If you are an angler and fish lakes and rivers where northern pike proliferate, then you most likely already know how incredibly aggressive they are and how wiley they can be when you are trying to handle one. In the regions where they are common, pike are most likely responsible for more hooking accidents and …
While the pickerel side of the Esox family might not get as much attention or love as the northern pike or muskellunge, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to offer sports anglers. Well, some of them, anyway. The truth is that although the term “pickerel” is often used to refer to four or …
One of the top predators in any system throughout their range, northern pike are known to be ferocious hunters and incredibly hard fighters. They’re usually under-targeted by anglers, which is another reason why pike fishing is one of the most exciting and action-packed activities you can do on a northern lake. In this article, we’re …
Northern pike have a well-earned reputation as a hard fighting freshwater sports fish that are extremely popular with anglers. Obviously we’re big fans as my brother and I have enjoyed fishing for them for nearly three decades now. But not every angler has had that enjoyable experience. So what happens if an angler can’t find …
Pickerel don’t just get the shorter end of the stick when it comes to size in the Esox family, which also includes bigger cousins like the northern pike and muskellunge. But Chain pickerel live a total of 7-9 years on average. Only the absolute oldest (and largest) pickerel live past 9 years. Grass pickerel only …
The Tiger Musky is a gigantic fish, and in fact the largest member of the Esox family. Which is double impressive when you consider they share the same family as the vaunted northern pike and muskellunge. The tiger musky is hybrid fish that results from a pike and a musky breeding. They are normally bred …
If you’re going to pull in a trophy northern pike, you had better have the right equipment on hand. Getting a sturdy low action rod might give you more of a chance of keeping the trophy sized pike on the line, but where’s the fun in that? An ultralight rod is fun…but a 12 pound …
Few freshwater fish have earned the reputation of the northern pike. If you’re here, you’re probably among the many anglers who know the awesome benefits that even a moderate sized northern pike can give you. So what constitutes a big fish from state to state? Read on to learn about every northern pike state record. …