Northern pike are far from the most common fish in Ohio, but they can be one of the most impressive. With their spectacular aerial leaps and line-stripping runs, you may find landing this toothy fish can be every bit as challenging as hooking one. Found in a number of lakes in Ohio, pike are also good to eat, though they are bony, and can make a tasty and nutritious meal when well prepared.
Identification
When identifying the northern pike, look for a long, slender fish with a duckbill-shaped mouth and needle-sharp teeth. The body has a dark olive color, with small white or yellow markings. The dorsal fin is soft-rayed and near the tail. You can differentiate pike from muskellunge, a close relative with which they share habitat in many Ohio lakes, by looking at the gill cover. On a pike, the cheek is fully scaled while the lower half of the gill cover does not have scales, while on a muskellunge only the lower half of both parts are unscaled. Muskellunge also differ in color, having darker spots or bands on a light background.
Habitat
Pike inhabit a number of lakes in Ohio, but not all. Look for pike in natural lakes that have shallow bays and lots of weed growth, as opposed to deep upland reservoirs. Pike move to weedy bays and backwaters to spawn shortly after ice-out in Ohio lakes, and this can be one of the most productive times to fish for them. They usually leave the shallows in May, and can be caught around deep weed lines and rocky structure through summer. Try fishing with spoons, spinners, crankbaits and live minnows. You can ice fish for Ohio pike as well. In the colder months, pike can be found in relatively deep areas that hold green vegetation all winter long.
Best Lakes
Some of the lakes in Ohio known to produce large numbers of northern pike are Mosquito Lake and East Branch Reservoir. Most of your best bets for catching pike in Ohio tend to be located in the northeast corner of the state. Lake Erie holds pike as well, but most of them are caught in bays and tributaries rather than the main lake: East Harbor, West Harbor and Sandusky Bay are top spots on Lake Erie. The 22-lb. state record fish was caught in Lyre Lake in 1988.
Regulations
Pike are not regulated in Ohio. As of 2010, you may be keep the fish at any time of the year, and there are no size restrictions or creel limits in place. If you catch a northern pike of 32 inches or greater, it is eligible to be entered into the "Fish Ohio Program," a state program that recognizes fishermen for their noteworthy catches.
Licenses
You must have a current, valid Ohio fishing license to fish for pike or any other fish in the state. You can purchase a license at bait shops, sporting goods stores and many other retailers statewide. Licenses are also available through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
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