11 replies to this topic

[Chasmodes]

I caught, photographed, and released this fish while pitching jigs under docks while bass fishing at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland.  The chain pickerel were pretty thick in some areas.  At first, that's what I thought this was but then thought, wow, this one's different, and then realized it might be a pike.  Thoughts?

 

It was really cool watching this fish after the release.  It sank below the surface at my boat side, then sulked for about a half a minute, as if dazed and confused about what happened.  Then, with lightning speed, it attacked and devoured an unsuspecting minnow, and took it out of sight under a nearby stump.  I tried to find it again, but couldn't because the wind kicked up and I couldn't see from the glare even with polarized sunglasses.  The water in that lake was gin clear...almost like a giant aquarium!

 

[fishlvr]

Looks like a muskellunge to me, although I could be wrong.

[don212]

light spots on dark says pike, musky has opposite pattern , but should not be in maryland i think, to properly id i think you need to check extent of scales on operculum and cheek pickerel are fully scaled on both,pike has scales on cheek, partial on operculum, musky ,has scales on only upper portion of both, cheek and operculum, looking at petersons, been a long time since i've seen a pike or muskie.

[Chasmodes]

Thank you Steve.  Deep Creek Lake in Maryland does not have musky (although some old timers claim that they know someone that knows someone that caught one in the 80's or 90's, etc.).  Nobody has been able to post a picture of any caught there...so if this is one, then it's newsworthy.  Anyway, because of that, I doubt it's a musky.  

 

I had a harder time finding the difference between pike and pickerel, of which both species have viable populations.  But, after some research on the good ol' net, I think that I found out the answer (at least what my photo can identify):  pike have rounded fins and musky have pointed ones, as seen easily on the pelvic fins in the picture above.  Also, this picture seems to show that the cheek is fully scaled, and gill cover is half scaled, a trait that normally identifies as pike.  With musky, the cheek and gill cover are half scaled (a little more with tiger musky).  Chain pickerel have fully scaled cheeks and gill covers.

 

After looking into it, I'm fairly certain this is a northern pike.  Then again, I'm no expert...just a fisherman!

 

[Chasmodes]

light spots on dark says pike, musky has opposite pattern , but should not be in maryland i think, to properly id i think you need to check extent of scales on operculum and cheek pickerel are fully scaled on both,pike has scales on cheek, partial on operculum, musky ,has scales on only upper portion of both, cheek and operculum, looking at petersons, been a long time since i've seen a pike or muskie.

 

Yes, we were typing at the same time apparently.  Thanks Don.

 

Maryland has a musky population, but not native to Maryland, and not known to be in Deep Creek Lake.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Pike for sure. Nice catch.

[don212]

does maryland have pike?

[Sean Phillips]

That is indeed a northern pike. I wasn't even aware that deep creek had chain pickerel, I'll have to keep that in mind next time I shoot down there, the only fishing I ever hear about for that lake is Northern Pike and big Brown Trout anyway.

[strat guy]

Def Northern. Juvies have different pattern than adults, appear to be more striped than spotted.

[mattknepley]

Western Maryland; or as I used to call it, Eastern West Virginia! That's some beautiful country.

I find it just amazing how dialed in on eating some fish can be. I mean, that guy hasn't exactly outgrown being prey himself, was just hooked and dragged out of his element, and sat through a photo op. But in short order after release he grabs a meal in plain sight of the boat that just got him...

[Chasmodes]

Thanks everyone for confirming.  Yeah Sean, the lake is popular for bass tournaments, and has a very good walleye population too.  The pickerel are always willing it seems, and that can save your day.  It's also a very popular ice fishing spot, the panfish all have huge average sizes.  I caught a crappie on Saturday that hit a Rat-L-Trap crankbait that went 15 1/2" long, and later another on a smaller crankbait that was 12" long...and both had "shoulders".  The bluegills, pumpkinseeds and perch are enormous.  That said, it's not always an easy lake to fish.  The locals nicknamed it, "The Reluctant Dragon" after that reputation as well as its shape.

 

Western Maryland; or as I used to call it, Eastern West Virginia! 

 

Thats funny, my precaffeinated morning laugh!

 

I find it just amazing how dialed in on eating some fish can be. I mean, that guy hasn't exactly outgrown being prey himself, was just hooked and dragged out of his element, and sat through a photo op. But in short order after release he grabs a meal in plain sight of the boat that just got him...

 

And it hit a lure that was as long as it was, a 7" Zoom Super Fluke!

[strat guy]

And it hit a lure that was as long as it was, a 7" Zoom Super Fluke!

 

Scientific studies done on the feeding habits of young Northern Pike show that, if I remember correctly, 90% of its natural diet is made up of fish 50-75% of its own body length. I remember looking at pike and musky fisherman throwing giant plugs and thinking, "That's overkill, there's no reason to make them THAT big..." Then I read a book on Pike diet and understood why. Makes sense if you think about the number of 30" pike that nail 12" crappie while they're being pulled in.