2026 regulation year
Northern pike Fishing Regulations by State (2026)
Esox lucius
Last updated
Northern pike is regulated separately by each state. This page compares the open-season window, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule for northern pike across the 13 states fishregs covers deeply for 2026 — 2 set a defined harvest season and 11 keep it open year-round. Rules vary by state and often by individual water body, so confirm on the linked state page before fishing. New to bag, slot, and size limits? The glossary explains every term.
Northern pike regulations comparison by state
| State | Open season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Open year-round | Native range (Interior / Western / Arctic): managed bags, often with a 1-over-30-in rule (e.g., Minto Flats 2 / day, only 1 over 30 in, June 1 – Oct 14). Southcentral (invasive): NO bag limit. | Native range: some waters allow only 1 fish over 30 in. Southcentral (invasive): no size limit. |
| Colorado | Open year-round | Unlimited — no bag or possession limit statewide (CPW encourages unlimited harvest of this undesirable introduced predator; it is illegal to stock, transport, or release live northern pike) | No statewide minimum or maximum size; Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in must be released immediately (protected slot)Slot: Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in protected slot — pike 26 to 34 in must be returned to the water immediately; CPW's one quality-size-managed pike water (harvest of small + very large pike still encouraged) |
| Connecticut | Open year-round | 2 / day per angler statewide (1 / day winter on Bantam + Little Pond; 1 pike-or-muskie on Lake Lillinonah) | 26 in min statewide; 36 in min winter on Bantam + Little Pond; 38 in min Lake Lillinonah; 24 in min Connecticut River |
| Iowa | Open year-round | 3 / day inland; 5 / day Mississippi + Missouri Rivers; 6 / day Big Sioux River | No minimum length statewide |
| Minnesota | – · Inland angling | Zone-based: Northeast 2 / day; North-Central 10 / day; Southern 2 / day | Northeast: release all 30–40 in, only 1 over 40 in. North-Central: release all 22–26 in, no more than 2 over 26 in. Southern: 24 in minimum.Slot: North-Central 22–26 in protected (release); Northeast 30–40 in protected (release) |
| Montana | Open year-round | District-based — Western Fishing District 15 / day (no possession limit); Central + Eastern 10 / day (10 in possession). Lake Mary Ronan + listed western trout waters: all pike must be killed immediately + reported to FWP (invasive-eradication rule). | No statewide minimum (FWP-distinctive — pike non-native to most of MT, harvest encouraged) |
| New Jersey | Open year-round | 2 / day per angler | 24 in min statewide |
| New York | – · Statewide inland waters | 5 / day | 18 in minimum statewide |
| North Dakota | Open year-round | 5 / day per angler statewide (10 possession); 3 / day, 3 possession on the Red + Bois de Sioux boundary rivers and their tributaries up to the first vehicular crossing | No statewide minimum length |
| Pennsylvania | Open year-round | 2 / day | 24 in minimum statewide |
| South Dakota | Open year-round | 6 / day per angler statewide | No statewide minimum |
| Vermont | Open year-round | 5 / day statewide (incl. Lake Champlain + Lake Memphremagog) | 20 in min statewide |
| Wisconsin | Open year-round | 5 / day (most waters); 2 / day on listed Northwoods lakes with 32 in minimum | No statewide minimum; per-lake slot or minimum-size limits overrideSlot: 32 in minimum on listed quality-pike waters (trophy programme) |
Figures are statewide defaults for 2026. Specific lakes, rivers, and coastal zones can carry their own northern pike rules — open any state row for the full season map, gear restrictions, and named water-body overrides.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there a nationwide northern pike season or bag limit?
- No. Each US state sets its own northern pike rules. Across the 13 states covered here, 11 keep harvest open year-round while 2 define a closed season, and daily bag and size limits differ from state to state. Use the table above to compare, then open a state page for the exact current rule.
- Does my fishing license cover northern pike in every state?
- No. A fishing license is valid only in the state that issued it, apart from a few border-water reciprocity agreements. To fish northern pike in another state you generally need that state's non-resident license — compare non-resident fees on the license-fees page and check the reciprocity page for shared-water exceptions.
- Why do northern pike rules vary so much between states?
- Northern pike (Esox lucius) is a freshwater species, and each state manages it for its own water temperatures, spawning timing, population health, and fishing pressure. Many states also set tougher rules on specific lakes or rivers, so the statewide figure shown here can be overridden on a named water body — always confirm on the linked state page before fishing.
- Why does one state show more than one northern pike season?
- Several states split northern pike into management zones — different coasts, river drainages, or regions open and close on different dates. Where that happens the table shows each zone's window; the state page lists the full zone map.