Unique Pike Markings

[ZebraMussel33]

Dug this picture up from a couple years back... I'm just curious if anyone has seen a pike with markings similiar to this one before? I'm guessing it is just a "wierd" pike whose markings developed differently but wanted some input from pike fishermen.

Zebra

[reinhard1]

i guess i have never seen one like that before. i could be wrong, but it almost seems like a pike/musky cross-breed. by looking at the tail it seems that the tail is not as "rounded" as a pike usualy is and closer to a musky tail but just not there yet. good luck.

[Nick Kuhn]

No, just unusual markings. Pike usually look the same but occasionally you get goofy ones. In Italy some of the odd looking pike have become the norm.

[goblueM]

i dunno, doesn't look that out of the ordinary to me. Caught a bunch in Canada that looked somewhat similar

very pretty fish!

[reinhard1]

that is one cool looking pike. thanks for the info Nick. good luck.

[ZebraMussel33]

I know it isn't EXTREMELY different from normal pike but seemed a little odd compared to all the pike I have ever caught/seen so just wanted to ask the question... Thanks for the input guys.

[JPenny]

The elongated bean spots are kind of unusual. Pretty fish, congrats. That Italian pike is interesting too.

[wahoo]

Neat fish. I am looking at the one I have mounted in my office, skin mount over 24 years ago and the mount is in perfect shape. 26 pound NP BTW and caught in Manitoba. Only large NP I have killed and threw one back that day at around 37 lbs, not inches, since I had kept the one on my wall.

Nick, your Italian fish is very similar at first glance. However, the markings near the belly are the reverse on mine. Much more, or many more white markings on a predominant dark background--or, simply put, the reverse of yours. But, the pattern, altho reversed, is very similar.

Also, the Italian fish seems to have spots on the fins and tail where as mine is mostly solid stripes.

In any event, comparing and learning is why we fish. All in all, I find NP a most beautiful fish.