Some scientific information
Any student knows that pike is a river predatory fish and can grow to enormous sizes. In addition, scientists have long studied the habitat, external and internal structure, food preferences and fishing characteristics of the toothed predator. In accordance with the classification in the biology textbook, pikes belong to the animal kingdom, the phylum of chordates, the class of ray-finned animals, and the order of pike-shaped animals. Pike are freshwater fish. The body of the river predator is elongated, and the mouth has many sharp teeth, while the lower jaw protrudes significantly forward. Scientists have found that pike live on average more than 30 years, and its growth continues throughout its life. Fish can reach simply enormous sizes. The size of pike in a quiet backwater can reach 2 meters in length, and the weight of such a fish is 30-35 kg. The predator loves quiet muddy pools and calm bodies of water, so biologists do not recommend swimming in forest ponds. Where are pike found? The habitat of this fish is Europe, Siberia and even North America.
Habitat of the common pike
This species is widespread in Europe, Asia and North America. Pike was first brought to Crimea in the middle of the last century by amateur fishermen and released into the Alma Reservoir.
Its influence on the ichthyofauna of this reservoir was considered negative, after which the reservoir was drained and the pike there was exterminated, but this did not stop its penetration into the peninsula. Currently, these fish live in almost all channel and bulk reservoirs, and are occasionally found in rivers (for example, Chernaya, Belbek, Biyuk-Karasu), where they stick to creeks and deep areas with weak currents, and are common in the North Caucasus. Pike can also be found in some isolated reservoirs, where they are apparently introduced unauthorized by amateur fishermen.
Fantasy runs wild...
Fishing is a fun and exciting activity that men and women, children and old people, boys and girls love to do. At the same time, every fisherman has several dozen stories about a lost catch or a giant fish he caught. In order for a large pike to easily fall on a fisherman’s hook, you need to select the appropriate equipment, purchase bait and choose the optimal place for fishing.
Many fishermen were lucky enough to catch pike up to 1 meter long and weighing more than 15 kg. However, there are many fishing stories that tell of larger catches. The giant pike is the main character of such stories.
From Sweden (1998), 15 kg
September 1998 turned out to be lucky for Christer Mattsson. The man went fishing in the Baltic Sea (in the part belonging to Sweden) - he was ready for anything, but not for a pike weighing 15 kg! The man had a pike wobbler with him - it didn’t take long to pull out the representative of the underwater world. The pike perceived the bait as live prey. Christer hastened to take a photo as a souvenir to share his find with others. One can only imagine the man’s ecstatic emotions at that moment.
They ringed the predator and found out her age
There are truly fantastic stories and stories about the largest pikes. According to one popular legend, a giant pike was caught in Germany in 1497, and its weight was 140 kg. The length of the toothy predator exceeded 5.5 meters, and the age of the fish was 270 years. How did you find out the age of the pike? Everything is very simple - in 1230, by order of the Emperor of the Roman Empire, Frederick II, a special ring with a date was put on the river predator. It was from the ring that scientists were able to determine the age of the fish. The skeleton of a giant pike was placed in a museum in Mannheim, where it was an exhibit for several years. Eyewitnesses claim that all the scales of the pike were white. Due to age, all melanin has completely disappeared from the fish’s body. Subsequently, biologists examined the skeleton and found that the giant pike was assembled from the bones of several fish. Thus, the story about the huge predator did not receive scientific confirmation and became a fishing fiction.
A wild fantasy that people willingly believe in
It should be noted that any hobby is surrounded by its legends. Fish up to one meter long and weighing up to 20 kilograms are not found all the time, but often. Legends tell about monster pikes. And not only every pike hunter, but also every angler knows the most popular of them, indicating the size and year of the catch. The obligatory story is that in 1497 the largest pike in the world was caught in what is now Germany. The fish not only had fantastic dimensions: the length reached 5.5 meters, the weight was 140 kilograms - but also the age of the caught pike was unreal - 270 years.
How are things in Russia?
