How much does a northern pike weigh?
Upload a photo of your catch, or use the tools below, to estimate its weight.
About the northern pike
Typical adult length: 18–34 in (about 1.7–11.2 lb)
- Lifespan
- Typically lives 10 to 15 years, with some living longer in cold northern lakes.
- Habitat
- Prefers weedy, cool lakes and slow rivers, often near submerged vegetation.
- Diet
- An ambush predator that eats fish, frogs, and even small waterfowl or mammals.
- Baits & techniques
- Large spoons, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits fished near weed edges work well; wire leaders help prevent bite-offs.
- Best season
- Ice-out through early summer and again in fall are typically the most productive periods.
- Best time of day
- Overcast days and low-light periods tend to produce more strikes.
- Northern pike have a mouth full of sharp teeth and can strike prey nearly their own size.
- Their elongated body and sharply forked tail make them powerful, sudden strikers.
- Pike are ambush predators that often lie motionless near cover before exploding after prey.
Northern Pike length-to-weight chart
10 inches up to record size (59 in), using the standard length-to-weight formula for this species.
| Length (in) | Estimated weight (lb) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.3 |
| 12 | 0.5 |
| 14 | 0.8 |
| 16 | 1.2 |
| 18 | 1.7 |
| 20 | 2.3 |
| 22 | 3.0 |
| 24 | 3.9 |
| 26 | 5.0 |
| 28 | 6.3 |
| 30 | 7.7 |
| 32 | 9.4 |
| 34 | 11.2 |
| 36 | 13.3 |
| 38 | 15.7 |
| 40 | 18.3 |
| 42 | 21.2 |
| 44 | 24.3 |
| 46 | 27.8 |
| 48 | 31.6 |
| 50 | 35.7 |
| 52 | 40.2 |
| 54 | 45.0 |
| 56 | 50.2 |
| 58 | 55.7 |
| 59 | 58.7 |
Estimating weight without a scale
Length-to-weight formulas like the one above assume a typical northern pike shape for a given length - fisheries biologists call this the cube law. Real fish vary: a well-fed fish ahead of spawning season can weigh noticeably more than a lean fish of the same length, and body shape varies fish to fish.
Adding girth (the distance around the fish at its widest point) meaningfully improves the estimate, because it captures how deep-bodied this particular fish actually is instead of assuming average proportions for the species - use the calculator above and fill in girth if you can measure it.
Either way, treat the result as a solid estimate, not a certified weight - see our terms for why these numbers shouldn't be used for tournaments, regulations, or sales.