Northern pike, (Esox lucius, Linneaeus) is a spring spawner, taking place after the ice melts in April to early May, with water temperature 40-52 degrees F. Spawning usually during daylight on heavily vegetated floodplains of rivers and bays. They swim through and over vegetation often no deeper than 7 inches. Eggs hatch in 12-14 days and remain attached to vegetation. Often 6 inches long by the end of summer. In Georgian Bay, a pike 18 to 31 inches is around 3 years old and weighs between 1.5 and 8.5 pounds.
Early spawning, faster growth make the pike dominant over muskellunge when found together, keeping the muskie population limited.
(from Freshwater Fishes of Canada, Scott and Crossman, 1973)
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