In our country there is an equally interesting legend about a giant river predator. History says that when cleaning the Tsar's ponds in 1794, fishermen managed to catch a huge fish. The giant pike was ringed with a gold ring, while the mark of the Russian Tsar Boris Fedorovich was clearly visible on it. The length of this river predator almost reached 2 meters, and its weight exceeded 60 kg. Judging by the mark on the ring, the age of the caught fish was about 190 years. However, no evidence has been preserved about the capture of the river predator, except for mentions in documents. But, as people say, “paper will endure anything.” You should not trust the data that the largest pike caught lived in Russia.
From Russia (1930), 35 kg
Fishermen from Russia managed to catch a pike of impressive size in 1930. She weighed 35 kg. The fishermen willingly captured the result of their record in a black and white photograph, looking at which everyone can be convinced of the authenticity of the story. In the photo, three men can barely hold a 35 kg pike in their hands. In Russia and the CIS countries there were many cases when fishermen returned home with huge caught fish weighing 15-40 kg. Fishing in Russia has always been successful, because the state is famous for its seas, lakes, and, of course, underwater inhabitants.
Official information
In addition to fishing tales, there is also scientific evidence that giant pikes live in nature. Biologists have long proven that North America is home to a special subspecies of pike - the muskie. In appearance it is very similar to the pike we are used to, but in size, weight and age it is significantly ahead of it. The giant pike was caught in 1660 in North America. Its weight was 75 kg, and the length of the fish reached 200 cm. However, photographs of this giant were not preserved, because it was a very long time ago, and photographic technology was not developed. Modern representatives of this subspecies are much smaller. Scientists report that nowadays such large pikes are no longer found. The maximum weight of pike can reach 45 kg, but this is enough for fishing stories.
Fishermen's stories
For fishermen, like hunters, hobby often develops into passion. Not only the fishing process itself becomes attractive, but also everything connected with it: a trip to fishing spots, fishing itself, an evening exchange of opinions and information around the fire, legends passed from mouth to mouth about when, where and how it was The largest pike in the world was caught.
Since its habitat is Europe, Siberia and North America, these places take the lead in catching large specimens.
Record catch
In addition to fishing stories and legends, there are officially confirmed facts of the capture of giant fish.
- The largest pike caught in our country was caught in 1930. In Lake Ilmen, a fisherman managed to catch a toothy predator weighing 35 kg and 1.9 meters in length. Many fishermen say that their catch weighed much more, but they did not want to advertise this fact.
- In 1957, in North America, a huge fish, a muskie, was caught in the St. Lawrence River; its weight was 32 kg.
- Another giant pike was caught near the city of Sortavala. Her weight exceeded 49 kg. Such a large specimen was caught thanks to bait, while its role was played by another, smaller pike, with a body weight of 5 kg.
- In addition to the above facts, there are also other recorded catches of giant river predators. In Ukraine, in Lake Ladoga, local residents catch huge fish. Scientists have not been able to find out how long pike live in these places. Many fishermen claim that the age of the fish caught exceeds the 30-year mark. But this fact can neither be confirmed nor denied.
Fishing - legends about the largest pike in the world
Fishing is quite exciting. Especially, of course, men love her. And then there are more stories in the world about who caught the largest pike in the world.
And for most, fishing becomes not just a pleasant way of spending time, but a real hobby, to which whole days are allocated. Avid fishermen specifically buy professional equipment, study literature, go to distant rivers and lakes and sit on the shore for hours.
And every fishing fan has their own trophies, so-called records, which they talk about for a long time and colorfully to everyone around them. It is no less interesting to hear about the catches that shocked the entire fishing world.
The heaviest pike ever caught is already legendary. According to one version, the largest pike was caught in a fishing rod in 1497. She was pulled ashore using a seine. And the fish had a rather impressive age, namely, 270 years.
Pike are monsters, Giant siberian pike
And the ring that was put on it by order of the Emperor of the Roman Empire, Frederick II, helped determine the age of the pike. This happened in 1230. Most likely, the fish was ringed in the 13th century and released into its native element, after which it managed to live for more than two and a half centuries. The length of the long-lived pike was 5.7 meters, weight was 140 kilograms.
The legend says that the fish was completely white because there was no pigment left in the scales from old age. There is also information that the skeleton of the captured giant was transferred to the museum of the German city of Mannheim. However, according to other sources, this skeleton has already been analyzed by specialists. They allegedly concluded that the exhibit was fake and assembled from the spines of several pikes.
