Family: Esocidae, Pikes view all from this family

Description To 4'4" (1.3 m); 46 1/8 lbs (20.9 kg). Long, head one-fourth total length, tail forked; back dark olive-green to greenish-brown, sides lighter, with irregular rows of small, oval, yellow spots and small, gold spot on exposed edge of each scale; belly creamy-white. Lower jaw protruding, 5 large sensory pores on each side; cheek and upper half of opercle scaled; 14-15 branchiostegal rays; median fins green to white, occasionally reddish-orange, with dark markings; lateral line complete, 105-148 scales.

Habitat Lakes, reservoirs, and large streams with little current and abundant aquatic vegetation.

Range From Alaska south throughout Canada to Missouri; New York, Pennsylvania west to Nebraska and Montana.

Discussion Because of its large size, the Northern Pike is a desirable sport fish and used to be a commercial fish as well. It is the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world.