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In my experience with northern pike (NP) as a very similar smaller version of a musky (MSK) (TM = tiger musky) and a larger version of a chain pickerel, expect the musky when smaller than 40" long expect them to often target and eat more bass compared to BG. This is due to a more food amount benefit per each successful attack and importantly a shorter handling time of consuming the larger volume prey item. Handling time to swallow a prey fish has been found to be a very important behavior feature for predatory fish consuming prey items. Consumption of prey species all depends on the number and sizes of the BG and LMB that are edible by the musky / NP. Remember a NP, MSK, TM are a wait idle for attack of a vulnerable size forage item. They wait patiently often near structure before exploding outward at high speeds to ambush and hopefully capture their target.
In a pond where sunfish are much more abundant than the bass expect these NP / MSK to encounter and eat more numbers of sunfishes compared to LMB. However this may not equate to more pounds of sunfish consumed compared to pounds of LMB consumed per year. Note the amount and type of forage eaten per year could change when the ratio of Sunfish to Bass ratio changes. When small slender bodied bass are more common expect the toothy NP - MSK to be eating significant numbers of juvenile and small adult bass depending on the size of the NP-MSK.
A couple PBoss mag articles have been about how MSK / TM / NP could help reduce numbers of smaller sizes of LMB in ponds. I looked up Bob's most recent NP - MSK - TM article and put the reference to it in this thread - see info below.
IMO a similar predatory pressure could also occur upon LMB when one to a few flathead catfish (FHC) would be added to a pond. Large flathead Catfish are known to eat 2 lb (15"-16") bass. As the FHC, MSK, TM, NP grow larger, expect each to consume more numbers of larger sized prey items.
When I had one 30"+ NP in a 0.7ac pond that had a good balance of BG/LMB,,, the numbers of young LMB gradually declined while numbers of large BG remained at good density. Last time the NP was seen it was very close to 40" long.
Pond Boss Mag Mar-Apr 2025. ESOX DID WHAT? Lusk dwells into the behavior and usefulness of northern pike, musky and tiger musky for helping control LMB in ponds.
Pond Boss Mag. Sep-Oct 2004. NORTHERN PIKE IN POND MANAGEMENT by Dr. Dave Willis. Feeding habits and pros & cons are explained for northern pike use in ponds.
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