What is Northern pike?
[[File:Esox Lucius.JPG|thumb|right|300px|{{Center|''Esox lucius'', the Northern Pike}}]] The '''northern pike''' (''Esox lucius''), is a species of freshwater fish. It has a number of [[nicknames]] such as 'Northern', 'Great northern pike', 'Pike', and 'Jack'. Its latin name literally translates to 'water wolf'. The northern pike is a [[freshwater]] game fish and the second largest member of the [[Esox]] (Pike) family. It is also that family's [[wikt:namesake|namesake]]. In [[North America]] they are [[Indigenous (ecology)|native]] to [[Alaska]], [[Canada]] and the [[Upper Midwest]]ern [[United States]]. Their natural [[Range (biology)|range]] also includes [[Northern Europe]] and [[Asia]]. They are a cold water fish and do best in deep lakes. Northerns are voracious feeders that require large supplies of fish for steady growth. If they are [[Overpopulation|overpopulated]] in a body of water their growth rate is often stunted.<ref>Barry Reynolds; John Berryman, ''Pike on the Fly: The Flyfishing Guide to Northerns, Tigers, and Muskies'' (Boulder: Johnson Books, 1993), p. 23</ref> == Physical description == Northern pike and [[Muskellunge]] look very similar and are sometimes confused. The Northern has light colored markings on a dark body (the opposite of the Musky).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/northern/index.html |title=Northern pike |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |website= |publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |accessdate=30 June 2014 }}</ref> Also the Northern has a rounded tail fins while the Musky's are pointed. The northern has a long body. It has a large number of very sharp [[teeth]].<ref name=Schultz157>Ken Schultz, ''Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Freshwater Fish'' (Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley & Sons, 2004), p. 157</ref> The northern is the only member of the pike family with spots on its side that are lighter than the body color.<ref name=Schultz157/> Another difference is they have five or less [[Pore (skin)|pores]] under the [[jaw]]; muskies hav