Northern Pike

Northern pike are often called “freshwater sharks” and their physical make-up is ideally suited for the kind of hunting they do. Since they live and ambush prey around weeds and other aquatic vegetation, their coloring provides a camouflage that blends in with their surrounding environment. The background color of their back and sides is a dark olive green to greenish brown, with lighter oval spots running horizontally along their body. Their bellies are a solid creamy white. Pike fins are round, as opposed to their cousin’s, the muskellunge, which are pointed. The head is long and the mouth flat like a duck’s bill. Pike also have many rows of sharp teeth that will quickly damage whatever prey they strike. Pike are also fast swimmers and can chase after prey at about 8 to 10 miles per hour.