found in quiet, weedy waters. Feed on fishes. Length to 60 cm.

US Fish and Wildlife Service

PA Records

Other artwork:
Inland Fishes of New York

Other photos:
University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology
The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

Indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA website.
Indicates a link to a non-NOAA website or content not generated by NOAA. NOAA is not responsible for the accuracy of content. Please check Privacy and Use Policies of the destination site.
USE NOTICE