Fry feed on zooplankton and aquatic insect larvae. Fingerlings switch almost entirely to a fish diet when they reach 2 inches in length. Northern pike may reach 6 inches long by the end of their first summer. Adult pike feed opportunistically on any fish or animal available. Growth is variable throughout the pike's range depending on locality, length of growing season, availability of food, and water temperature.
Females grow larger and live longer than males.
Female northern pike grow faster than males in the southern portion of their range and may reach 46 lbs. Pike mature between 2 to 6 years of age depending on locality. Culture of Northern Pike Northern pike broodfish can be captured with trap nets, pound nets, or fyke nets. Knotless-nylon netting helps reduce injury to the fish. Incubation of pike eggs is similar to that of muskellunge eggs, but at slightly lower water temperatures.