It is worth adding that the officially confirmed age of the oldest pike is thirty-three years. From this we can conclude that about three hundred years is an unrealistic age for a fish.
According to another interesting legend, at the end of the nineteenth century, a pike with a gold ring was caught. There was an inscription on the decoration that said that the fish was ringed by the Russian Tsar Boris Fedorovich. The individual gained 60 kilograms during its life and grew to two meters. The pike was caught during the cleaning of the Tsar's ponds in 1794.
And the golden ring was located right in the gills of the fish. And judging by the inscription, since Godunov was in power from 1598 to 1605, the fish was about 190 years old. But these data still remain a legend, since they do not have official confirmation.
And, of course, it’s worth turning to facts, not fiction. So, the largest pike today lives in North America. Its name is masking. The species is very similar to that of the common pike. It differs from its relatives, the musky, in that it is much more hardy, has the largest size and a longer life expectancy.
In 1660, one of the fish record holders was caught by French explorer Pierre Espiritu Radisson. The catch was two meters long and weighed 75 kilograms. However, photographs and the skeleton have not survived to this day. But the data can be trusted, since even now American predators weigh up to 45 kilograms.
There are legends about the size of the largest pike
Of the entire pike family, muskies are the largest. In this species, there are a total of more than 50 consonant names, for example, masking, tiger musky, maskalong and others. All of them have an elongated body, like a common pike, the width of the length is less than six times. Muskinongs are found in rivers, lakes and small streams, preferring shallow and calm bodies of water, with coastal or bottom vegetation.
Well, as for documented pikes, in 1979 a special cadastral book appeared in England, where they began to record all the data on giant pikes caught. The document provides information about fish that weigh more than 14 kilograms. Well, in Russia, a large pike was officially measured in 1930. She weighed 34 kilograms. And the result of that legendary catch can be seen in black and white photography.
Therefore, it is possible to declare the reliability of the size of the fish. A monster pike was caught on Lake Ilmen. Well, in general, in Russia and the CIS countries there are a number of cases where fishermen took home huge specimens weighing from 15 to 45 kilograms.
The largest pike in Russia was caught in Lake Ilmen in 1930
For example, such giants periodically peck on Lake Ladoga and in Ukraine. Near the city of Sortavala, a pike weighing about 49 kilograms was bitten. In this fishing, a smaller pike weighing five kilograms was used as live bait. Another case was recorded when a unique specimen was caught in the north of Lake Uvildy - the scales showed 56 kilograms when weighed.
Since America occupies the same latitudes as Russia, there are records for pike catches here too. For example, in 1957, a muskie weighing 32 kilograms was caught. The fish was pulled out in New York State on the St. Lawrence River. Moreover, the individual was caught from a boat. A large common pike was caught in 1940 in the same state, however, on a different body of water, in the Sacandaga Reservoir. The weight of the fish was 21 kilograms.
Pike 25 kg Perm
In these cases we are talking about common pike. The fish is also called jackfish or jack. But the names are common only in Siberia, Canada or Central Alaska. By the way, this fish is not particularly popular among chefs. This is because she has very bony meat.
Well, as for the method of catching pike. They are not original and are similar to the methods of catching any other fish. Only the equipment should be an order of magnitude stronger than, for example, for catching perch. Pike have powerful teeth, so fishermen place a wire leash between the bait and the fishing line to prevent the fish from tearing the fishing line and biting it.
The bait must be large, weighing at least 30 grams. Often pikes manage to escape the hook because they have a bony, hard mouth. To prevent this from happening, it is better to make a powerful hook in time so that the hook is driven deeper. Well, large pike are most often removed from the water using a landing net with a long handle or a hook. The gear must be of high quality, otherwise nothing will work.
And it is worth noting that pike hunting involves traveling to uninhabited places, where the likelihood of catching a big fish is much greater. The most suitable season for this is the end of spring, as well as autumn, before the first frost. In August, the pike bite stops, as individuals hide in deep layers of water and wait for the temperature to drop.
How to catch a predator?
Almost every angler knows that pike have quite strong and large jaws, so fishing tackle must be powerful and strong. In addition, when a pike bites, the fisherman risks being left without gear. Therefore, more experienced fishermen prefer to use a wire leash instead of a regular leash. What other tricks do experienced fishermen use when fishing for pike?
