Pike has the healthiest appetite amongst the fish population. The carnivorous and cannibalistic fish has sharp teeth, a rigid and robust jaw structure, and thick skull. These features aid the pike in crushing, chewing, and swallowing whole fish and animal species.
Pike do not discriminate the food sources available to them. The fish can feed on its siblings, i.e., other pike fish. However, each species has an affinity or favorite food. Here is a selection of several food items for pike. Before we discuss what a pike eats, lets us first define a pike.
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What is Pike?
Pike is a carnivorous fish from the genus Esox and primarily resides in the northern hemisphere. Indigenous countries where pike originated include North America, all of Europe, and Asia. The pike is also called the water wolf due to its extensive and heavy feeding habits. To identify a pike, consider reviewing its shovel-like snouts, highly elongated body, sharp and strong teeth, fins nearest to the tail including (anal and dorsal), and tiny scales covering the fish gills.
Pikes can grow to a length of 59-inches and gain massive weights of up to 55lbs, according to the IGFA (International Game Fish Association). Pike can eat all day and through the night during a whole moon night. Therefore, what do pike eat?
What Does Pike Eat?
If you decide to catch a pike, a basic understanding of their eating habits and interest is crucial. Pike is a voracious hunter and predator, but what exactly do they eat?
Perch
Pike loves anything more diminutive in size, can fit in its mouth, and swallow at a go. Perch are small compared to pike and are a favorite delicacy. Perch is the best bait when hunting pike. The fish moves are energetic and is easy to agitate, creating more light flashes and ripples in the water attracting the pike in a fishing expedition.
Using perch is a good move. Pike are visual and feel fish, which follow brightly colored fish and bait. The continuous movements increase vibrations in the water, and the resulting sound attracts the pike to the bait. Additionally, the greenish color on the perch fits right into the pike’s visual range. Perch are useful if drawing large sizes of pike, and you may end up with a boat full of pike in a short period.
Shinning Minnows
Shinning minnows are typically on top of the favorite pike food list. The pike is not picky when it comes to minnows, and a fathead or emerald shiner will do. However, if aiming to catch a giant pike, consider using the golden minnows for visibility, especially if fishing in the icy regions.
The bluish silver minnows are more visible to pike and more active as fish bait. However, the minnows are smaller in size and therefore not suitable for giant pike. In most instances, the pike will bite into the bait and cut through the middle, swim away, spit the prey and finally eat starting with the head. Therefore, select the right shining minnow size and explore all your options before going out.
Bugs and Insects
Bugs and insects are at the top of the pike food chain as younglings. Pike hatchlings find it challenging to hunt other fish as they are small in size, and their exposure can result in other large pike feeding on them. However, the hatchlings are still carnivorous and dangerous predators for insects and bugs.
Insects can’t resist squirming while in the water, and bugs flutter around. It creates the right ripples, water waves, and brightly colored wings/ skin, or whole bodies attract the smaller pike from afar.
Burbot
Imagine having a treat every once in a while; that simple yet exhilarating experience is similar to a pike feeding on a burbot. The fish species is fleshy, providing ample food for the pike, and its body is also soft and smooth. Burbot is not easy to find or catch but is in abundance in the northern freshwater bodies. The species are a hybrid mix of the catfish and ling fish species.
Burbot has a lithe body and it moves fast and instinctively in the water. It has a range of different colors, including black, olive to grey, and yellow-colored and mottled skin. Some consider the burbot skin to be a tan, and the spots make it easier to identify. Its movement in the freshwater is refreshing for the pike, making it the perfect fish bait for pike anglers.
Frogs
Frogs are not top in the favorite food picks but are in abundance along with the river shores, ponds where some pike may live, and lakes. Frogs provide sustenance when favorite pickings such as minnows and burbot are unavailable. Plus, their continuous jumps in and out of the water aggravate and interest the pike. There are various frog species one can find in different areas along a single river providing quality nutrition to the pike.
Since pike is freshwater fish, using a frog as live bait can attract medium size, small to big pikes. However, since they are low on the pike interests in the food chain, the frogs are rarely used as fish baits for pike. The frogs can aid small pike and anglers, primarily, if fishing in the shallow waters where the pike reside. If the temperature on the water surfaces is too low, the pike will delve deeper into the water in search of constant temperatures. There are no frogs at the bottom but roach can also provide sustenance. Pike will take advantage of any animal available to satisfy its hunger.
Bluegill
Bluegill isn’t a first choice meal for pike. Pike only feed on bluegill if there are no other soft-skinned and fleshy fish such as the burbot or the minnows. The reason is that Bluegill is a spiny-rayed fish similar to the perch. However, the bluegills are a perfect size, around 12 inches, and can weigh around 4lbs or 20kg. Bluegill is simple species with varying color shades depending on the population. The color ranges from blue with a purple smear on the face to orange or white on the belly and more. The bluegill offers an easy target for the aggressive hunter (pike).
Catfish
Catfish isn’t a natural choice for food for the pike. In the absence of any other fish, pike will hunt catfish. However, the catfish species is not dormant and can be aggressive in its own right. Therefore, pike only feeds on small sized catfish and keep away from the larger ones.
Summary
Pike will feed on any living thing that moves inside the water and out. The only condition is that it is small or half its size and can fit into its mouth. It does not matter if it’s a bug or an insect, worms, or the best fish species in the water masses, or even a bird of the air. Pike will hunt and feed on it within seconds. Pike will therefore grow to massive sizes and can weigh over 50lbs as an adult.
The pike is a heavy feeder or can be said to have an insatiable appetite. If you have bright bait with aggressive movements and an incredible smell to attract the pike, your fishing expedition will succeed. Pick a pike favorite such as a minnow, the burbot, or perch and add it to your bait selection.
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