Tom...this also dealt with the northern question. It tells the what, but the why still looks like a bit of a mystery. Interesting.

Northern pike may be the second most abundant game fish in the Flowage. Our 1997 survey produced a population estimate of 2 adult pike per acre – possibly enough to adversely affect natural recruitment of young muskellunge via predation. Only 3% of the 2,925 pike captured in 1997 were longer than 23.0 inches. Poor size structure may be attributable to slower-than-average growth rate and high natural mortality by age six. The reason for this is not well understood. Fish that live longer than six years exhibit average growth rate, and they can achieve desirable sizes. The largest pike captured in 1997 was 36 inches long.