The name that is commonly used for this fish is of course the Northern Pike. This name was given to the fish due to its resemblance to the slim and deadly blade of a medieval weapon called the pike. The scientific name for the Northern Pike is Esox lucius. This picture was provided by the Iowa DNR Elongated body with a long head, which is depressed forward into a pair of large duck-bill shaped jaws imbedded with numerous canine teeth.
Body color is extremely variable, depending upon the waters from which it is taken.
Usually it is bluish-green to gray on the back, and the markings on the sides are in the form of irregular rows of light yellow or gold spots. These little markings distinguish it from the grass pickerel and muskellunge. The dorsal fin is located far back on the body and has l6 to l9 soft rays. The cheeks are fully scaled, but the lower half of the opercle is scaleless. There are from l4 to l6 branchiostegal rays contained in the membrane just below the gill cover.