Sm. Sammons et al., SEASONAL AND SIZE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE DIET OF NORTHERN PIKE FROM ASHALLOW PRAIRIE LAKE, Journal of freshwater ecology, 9(4), 1994, pp. 321-329
Food habits of northern pike (Esox lucius) were documented in Lake Tho
mpson, a shallow, windswept, eutrophic lake in eastern South Dakota. T
he primary food items, assessed with the Relative Importance Index, ea
ten by northern pike were common carp (Cyprinus carpio), crappies (Pom
oxis spp.), and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Common carp wer
e eaten in midsummer and winter. Crappies were eaten primarily in the
winter. Fathead minnows were an important food source throughout the y
ear. Macroinvertebrates were consumed by northern pike up to 600 mm th
roughout the open-water months. Northern pike in the smaller length gr
oups (401-500 mm, 501-600 mm) ate primarily fathead minnows, juvenile
common carp, and macroinvertebrates. Diets of larger northern pike con
sisted primarily of larger common carp, juvenile crappies, leopard fro
gs (Rana pipiens), and occasionally walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum).