the northern pike ("esox lucius"), has a number of nicknames such as 'northern', 'great northern pike', 'pike', and 'jack'. its name literally means '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 namesake. in north america they are native to alaska, canada and the upper midwestern united states. their natural 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 overpopulated in a body of water their growth rate is often stunted.