Pike are considered a nuisance fish not only here in the US but other countries. Their voraciousness and fast growth rates can decimate any existing fisheries such as perch, trout, or bass. They don't reproduce well here in NJ(passaic is too fast and its flows fluctuate too much) which is why the state doesn't worry about stocking them. They need thick mats of submerged vegetation(preferably grasses) in shallow water for the duration of the spawning period. Not too many bodies of water have thick mats in the early spring(most plants die off in the fall). In fact, flooded grasslands along reservoirs/lakes/rivers were the areas that had the highest densities of pike eggs. Since these areas are often temporary, reproductive success varied widely from year to year.
Anyhow, back to nuisance subject. There are many cases of lakes having to be poisoned to kill pike. From California:
Quote:
Northern pike are listed in the California Code of Regulations Title 14
Section 671 as a “detrimental animal” and it is unlawful to import, transport or possess northern pike alive except under permit.
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On several occasion after finding just a few pike, they poisoned the lake(s) to eradicate them.
