The Sad, Untold Story About Northern Pike and the Southcentral Alaska Epidemic
Written: Jun 08 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Amazingly Speed and Fight, Native to Central Region of the State
Cons: Threatening to infiltrate and dessimate multi-billion dollar commercial and sport fishing industries.
The Bottom Line: Something has to be done in Alaska to stop the infiltration of the Northern Pike in hopes of saving our world-famous Salmon and Trout species.
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| glacier's Full Review: Northern Pike |
Editor's Note: You may be about to read what amounts to the only negative review of Northern Pike you've ever seen. As a sport fish, they are energetic, feisty and downright thrilling to catch--even dangerous at times (try wearing waders with a bright orange logo on the heel). This review in no way intends to downplay the sportfishing experience of Northern Pike, but rather to educate readers about their impact on one of the great natural fisheries in our country.
My Fishing Background
I've had the unique bounty of growing up an Alaska sport fisherman. As a child, my father would take my brothers and I on what can only be considered 'dream trips' for most fisherman outside the state. We'd pack into his Cessna 185 and fly out to some hidden, unnamed Alaska lake to reel in trophy sized salmon, rainbow trout, grayling, lake trout and yes, even Northern Pike on occasion.
History and Habitat
Who can deny the sheer thrill these freshwater barracuda provide. Pound for pound, they are arguably the most aggressive fish caught in Alaskan waters. In Alaska, though, the Pike has acquired a bit of a bad name. Because of their aggressive and predatory nature, they've been considered a threat to more popular and lucrative commercial and sport fisheries in the state. As such, they've historically been used as dog feed.
Their habitat typically included the Interior of Alaska up to the Artic coast. This area includes Fairbanks, where in the Minto Flats area the largest and most dense population of Pike can be found. Fish weighing as much as 30 pounds have been reported in this region (State record: 38lbs).
Nonetheless, in recent years Southcentral Alaska has begun to see Northern Pike appear in many non-native waters in the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna regions. Because of the aggressiveness of this fish, the state Fish and Game Department (DFG) has worked overtime to educate, monitor and protect area lakes and streams from what they call the "Pike Plague".
There's good reason for this. A few Anchorage-area lakes have seen their populations of native fish completely dessimated by illegally stocked Northern Pike.
What's At Stake
The Susina River drainage, as well as the Kenai Peninsula drainage, represent huge economic and subsistence resources for the area (and the state). Aside from the estimated $1.05 billion the sport fishery brings to state, the commercial fishery averages $11.2 billion and employs over 65,000. Needless to say, should Pike gain a foothold into area ecosystems, our world-famous salmon populations would be at great risk of extinction.
What The State is Doing
The DFG in the area is calling for sportsmen (and women) to become their "Pike Police" and catch and bag as many Pike as they can catch. In a state where exceeding your bag limit can result in losing your gear, your car, and sometimes your home, this is a real drastic measure.
A few years ago, they merely asked us to kill as many of the fish as we could get our hands on. Now, for some reason, they take a more tempered stance and suggest a number of recipes to enjoy the fish.
Conclusion
Unlike in midwestern states where the Northern Pike enjoy high acclaim, Alaskans in the Southcentral region see the infiltration of this aggressive species as a serious ecological and economic threat to the region.
Recommended:
Yes
Recommended Line/Rod Weight: 7 To 9 Wt
Recommended Lure/Bait/Fly: Anything flashy that you''re willing to lose
Region Where Found: Interior Alaska
Recommend Guide, Outfitter or Boat: No guide necessary
Flavor: Pretty good
Recommended Tackle: Spinning
Recommended Line/Leader Weight: 2 To 50 Lb Test
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Epinions.com ID:
glacier
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Location: Anchorage, AK, USA
Reviews written: 84
Trusted by: 21 members
About Me:
Proud father of two living in the last frontier.
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