Northern Pike Investigations prepared by Tom Gengerke, 1977

(1977) Northern Pike Investigations prepared by Tom Gengerke, 1977. Natural Resources, Department of

Preview

PDF comerical_fisheries_investigation_report_1977_OCR_.pdf File Size:15MB

Abstract

Large populations of northern pike, Esox Lucius (Linnaeus), are known to exist in the Mississippi River bordering Iowa, particularly in the more northern navigation pools. The Iowa Conservation Commission captured 2,000-3,000 northern pike each spring in Pool 9 near Lansing, Iowa, for artificial propagation. Surveys and fish distribution records by Cleary, Nord, and others in annual reports of the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee (UMRCC) indicated northern pike are indigenous to all pools of the Mississippi River north of Caruthersville, Missouri. Relative abundance diminished in a downstream direction and abundant populations were rare south of Clinton, Iowa. Northern pike were commercially harvested from Iowa waters util 1959. Pressure from organized public groups along with a desire by the UMRCC for uniform regulations resulted in closure of the fishery.