Northern Pike

The northern pike—sometimes affectionately known as the “aquatic wolf”—is one of the most sought after and mythologized fishes in Minnesota, but until now there have been few books devoted to the history and ecological management of the species. Based on pioneering research carried out in Minnesota by leading pike specialist Rodney B. Pierce, Northern Pike Ecology, Conservation, and Management History is the most complete collection of information to date on the species, for everyone from scientists and conservation biologists to general readers and recreational anglers.

A tremendously important game fish and resource both in Minnesota and throughout the northern hemisphere, northern pike populations directly reflect local geology and human influence, playing a key role in the health of freshwater ecosystems. As urbanization spreads and the human population continues to grow, pike populations face increasing pressure, requiring new ways of looking at and managing the species. In Minnesota, groundbreaking work has been conducted on northern pike: analyses of stocking success and investigations into the relationships within fish communities, the management of rearing marshes, environmental effects on natural production, the genetics of northern pike, and strategies for scientifically monitoring pike. The state has been a leader in developing fishing regulations to help restore large pike, among many other measures designed to ensure the future quantity and health of a key species in Minnesota’s waterways.

Weaving significant historical scientific literature and technical details together with his own research, Pierce’s benchmark study documents and synthesizes the long history of northern pike management and describes the latest efforts being taken to better understand and manage this critical and renowned species.

Rodney B. Pierce has worked as a fisheries research biologist at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, for over twenty-five years, specializing in northern pike biology and management.

Contents

Acknowledgments

County Map of Minnesota

Introduction: Minnesota’s Northern Pike Legacy

1. The Ecology of Northern Pike

2. Recreational and Commercial Fishing

3. Conservation and Management of Northern Pike

4. Sampling Northern Pike Populations

Closing Thoughts about Pike Management in Minnesota

Bibliography

Index