True Colors

[20lbSloughShark]

I have noticed that esox come in many shapes and sizes. I have also seen a wide variety in color. I was wondering if anyone has noticed a pattern with these colors. One I have noticed, is that adult pike's fins become red. Some places like Moose lake where northern pike grow slow, a 2 pounder will have red fins. Others like Mud lake wont see red fin until 5 pounds. Has anyone else noticed a pattern, or is it just coincidence?

Juvenile Pike

Adult Pike (fins turn orange/red)

[Steve Foss]

I think it's coincidence. I've seen a lot of small pike, like even 10-inchers, with red fins. Local water clarity/color and bottom color also have a lot to do with it.

I will say that I've never caught a pike over, say, 8 pounds that didn't have substantial red on the fins.

[popriveter]

I've wondered if an abundance of crustaceans in the food chain makes a difference. Where trout eat more crayfish, their flesh is more red. Perhaps where pike (and their prey) eat more crayfish, the fins may redden earlier in life.

[JPenny]

Interesting observations. Having fished pike across North America and thinking back on different areas, I can't recall anywhere they absolutely did not have colored fins. In looking at photos, they were colored in Alaska, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and all the more southern provences like Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. But I have seen big pike that didn't sport colored fins, just not very many. This of course does not include silver/blue pike.