With Pike spawning season approaching, there are ways to keep them safe

Pike Spawning season is approaching, so Fish and Wildlife offer up tips to keep them safe. Klearchos Kapoutsis / CC

Pike spawning season occurs during the early spring, with it tending to begin before the ice is gone from the lakes.

It can range from early April to mid May, depending on the water temperature and when the ice melts away.

According to Paul Christensen, Manager of Fisheries Allocation and Use, Hunting and Fishing Branch for Alberta Forestry and Parks, Northern Pike can be found throughout Alberta.

Unlike Pacific Salmon who migrate up spawning tributaries and die after they spawn, Pike don’t travel far.

While there are some bodies of water that allow people to fish for Pike year-round, Christensen says they often close angling during Pike spawning season.

If you are out fishing and catch a Pike, or any other fish that you do not want to harvest, Christensen says to keep fish in the water.

Those who go fishing regularly probably know what Pike looks like, but Christensen described what a Pike looks like.

While Pike are colloquially known as Slough Sharks, Pike are known to be good to eat.

Pike are found around all over the world in the northern hemisphere, and are adaptable and eat a variety of different prey, such as insects, other fish, ducks, small mammals, and more.