Recent technical publications and popular literature have not fully established the present geographical range of the northern pike. A survey by the writer in 1955 showed that 26 states and Canadian provinces had resident northern pike populations. During the past 5 years pike have been introduced into several other states, thus extending the range. Pike are already established in most of the northern states and are now being released into waters of the south and west

McCarraher, D. B.

English

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Nebraska Game and Parks Commission -- Staff 
Research Publications Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 
April 1961 
Extension of the Range of Northern Pike (Esox lucius) 
D. B. McCarraher 
Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, Bassett, Nebraska 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebgamestaff 
 Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons 
McCarraher, D. B., "Extension of the Range of Northern Pike (Esox lucius)" (1961). Nebraska Game and 
Parks Commission -- Staff Research Publications. 6. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebgamestaff/6 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Game and Parks 
Commission -- Staff Research Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of 
Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Made in United States of America
Reprinted from TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
Vol. 90, No.2, April, 1961
pp.227-228
Extension of the Range of Northern
Pike (Esox lucius) 1
Recent technical publications and popular
literature have not fully established the pres-
ent geographical range of the northern pike.
A survey by the writer2 in 1955 showed that
26 states and Canadian provinces had resident
northern pike populations. During the past 5
years pike have been introduced into several
other states, thus extending the range. Pike
are already established in most of the north-
ern states and are now being released into
waters of the south and west.
North Carolina, according to Cornell,3 has
attempted to introduce this species in waters
of the coastal plains, Piedmont, and mountain
sections of the state. These plantings to date
appear to be unsuccessful. To our knowledge
these releases are the most southern introduc-
tions attempted. Maryland has achieved some
success in its pike introductions, according to
Elser.4 Adults and eggs have been planted in
the 3,900-acre Deep Creek Lake located in
1 A contribution of Federal Aid to Fisheries, F-4-
R, Job No.6.
2 McCarraher, D. B. (1955) The status of the
northern pike, Esox lucius, in North America. Paper
presented at the 17th Midwest Wildlife Confere'l'~e.
3 Personal communication from J. H. Cornell, Fish
Division, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commis-
sion, January 6, 1960.
4 Personal communication from Harold J. Elser,
Maryland Department of Research and Education,
December 23, 1959.
228 D. B. MC CARRAHER
western Maryland. Pike growth and survival
has been recorded, but natural reproduction
has yet to be established. Fisheries workers
throughout the Mid-south are watching closely
the pike releases in Deep Creek Lake in order
to evaluate angling and predatory value in
Mid-southern waters.
The western range of northern pike in the
United States is now extended to Colorado
and Montana. Montana has achieved some
success with pike introductions in large ranch
ponds and small reservoirs throughout the
eastern third of the state. Colorado has intro-
duced pike in Bonny Reservoir, Yuma County,
and in Skaguay Reservoir in Teller County.
These impoundments range in elevation from
3,500 feet (Bonny) to over 10,000 feet
(Skaguay) . Lynch5 indicates that future
plantings may be restricted to the eastern sec-
tion of Colorado, especially the plains area.
The distribution of pike throughout the
Canadian Arctic appears sporadic. Conclusive
evidence is lacking in some arctic watersheds
and more investigational work is needed to
determine the exact range status. Hunter6
presented a synoptic review of pike distribu-
tion in the Canadian Arctic. He mentions that
the species is found in some of the coastal
streams west of the Mackenzie River to the
Alaskan border, where range extension in
the Beaufort Sea is possible. It is abundant
throughout the Mackenzie watershed includ-
ing Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes. Pike
have been reported from all the rivers empty-
ing into the west coast of Hudson's Bay, south
of the Maguse River system. Pike have not
been collected from any of the arctic islands.
From the increased interest by fisheries
workers throughout the country in the north-
ern pike we can expect to see a continued
geographical enlargement of the principal
range of the species.
D. B. MCCARRAHER
Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission
Bassett, Nebraska
5 Personal communication from Tom M. Lynch,
Colorado Game and Fish Department, December 24,
1959.
6 Personal communication from J. G. Hunter, Arctic
Unit, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, March
16, 1960.