- In order to catch a huge fish, you need a big bait. Fishermen know that the bait for pike must be at least 30 grams, otherwise the toothy predator will not want to feast on it.
- To catch a larger specimen, an angler should go fishing in secluded and quiet backwaters. The predator does not like loud sounds, so when a pike bites, you should not talk or shout loudly.
- The toothy pike loves the warm season. The most optimal time for fishing for this fish is considered to be late autumn or spring. It is worth noting that in the heat, the river predator tries to swim to depth and wait for the optimal ambient temperature.
- The places where pike are found are usually full of snags and mud, because this fish likes to hide and watch its prey from cover. When preparing gear, special attention should be paid to the bait. Pike is a typical predator, so it prefers to feast on live fish. In addition to bait, you can use a shiny wobbler or a spinner as bait.
Features of pike fishing
All fishermen know that pike is a predator with very powerful jaws. Because of this, equipment for catching this fish must withstand enormous loads. Taking this into account, fishermen usually take a wire leash and install it in the area between the fishing line and the bait so that the freshwater predator does not bite through it. This is just one of the tricks, here are a couple of tips from experienced fishermen on how to catch a large specimen:
- to catch a real monster you need to go to remote bodies of water, pike loves silence;
- the predator prefers to attack a moving bait, so it is better to take a wobbler or spoon as bait;
- active pike biting occurs on sunny and clear, but not hot days. In such weather, the fish are on the surface, as soon as the water heats up, the fish lie to the bottom;
- bait should be taken weighing more than 30 grams. Experience shows that the powerful mouth of a pike helps it break loose; in order to pull a catch out of the water, you need to hook the fish well and confidently pull it out with one jerk;
- The best chance of catching a large specimen is in spring and autumn before the first frost. In hot weather, pikes hide at the bottom, waiting for the temperature to drop. Pike also sit at a depth of 5-10 meters in areas with a rocky bottom and snags;
- The color of the bait also plays an important role. If the water is clean, then it is better to choose: brass, copper or silver bait. If the reservoir is muddy, then it is better to take a fluorescent wobbler.
Amazing catch these days
Do not think that nowadays catches of giant pike are no longer recorded. The largest predators were not only caught by our contemporaries, but also photographed as a souvenir. Records of recent years:
- In 2011, lucky fishermen in Canada caught a fish 118 cm in length.
- In the same 2011, the record of Canadian fishermen was broken, and a pike 130 cm long was caught in the St. Lawrence River.
- In 2013, American fisherman Mark Carlson took a photo with a huge toothy fish. The pike weighed as much as 27 kg, and its length exceeded 1 m 30 cm.
- In 2021, our compatriot Stepan Smolinyuk from Ufa was able to capture his catch in a photograph. He managed to catch a predator weighing almost 3 kg in the Belaya River; the fish reaches a meter in length.
From the Netherlands (2013), 27 kg
German fisherman Stefan Gockel was very lucky, and in the literal sense. On October 1, 2013, he caught a huge fish weighing 27 kg in a pond. and 1.20 m in length. Within 10 minutes the pike was pulled out. But the fisherman turned out to be a humane man, and after taking a photo with the fish, he released the pike into the water. Such actions are typical of European fishermen. 8 years have passed since then - you can imagine how big the fish has grown to!
Predator attack on animals
Pike is a fairly large predatory fish, for which catching a small animal or bird will not be difficult. Can a pike catch and eat a larger animal? Theoretically, this possibility cannot be excluded. Of course, it is not easy to catch young and strong animals, but in nature there are wounded and sick animals. Animals that bleed are special prey for toothy fish. Pike, like any other predator, perfectly smells blood and sees its prey from afar. It is better for a wounded animal not to cross a body of water inhabited by fish of the pike family. Can pike attack large animals? The answer will definitely be positive.
Man-eating pikes: myth or reality?
