Northern Pike
Northern Pike in Alaska present a complex management situation as they are both native and invasive depending on location.
Pike are naturally native to Interior and Western Alaska north and west of the Alaska Range, but have been illegally introduced to Southcentral Alaska since the 1950s, where they are considered a highly destructive invasive species.
Scientific Name: Esox lucius
- In Alaska, pike can reach impressive sizes - fish in the 20-pound range (39-43 inches) are common in some waters, with occasional specimens reaching 30+ pounds and over 50 inches.
- They have razor-sharp teeth.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Pike prefer shallow, vegetated waters with minimal current such as weedy lakes, sloughs, and slow-moving streams.
- Pike are naturally native to Interior and Western Alaska north and west of the Alaska Range.
Key Locations
- Native waters include Minto Flats near Fairbanks and the Wood River drainage in Bristol Bay.
- Invasive pike populations are found in over 150 waterbodies including the Susitna River drainage, Kenai Peninsula waters, Anchorage area lakes, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.
- Prime locations include the Nancy Lake canoe system, Susitna River drainage lakes, and various Mat-Su Valley waters.
- Key native pike waters include Minto Flats and other Interior Alaska systems.
Specific Spots
- Target shallow, weedy waters with structure like submerged logs, undercut banks, weed lines, and drop-offs.
Northern Pike FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Northern Pike in Alaska?
Large bright spinners, spoons (especially red/white Dardevles), diving plugs, surface plugs, buzz baits, spinnerbaits, top-water poppers, Johnson Silver Minnows with curly-tail grub trailers work excellently in weedy areas. For ice fishing, fresh herring under a bobber.
How do you catch Northern Pike in Alaska?
Casting, trolling in larger waters, ice fishing with fresh herring under a bobber often fished above flashers and jigs.
What do Northern Pike eat?
These apex predators are opportunistic feeders with voracious appetites, capable of eating prey up to half their own size. Their diet consists primarily of juvenile salmon (coho, sockeye, and chinook), rainbow trout, and other fish, but they also consume insects, rodents, ducklings, muskrats, and even young beavers.
Where do Northern Pike live in Alaska?
Pike prefer shallow, vegetated waters with minimal current such as weedy lakes, sloughs, and slow-moving streams. Pike are naturally native to Interior and Western Alaska north and west of the Alaska Range.
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