Statewide Northern Pike Response to Minnesota’s 2018 Regulation Change

Authors

• Elijah Wozniak

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Management of northern pike (Esox lucius) is challenging because it attempts to balance ecological sustainability with angler interests. Northern pike often stunt their own growth by diminishing the size and abundance of prey fish, their food source. Anglers are often displeased when small pike occur in high population densities. In response to populations of small northern pike, the DNR implemented a new, statewide northern pike regulation in 2018. The objective of this study was to determine whether the regulation successfully changed the mean weight, length, and CPUE of northern pike in Minnesota. The secondary objective was to test whether there were increases in the proportion of fish >30 inches and a decrease in the population of pike < 20 inches. The DNR LakeFinder resource was used to obtain information from lakes surveyed by the DNR using specified criteria. The gathered data included CPUE, weight, and length measurements from 1999 to 2024. Regression analysis evaluated significance, yielding p-values for all three measurements in each regulatory zone. Regression analysis was also run on both the proportion of pike < 20 inches and those >30 inches. In the Northeast, North-Central, and Southern regulation zones, there were no significant p-values in the seven years following the regulation (P > 0.05). Mean CPUE, weight, length, proportion of fish < 20 inches, and proportion of fish >30 inches all remained statistically unchanged (P > 0.05). The purpose of this study was to better understand the response of pike to fishing regulations, gathering useful insights for informing adjustments to the current fishing guidelines. Future research could look at how ecological factors influence pike size. The findings are useful for understanding the effectiveness of fishing regulations at changing the size structure of pike populations.

Publication Date

2026

Comments

Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program

Recommended Citation

Wozniak, Elijah, "Statewide Northern Pike Response to Minnesota’s 2018 Regulation Change" (2026). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 95.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/95