The blue pike, considered a subspecies of the walleye, was officially declared extinct in 1975 – the same year that concerned agencies formed a blue pike recovery team. The popular fish was doomed. ... In fact, more than a few times stories were told of boat-loads of fish being caught.
Are blue pike extinct in Lake Erie?
Biologists say the Great Lakes blue pike, declared extinct more than 20 years ago , may not be gone for good after all. Just a generation ago, the blue pike was a staple of fish fry dinners in western New York and accounted for the majority of commercial catches from Lake Erie.
What caused the blue pike to go extinct?
In 1977, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed them as endangered in the United States. The blue pike has been considered extinct since approximately 1983. The main causes are attributed to uncontrolled commercial fishing and hybridization with walleye .
What happened to the blue walleye?
The Campbell Status Report of 1985 officially declared the Blue Walleye extinct . The last Blue Walleye to be officially recognized as a Blue Walleye by the MNR was caught in Lake Erie in 1965. MNR is an acronym for Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Are there any blue pike in Lake Erie?
Despite the fact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the blue pike extinct in 1975 , a recent scientific paper published in part by Carol Stepien, a professor of ecology and the director at the University of Toledo’s Lake Erie Research Center, reveals the truth about blue pike.
Are pike native to the Great Lakes?
The blue pike was an endemic fish of the Great Lakes region in the United States and Canada. ... During the 1900s, several non-native species of fish were introduced to the Great Lakes, including the sea lamprey, alewife, and rainbow smelt.
What is a silver pike?
The silver pike is a mutation of an ordinary northern pike , with no distinct markings and a silver-sided body with scales that are etched in gold; a true beauty to behold. Some might wonder if such a creature actually exists or if the silver pike is the Bigfoot or Nelly of the Northwoods.
What is a blue northern pike?
The blue walleye (Sander vitreus vitreus), also called the blue pike, was a unique color morph (formerly considered a subspecies) of walleye which was endemic to the Great Lakes of North America.
Does Lake Erie touch Canada?
Lake Erie, fourth largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. It forms the boundary between Canada (Ontario) to the north and the United States (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York) to the west, south, and east.
What causes blue walleye?
Schaefer said the blue coloration is caused by a protein secreted into the mucous . The blue pigment was found in yellow walleye as well as blue walleye from the same lakes. ... The blue pike were an important commercial species in the early 1900s in Lake Erie, but were extinct by the mid-1950s.
Are there different species of walleye?
There is currently only one known species of walleye , although there can be noticeable genetic differences between fish populations in different habitats.
Are perch in lakes?
HABITAT: Yellow perch are found in ponds , lakes, the pools of creeks and slow flowing rivers. They are most commonly found in clear water near vegetation and tend to school near the shore during the spring. They can also be found in brackish water.
How big is a walleye?
SIZE: The common length for walleye is around 54 cm (22.3 in) with the maximum reported length being 107 cm (42 in). RANGE: Walleye in North America are found in the Arctic south to the Great Lakes and across to the St. Lawrence River.
Is there commercial fishing on Lake Erie?
Lake Erie supports the largest commercial fishery , which consists primarily of walleye (Sander vitreus) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). ... In general, 80% of the value of Ontario’s commercial fishery is harvested from Lake Erie, where the catch consists mostly of walleye and yellow perch.
What is the longest pike ever caught?
What is the size of the biggest pike in the world? The largest pike ever measured and confirmed is 152 cm long, 60 cm belly for 28 kg . He was captured and released in May 2004 in Lake Apisko in Canada.
