Dwight,
Have you caught any in late summer and noticed if their weights are down? I ask this because I get some to mount here from lakes that are semi-euthrophic and the large pike are stressed in late summer due to a lack of a good refuge of cool water with good oxygen levels. They seem to hang there though and wait it out until the turnover, not feeding much which accounts for their weight loss.
Mostly these pike are caught in the winter and spring/early summer. I don't recall catching them very often after June. Maybe they are lying low after that. I really don't target them (ever) so my data is lacking any credibility.
The oxygen levels have always been good as evidenced by my weekly readings. I am not sure what water temperature a NP would consider too warm to grab a snack when desired.
What do you think would be a stressful water temperature for NP?
