Pike Picture...Stripes or Spots?

[MCTFisher9120]

It was pointed out to me on another forum that the small Pike I caught this afternoon seems to have stripes on it's side. Do you think it's other generations may of been a cross with a musky or do some pike have pattern like this guy?

 

 

Thought it looked cool anyway haha

[Joey]

Just a young pike.

 

Joey

[Syn]

Looks like a hybrid. Great job on your fishing trip.

 

 

 

pg 10-11

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=ttiYPWa4YPAC&lpg=PP1&dq=pike&lr&pg=PA11#v=onepage&q&f=false

[bigugli]

Lot of young pike have that barred look. However compare colour patterns of the fins, and get a count of the cheek pores to be certain.

[Rizzo]

I thought I had read somewhere that pike don't get markings on their tail...I'd google it if it weren't for this dang dial up.

[BillM]

young pike = stripes, mature = spots...

[Syn]

young pike = stripes, mature = spots...

 

ha I learned something else new today. I thought pike and muskie pattern just got more spaced with age.

Apparently not.

 

Read this part on another fishing forum where people were debating the same thing as we are:

 

"Just a color variation of small pike where the vermiculations on the back extend down the sides, they grow out of it pretty quickly, and the lines turn into seperate spots.

"

 

[Ben_Daniels]

It's either a chain pickerel or an Atlantic

 

-Ben

[MJL]

It's either a chain pickerel or an Atlantic

 

-Ben

 

It's a tiger splike = Tiger musky + splake

 

Love the markings on that fish. WTG Mike.

[Whitespinnerbait]

It's a tiger splike = Tiger musky + splake WTG Mike.

 

[MCTFisher9120]

Lmao, you guys are hilarious. I'm sure its a normal pike but hey it looked cool

[Tom McCutcheon]

Nice looking fish Mike.

 

From the pointed tips on the paired fins it looks like a small muskie. If you get a chance, next time, count the pores under the bottom jaw. A pike will have 4 or 5 down each side of the jaw and a muskie will have 7 to 9.

 

Tom.