Old-timers say that in the reservoirs of Siberia there are giant fish that periodically eat people. According to them, such huge individuals can easily break through ice and even sink a fishing boat. Numerous stories about pikes eating people can be found among various indigenous peoples of Siberia: Nenets, Chukchi, Yakuts and others. For example, among the Chukchi there is a legend that a “biting fish” (as representatives of the nationality call a man-eating pike) managed to swallow a young fisherman, and the fish completely destroyed his boat. Local residents even managed to catch the monster, and in a very original way: 4 carts were completely filled with deer carcasses and placed at the bottom of the reservoir. The toothy predator began to devour food with such appetite that it did not notice the wooden carts under the venison. The teeth of the giant pike were completely stuck in the thickness of the tree, and the fishermen were able to pull the monster to the surface.
According to Eskimo legend, a giant fish managed to swallow two fishermen traveling around the lake in a light canoe. Their friend was present, but he was unable to help his friends. Having dealt with two men, the monster decided to eat the third fisherman. The surviving man began to row the oars so quickly that the giant cannibal monster could not keep up with the boat. As soon as the boat reached the shore, the fisherman ran into the forest. Subsequently, the victim claimed that the huge fish was a pike.
However, biologists do not agree with such legends. According to scientific data, the maximum size of an ordinary pike cannot be more than 2.5 meters. A fish of this length is unlikely to cope with an adult person and be able to eat him. Be that as it may, local residents do not recommend going close to some ponds and creeks.
The largest pike caught
The skeleton of the largest pike is kept in the Mainheim Museum. True, evil tongues say that this is a fake. But who will listen to them?
It is much more interesting to listen to the story of this largest pike caught. Back in 1497, a large fish was caught in a fishing rod. It was with great difficulty that she was pulled out using a seine. She was practically white. Gray-haired, as eyewitnesses said. She weighed 140 kg, and was only 30 cm short of six meters. The miracle fish caused a great stir. A gold ring with the year 1230 engraved was found on it. Just think, this fish swam for 267 years. But how did this ring get to her?
According to the existing legend, the Emperor of Rome, Frederick II, caught a small pike in Lake Beckingen and put a ring with his engraving on its fin. But we can safely assume that he was a passionate person, not indifferent to fishing, and thus his action was not spontaneous, but rather represented a planned, scientific action.
However, we cannot discount the research of historians who have unearthed interesting facts. For example, that in 1230 Frederick II could not have been near the port of Heilbronn, because he was constantly in Italy. Skeptics also claim that in fact the skeleton of the largest pike caught is made up of the vertebrae of five fish. Whether this is a historical fact or a funny falsification, everyone leaves the right to choose for themselves.
But the imperial pike is not the only fish known to the whole world. There is also royal pike. True, she is much more modest than the first. They say that in 1794, when the royal ponds were being cleaned, a two-meter pike was discovered, weighing up to 60 kg. And allegedly the Russian Tsar Boris Fedorovich himself ringed it; evidence of this is a ring found in fish gills. The fish is approximately 190 years old. Unfortunately, there are no supporting facts for this legend.
The age of the oldest pike of our time has now been established. He is much more modest than both the royal and imperial, only thirty and three years old.
The fairy tale is a lie, but there is a hint in it...
Whether giant man-eating fish occur in nature or not, no one knows. However, many researchers describe in their scientific works the fact of the existence of fish of enormous size and weight. For example, in the book “Essays on the Narym Region” N. Grigorovsky mentions giant pikes that are found in remote Siberian reservoirs. Ethnographers Kulemzin and Lukina talk about a pike jaw seen in the home of one of the Khanty. The fish's jaw was so large that it was used as a coat hanger.
Almost all legends are about lake pikes; river specimens are much smaller in size. In the quiet and unexplored waters of Siberia, any fish can reach truly enormous sizes. The thing is that pike have nothing to fear in the lakes: there are no fishermen here, and large predators are quite rare in these places. But there is a lot of food for predators.
I want to believe in the incredible
It must be said that the data given in different articles is somehow inconsistent. You can read a message that in Lake Ladoga a 5-kilogram fish caught on a hook weighed 49 kg and 200 grams. This event took place in the area of Sortavala. I would like more specifics. Was this event recorded in that very English cadastral register or in the Guinness Book of Records, what is the length of this fish, in what year was it caught? The fact that in Lake Ladoga there are record-breaking pike weighing up to 20 kg and up to 20 years old is a well-known fact, recorded and confirmed by photographic documents, but 49 kg!
