Growing Bigger Pike
Management in Action— For several reasons, managing populations of northern pike has proved to be among the more challenging issues in fishery management. For one, more efforts have traditionally been applied to studying and managing other species, notably trout, muskie, bass, and walleye. Second, pike populations are remarkably diverse in their size structure, growth rates, and maximum size potential. Third, reductions in wetlands have reduced pike spawning habitat in many waters, while eutrophication has reduced summer habitat, and a warming climate has limited the suitability of some waters for large pike that prefer water temperatures below 70°F. Finally, anglers who pursue pike also are diverse in their attitudes and focus.
In search for solutions for this puzzle, a team of biologists from the Wisconsin Department of Natural…