Are you a freshwater fisherman? Whether you cast a line or drill holes in frozen lakes around The Commonwealth, the northern pike is a popular and exciting species that bites all year long and Massachusetts has a long history of trying to make our state the premier pike destination for anglers across southern New England. Pike grow to large sizes, the state record weighed a whopping 35 pounds, have sharp teeth, powerful jaws and will strike readily and both natural baits and a wide array of lures.
To support this exciting fishery, MassWildlife stocked over 2,000 northern pike into Lake Buel last month. These yearlings averaged 10 inches in length and will take roughly 3 to 5 years to reach the 28-inch minimum legal harvest size.
While northern pike naturally reproduce in several waterbodies across Massachusetts, MassWildlife occasionally supplements select locations featuring suitable habitat. Because Massachusetts does not operate a warmwater fish hatchery, these 3- to 12-inch pike were obtained through a cooperative exchange program with New Jersey Fish & Wildlife.
Anglers targeting northern pike should take note of unique juvenile characteristics. Young northern pike display light and dark, oblique solid bars extending from their underbelly, causing them to resemble tiger muskies. They do not develop their characteristic adult pattern—horizontal rows of light-colored round spots on a dark background—until they mature.
Anglers can learn more about stocking schedules and management by Clicking Here.
Here is a list of other Massachusetts lakes that have been stoked with pike over the last couple decades:
| Town | Waterbody | Acres | Year(s) stocked |
| Arlington | Spy Pond | 103 | 2024 |
| Brookfield | Quaboag Pond | 531 | 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025 |
| Cheshire | Cheshire Reservoir | 418 | 2006, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Framingham | Cochituate Lake | 559 | 2024 |
| Holland | Holland Pond | 65 | 2000, 2007, 2008 |
| Monterey/Great Barrington/New Marlborough | Buel Lake | 194 | 2006, 2023, 2026 |
| New Salem | Rohunta Lake | 250 | 2006 |
| Shrewsbury/Worcester | Quinsigamond Lake, Newton Pond, Flint Pond | 475 | 2002, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 |
| Sturbridge | East Brimfield Reservoir | 420 | 2002, 2006–2008 |
