By Francis Brautigam
Regional Fisheries Biologist, Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
In the last few weeks there has been a resurgence of growing public interest and inquiry regarding the illegal introduction of northern pike in Sebago Lake. This topic was the recent subject of a public broadcasting radio talk show and an Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife news release, which spurred additional publicity.
We have received a number of inquiries from the public asking “where to” and “how to” fish Sebago Lake for pike, and a desire by the public to assist in removing pike from Sebago to reduce their threat to the salmon fishery. In response we’ve provided some basic “how to” information in this report. However, the following clarification is also offered regarding the value of harvest through recreational angling as a means of pike “control.” Until there is strong evidence that pike have spawned successfully in Sebago, there remains the possibility that the few that have been stocked may be caught, preventing the establishment of this exotic predator.
In Sebago, I would encourage anglers to target pike where there is an abundance of spawning and juvenile habitat. This type of habitat may be found in Turtle Cove, the Muddy River (between Route 114 and Lake House Road), Sticky River (west of the railroad trestle), and the Songo River.
Once pike have established a spawning population, removal through recreational angling will not likely limit population size, although it could alter size quality within the population. Until this spring we remained hopeful that initial efforts to illegally establish pike were unsuccessful. However, the capture of a single 17-inch juvenile pike several weeks ago indicates that pike have either spawned successfully in Sebago or that additional fish may have been introduced. However, until we have confirmed pike spawning in the lake we would encourage anglers to harvest any pike they catch as a strategy to prevent the potential establishment of this unwelcome invasive fish.
In addition to “how to” fishing information, I have included some excerpts from the Department’s Strategic Management Plan for Northern Pike to provide anglers with a better understanding of this invasive fish.
Distribution
Northern pike are distributed throughout much of the northern hemisphere and within North America is the most widely distributed member of the pickerel family. Northern pike are the only member of the pickerel family native to both North America and Eurasia. The historical North American range included Alaska, most of Canada below the Arctic Circle, the Missouri River drainage, which includes the upstream confluence of the Mississippi River, the Ohio River drainage in Pennsylvania and New York, and the Great Lakes drainage basin. Northern pike are not indigenous to Maine and the rest of New England, except for Vermont where historical populations were confined to Lake Champlain.
Northern pike have been widely distributed outside their historical range in North America. Northerns are now residents in all New England states, although habitat limitations have precluded the state of Rhode Island from establishing a self-sustaining population.
Northern pike were initially introduced into Maine in the 1970s, as the result of an illegal introduction into the Belgrade Chain of Lakes. Subsequent migration within the Belgrade lakes drainage and additional illegal introductions are responsible for an expanding distribution within central and southern Maine.
Habitat Requirements
Northern Pike are a cool water species, occurring primarily in more nutrient-rich lakes and ponds, as well as larger, slow moving rivers. Although predominantly found in freshwater environments, northerns can survive in weak brackish water and are reported to spawn successfully at salinities reaching 7 parts per thousand. Northern pike generally become well established where water is relatively shallow, and an abundance of rooted aquatic vegetation provides important spawning, nursery, and adult foraging habitat.
Habitat preference varies seasonally. Northern pike are typically found in shallower water during the spring and fall, with larger individuals moving to deeper, cooler water during the heat of the summer. However, northern pike generally inhabit water shallower than 30 feet deep. Larger individuals are generally associated with structure that is located near areas of open water. Northern pike tend to be rather sedentary, establishing a territory where suitable food and cover exists.
Reproduction
Mature pike migrate to shallow, calm, weedy bays, flooded wetlands, and slow flowing tributary streams to spawn just prior to, or immediately following ice-out in late March or early April. Water temperatures during this period may range from the mid-30s to the mid-40s.
Females may be tended by more than one male during the act of spawning, as adhesive eggs are randomly broadcast over vegetation in shallow water often less than 18 inches deep. Eggs and milt may be simultaneously released periodically throughout the daytime hours over a period of 2 to 5 days. A number of environmental factors may delay or inhibit spawning, including the absence of vegetation, the presence of cold weather, water level drawdowns, strong wind, or rain.
Other members of the pickerel family also share similar spawning traits and as a result northern pike may hybridize with other species in the same family found in Maine, including chain pickerel, redfin pickerel and muskellunge. Pike-chain pickerel hybrids are well documented in Maine.
Northern pike egg production is high (approximately 9,000 per pound body weight). However, egg and fry mortality may be also very high, due to predation by perch, minnows, larger aquatic insects, waterfowl, and cannibalistic northern pike. Stranding associated with lowering water levels can also result in significant egg and fry mortality.
Developing eggs are extended no parental care and depending on water temperature hatch in about 12 to 14 days. Upon hatching pike may attach to vegetation by means of an adhesive pad located on the head and continue to feed on the yolk for about a week.
Food Habits
Once the yolk sac is absorbed, the young northern pike feed on larger zooplankton and small aquatic insects for up to several weeks until reaching a length of nearly 2 inches. Upon reaching this size fish become a prey item of primary importance.
Northern pike are generally considered opportunistic carnivores, potentially feeding on any creature within an acceptable size range. Optimal food size has been estimated between one-third and one-half the length of the pike. Although known to feed on small mammals, amphibians, crayfish, and birds, fish appear to be the most common pike forage in Maine. Diet studies on the Belgrade Lakes indicate that pike eat white perch, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, smelt, landlocked salmon, minnow species, and insects. Although there is some evidence to suggest that non-spiny finned, cylindrical-shaped fish (e.g., suckers, smelt, trout, and salmon) are more easily swallowed by pike, existing studies suggest that white perch are the most commonly consumed forage fish in Maine waters.
Age, Growth and Maturity
Juvenile pike experience very rapid growth, and within 30 days of hatching are nearly 2 inches long. Within the first year they may reach 10 to 15 inches in length. Growth continues to be rapid within the first three to four years until sexual maturity is reached. In Maine, annual growth during this period may exceed eight inches in length and 0.75 pounds in weight. Upon reaching sexual maturity growth in length slows, but weight gain increases in greater proportion. Annual growth for mature pike in Sabattus Lake generally ranges from one to four inches in length, and one to five pounds in weight.
Fishing
Pike are vulnerable to anglers of varying skill levels during both the open water and ice fishing seasons. Although some modifications to traditional fishing equipment are needed to fish successfully for northern pike. The use of highly abrasion resistant leaders (steel), large hook size (larger than 2.0), and larger terminal tackle, are recommended. Northern pike provide anglers action throughout the winter fishing season, however, many avid pike enthusiasts enjoy fishing in March, when trophy-size adult pike concentrate in shallow water areas with the approach of the spawning season. Larger golden shiners and smaller common suckers fished dead or alive are popular baits. At “ice-out” anglers are most successful catching large pike by fishing shallow weedy areas where pike are spawning. In addition to live baits, large spoons, spinner baits, and stick baits are popular terminal tackle. Trolling and casting along weed lines and other areas of structure are productive fishing strategies for the spring and early summer. Late summer fishing is generally most productive in deeper water. With the arrival of fall, shallower water areas again offer productive fishing.
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