Northern pike (Esox lucius) is a common gamefish throughout much of the state.
Northern pike are known for their long, torpedo-like bodies with very sharp teeth and a mottled olive, green, and white coloration. They can grow to be over 40 inches long and weigh more than 20 pounds. The record in Montana was caught in 1971 and weighed 37.5 pounds.
The northern pike is native to Montana only in the Saskatchewan River drainage on the east side of Glacier National Park. It is now widespread through introduction, yet it is only found in small pockets throughout southwestern parts of the state in the Missouri River drainage.
These fish thrive in standing or slow-moving waters of lakers, reservoirs, and streams. They are voracious eaters and often eliminate their food supply in just a few years. Northern pike feed nearly exclusively on fish once they reach 3-4 inches in length. Often found hiding in dense vegetation, pike ambush their prey with a few quick flicks of its tail.
Northern pike spawn in early spring just after ice-off. They broadcast their eggs over flooded shoreline vegetation. The eggs adhere to the vegetation until the young are ready to swim on their own.
The Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers near Missoula have populations that are fishable for the fly angler. Many of the lakes and reservoirs in the Seeley Valley and across Northwest Montana offer good fly fishing for pike in the spring and fall.