Northwest Fishing Reports

Just a little experiement here we want to see the results of. Can you tell me what species of fish this is? Give it your best guess...

That is a good one, and only goes to prove how hard it is to receive reports of tigers in some waters that are not suppose to have them, and pike in other waters that are suppose to only have tigers in them, and always believe them. Sometimes they seem to take color phases that defy description.

I vote Northern Pike. In Minnesota and Colorado I would see that color phase of Northerns once in a great while. Tiger Muskie were UN heard of in those days (early 80's), so I don't think I was snookered.

Juvenile northern pike. It can be difficult to narrow down when they are young,northerns,tigers,even pickerel look very similar in the weeks and months after hatching. The patterns tend to change and spread out as the fish matures and even change color. I wish we would have taken more photos last year,my son caught several small northerns out of Cd'A that had some very interesting patterns and even a few that had no or minimal coloring pattern but I wasn't completly convinced that any of them were silver pike.

Pike, no question. I agree that is resembles a tiger/hybrid at first glance, but if you refer to the poster "Muskellunge-Northern Pike Know the difference" found here, http://mountainmuskies.com/forms/ID_CPR.pdf you will see a note in the lower left corner on pike which reads....
"Juvenile pattern has white, oblique bars which extend from the white belly"

That is what you are seeing in this specimen. This photo shows me a green base with white over pattern.... Tiger would be dark pattern over light body.... Kind of like the differences between paint horses. Don't remember the terminology when it comes to horses, but similar situation.

Pike would be my call, after seeing the picture. I will try to post a picture of my 16" tiger which I caught on Curlew last year, for comparison.

What you have there, is what is about to become a very rare specimen. You see, I believe it to be a young version of the once coveted Northern pike. What makes this fish rare is that it appears to be a strain known to inhabit the Pend oreille river in Northeastern Washington State. Long ago, these fish were commonly caught using conventional angling methods such as Rod and Reel. More currently higher quantities are being caught and killed using a method referred to as "Gillnetting". I recommend that you keep this photo as a cherished rememberance of what was once a great fishery. For soon, our friends to the north will have forced them in to extinction in the name of conservation.

You are all correct and yes it seems the state and tribe do want these fish exterminated and removed. I think the idea of a Pike club here seems to make more sense now then it ever did. we need to get all the fisherman together that enjoy catching these fish or like AJ's dad said these photos will be the only thing we have to remember the days of catching Pike in the PO River...