Extension of the Range of Northern Pike (\u3ci\u3eEsox lucius\u3c/i\u3e)

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Game and Parks Commission -- Staff Research Publications Nebraska Game and Parks Commission April 1961 Extension of the Range of Northern Pike (Esox lucius) D. B. McCarraher Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, Bassett, Nebraska Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebgamestaff  Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons McCarraher, D. B., "Extension of the Range of Northern Pike (Esox lucius)" (1961). Nebraska Game and Parks Commission -- Staff Research Publications. 6. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebgamestaff/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Game and Parks Commission -- Staff Research Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Made in United States of AmericaReprinted from TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETYVol. 90, No.2, April, 1961pp.227-228Extension of the Range of NorthernPike (Esox lucius) 1Recent technical publications and popularliterature have not fully established the pres-ent geographical range of the northern pike.A survey by the writer2 in 1955 showed that26 states and Canadian provinces had residentnorthern pike populations. During the past 5years pike have been introduced into severalother states, thus extending the range. Pikeare already established in most of the north-ern states and are now being released intowaters of the south and west.North Carolina, according to Cornell,3 hasattempted to introduce this species in watersof the coastal plains, Piedmont, and mountainsections of the state. These plantings to dateappear to be unsuccessful. To our knowledgethese releases are the most southern introduc-tions attempted. Maryland has achieved somesuccess in its pike introductions, according toElser.4 Adults and eggs have been planted inthe 3,900-acre Deep Creek Lake located in1 A contribution of Federal Aid to Fisheries, F-4-R, Job No.6.2 McCarraher, D. B. (1955) The status of thenorthern pike, Esox lucius, in North America. Paperpresented at the 17th Midwest Wildlife Confere'l'~e.3 Personal communication from J. H. Cornell, FishDivision, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commis-sion, January 6, 1960.4 Personal communication from Harold J. Elser,Maryland Department of Research and Education,December 23, 1959.228 D. B. MC CARRAHERwestern Maryland. Pike growth and survivalhas been recorded, but natural reproductionhas yet to be established. Fisheries workersthroughout the Mid-south are watching closelythe pike releases in Deep Creek Lake in orderto evaluate angling and predatory value inMid-southern waters.The western range of northern pike in theUnited States is now extended to Coloradoand Montana. Montana has achieved somesuccess with pike introductions in large ranchponds and small reservoirs throughout theeastern third of the state. Colorado has intro-duced pike in Bonny Reservoir, Yuma County,and in Skaguay Reservoir in Teller County.These impoundments range in elevation from3,500 feet (Bonny) to over 10,000 feet(Skaguay) . Lynch5 indicates that futureplantings may be restricted to the eastern sec-tion of Colorado, especially the plains area.The distribution of pike throughout theCanadian Arctic appears sporadic. Conclusiveevidence is lacking in some arctic watershedsand more investigational work is needed todetermine the exact range status. Hunter6presented a synoptic review of pike distribu-tion in the Canadian Arctic. He mentions thatthe species is found in some of the coastalstreams west of the Mackenzie River to theAlaskan border, where range extension inthe Beaufort Sea is possible. It is abundantthroughout the Mackenzie watershed includ-ing Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes. Pikehave been reported from all the rivers empty-ing into the west coast of Hudson's Bay, southof the Maguse River system. Pike have notbeen collected from any of the arctic islands.From the increased interest by fisheriesworkers throughout the country in the north-ern pike we can expect to see a continuedgeographical enlargement of the principalrange of the species.D. B. MCCARRAHERNebraska Game, Forestation and Parks CommissionBassett, Nebraska5 Personal communication from Tom M. Lynch,Colorado Game and Fish Department, December 24,1959.6 Personal communication from J. G. Hunter, ArcticUnit, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, March16, 1960.

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Extension of the Range of Northern Pike (\u3ci\u3eEsox lucius\u3c/i\u3e)

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