Pickerel or Pike

[Joe Boss]

I caught this fish at a local pond this Saturday. I think its a Pickerel, how can you tell the difference between Pike and Pickerel?

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Chain Pickerel

[wavewalker]

chain

[Marty]

A pike would have light spots on a darker background.

[Joe Boss]

Thanks guys!

[.dsaavedra.]

also, chain pickerels have a vertical black bar that bisects the pupil of the eye and extends onto the cheek as a "tear drop" under the eye.

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

A pike has white "spots". the name chain pickerel I believe came from its markings on its sides; The black lines look like  a chain