They also have fully scaled cheeks and five sensory pores on each side of the ventral surface of the lower jaw. The mouth is duck-bill shaped and is lined with many sharp canine teeth. The range of the northern pike is extensive, having a range greater than any other freshwater gamefish. Pike can be found throughout the northern half of North America. In Maryland, northern pike populations can be found in Deep Creek Lake, the Youghiogheny Reservoir, and Loch Raven Reservoir.
Pike prefer clear, shallow, vegetated areas of lakes and larger rivers.
Pike are rarely found in areas lacking stumps, aquatic vegetation, or other cover. Spawning takes place soon after ice-out when temperatures reach 35 F in shallow waters. The female broadcasts the eggs over aquatic vegetation while two or more males fertilize them. A large female northern pike can produce 250,000 to 500,000 eggs. The adhesive eggs stick to the vegetation and hatch within six to 29 days depending on water temperature.