monster pike swimming with head out of water

[Cookslav]

I've also seen this twice before.

 

Once was a small pike on the Nith river...he looked very natural in doing it?

He saw me an boogied away, the second was after a not so gracefull release.

 

Beats me, but I can see it happeneing for a multitude of reasons I guess?

Some natural, some not so much.

[12 Volt Man]

I have. but it was in Loch Ness.

 

oh wait.

 

that was something different. haha

[JimC]

maybe I missed it, but you didn't mention what Lake you saw this in ... therefore, I will assume it was Lake Nipissing and that Pike was simply vacuuming 'shadfly carcasses' from the surface. Having recently spent a week fishin on Lake Nip, and having never, ever, ever seen so many shads and layer upon layer of floating carcasses at this time of year, I also was amazed at how many surface splashes and trailing ripples we saw.

 

So I'm sayin the annual 'shadfly hatch' on Nipissing over hundreds of years, has made this chow-down event one that is enjoyed by hatchlings and adults (including Pikers) alike. ok that's my story, and I'm stickin to it.

[highdrifter]

Sounds to me like it's swim bladder was out of whack.. maybe a swim bloat.

 

Only a stressed fish would behave this way. CnR may or may not be the culprit.

 

I've seen big post spawn females swimming with their backs exposed; just after doing the deed. Almost looked like they were gulping air.. Coordination didn't seem to be a problem though.

 

Maybe she swallowed some bong water!!

 

HD

[Burtess]

I have seen a large pike do this just off the breakwall at Oakville harbour. He was swallowing a large sucker. I think they do this to use gravity to their advantage, and it lets them move the fish around easier out of water.

 

Burt

[Rizzo]

seen it on dalrymple and simcoe. neither fish seemed stressed and when I got close enough to take a good look both took off (of course both times I had already tossed a lure in its direction without a response!)