Similarities And Differences Among New York's Pike

Similiarities and differences among New York's pike species
Species	Description	Habitat	Reproduction	Feeding	Fishing Information	Comments
Chain Pickerel	15-20" long Fully scaled cheeks and gill covers 8 sensory pores on undersurface of lower jaw Green to bronze with chain-link markings on sides Dark bar beneath eye	Quiet water with heavy weedy growth	Spawns in Spring (April-May) Migrate into swampy or marshy backwater areas Scatter their adhesive eggs at random	Ambushes single prey Eats primarily fish and occasionally frogs Peak feeding time - dawn and dusk	Popular sportfish - esp. for ice-fishermen Relatively easy to catch & good fighters Fish along weed beds in shallow water with minnows, worms, spoons, spinners and jigs Good tasting, but very bony	Gets name from dark chain-link marking on sides Popular sportfish in many lakes and rivers in SE NY
Redfin Pickerel	6-10" long Fully scaled checks and gill covers 8 sensory pores on undersurface of lower jaw Olive green to dark brown with wavy vertical bars on sides Dark bar beneath eye Dorsal fin darkly pigmented orange and red	Weedy areas of sluggish streams and lakes and ponds Sometimes in brackish water	Spawns early spring (March-April) Scatter adhesive eggs over dense vegetation along grassy stream banks or in flooded backwaters	Eats fish, small crustacean, crayfish and insects	Not actively pursued by anglers because of small size	Smallest of NY's pike Closely resembles the chain pickerel Uncommon in NY - restricted to Long Island & eastern New York Gets name from orange to red colored dorsal fin
Grass Pickerel	8-15" long Fully scaled cheeks and gill covers 8 sensory pores on undersurface of lower jaw Pale to dark green with thin, wavy vertical bars Dark bar beneath eye	Prefer heavily vegetated areas of slow-moving streams, lakes & ponds	Spawn early spring (March-April) Scatter adhesive eggs over vegetation in upper portions of flooded streams and in marshes	Eats fish, crayfish and insects	Of little interest to NY anglers	Subspecies of the redfin Spotty distribution in NY
Northern Pike	25-36" long Fully scaled cheeks, gill covers have scaleless lower half 8-12 sensory pores on undersurface of lower jaw Dark green to brown with light bean-shaped spots (dark background-light markings)	Wide range of habitats Prefer weedy portions of rivers, ponds and lakes Large adults sometimes offshore in deeper water	Spawn in spring (April-May) Migrate into flooded marshes during night Scatter adhesive eggs over vegetation	Ambush single prey Feeds on whatever is most available Eats primarily fish, but also crayfish, frogs, ducks, mice and muskrats	Important sportfish Taken through the ice as well as in open water Fish near or in weed beds with large spoons, spinners, plugs or large baitfish Delicious to eat. Because of large size, bones are more easily removed than a pickerel's	Very adaptable - are one of the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world Can grow quite large - over 40 lbs. Current NY record is 46 lbs. 2 oz. Help control populations of smaller fish species
Muskellunge	30-46" long Cheeks and gill covers only scaled on the upper half 12-18 sensory pores on undersurface of lower jaw Color ranges from barred to spotted to plain, but always has light background with dark markings	Cool lakes and large rivers-sometimes staying in moderately swift water	Spawn in mid-late spring (later than northern pike) Spawn at night in shallow, flooded areas Scatter semi-adhesive eggs over vegetation	Ambush single prey Move very little other than to dart out & grab prey Eats primarily fish, but also mice ducks and muskrats	Because of large size and rarity, held in high regard by anglers Can take experienced fisherman 50 hrs. to catch one. Use of a guide is recommended Best method: troll with large plugs, spinners or baitfish	Largest member of the pike family, and NY's largest freshwater sportfish In NY are two strains: the Great Lakes and Ohio strain Great sportfish Good eating, but most people practice "catch and release" to ensure future limited populations
Tiger Muskellunge	24-38 " long Fully scaled cheeks, gill covers have scaleless lower half 10-16 sensory pores on undersurface of lower jaw Color: varies, but light background with dark barred markings	Specific habitat preferences not documented - assumed to be intermediate to northern pike and muskellunge	Are sterile hybrids - no successful spawning	Ambush single prey Eats primarily fish, but also frogs, mice, ducks and muskrats	Important gamefish Fish near dropoffs, weed beds and other structure with large baitfish or large plugs and spoons	Hybrid cross between northern pike and muskellunge Occasionally occur naturally. Most tigers in NY waters have been stocked to provide trophy fishing