Stizostedion vitreum glaucum
Blue walleye
The blue pike is a subspecies of the walleye and can be easily identified by its overall grayish-blue cast and the absence of dark markings on the back and sides. Its eyes are larger than the walleye or sauger and the pelvic fins are bluish white.
The blue pike had a similar diet to the walleye. The young fed on plankton and insect larvae for most of the first year. Following that stage the young shifted to a diet of small fish. Adults fed mainly on shiners, shad, minnows, and rainbow smelt.
Blue pike were found in the Great Lakes area until its extinction in the 1970's, although there are some reports of blue pike being caught in Canadian lakes.
The blue pike preferred clear to slightly turbid waters. They occurred in greatest abundance over reefs, shoals of gravel, bedrock, and other firm bottoms. They were over fished commercially in the 1950's and 60's, which brought it to possible extinction in the 1970's.
Blue pike have similar characteristics as the walleye but are smaller only getting to a size of 1/2 to 1 pound in weight and about 10-12 inches in length.
Possible extinction