03-03-2005, 01:55 AM
pike and muskie have been observed striking at 60 MPH+!!
[url "http://www.esoxecosse.com/pike%20facts.htm"]http://www.esoxecosse.com/pike%20facts.htm[/url]
The speed of a pike strike has yet to be measured scientifically but observations have been made of large pike striking at up to 30 yards per second, or approximately 60 mph!
There is a famous piece of BBC film footage showing a pike striking at normal speed and in slow motion, in BOTH sequences the pike is moving so fast that the image is just a blur.
It should be noted however that this speed cannot be sustained for very long (similar to the cheetah) and that it is only attainable in a straight line. If it becomes necessary, the pike will hunt in a fast, active way but it prefers to lay in ambush, using its markings, a disruptive pattern of spots and bars to render it invisible to its prey. In this way it can make the best and most energy efficient use of this 'tool' that nature has provided.
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[url "http://www.esoxecosse.com/pike%20facts.htm"]http://www.esoxecosse.com/pike%20facts.htm[/url]
The speed of a pike strike has yet to be measured scientifically but observations have been made of large pike striking at up to 30 yards per second, or approximately 60 mph!
There is a famous piece of BBC film footage showing a pike striking at normal speed and in slow motion, in BOTH sequences the pike is moving so fast that the image is just a blur.
It should be noted however that this speed cannot be sustained for very long (similar to the cheetah) and that it is only attainable in a straight line. If it becomes necessary, the pike will hunt in a fast, active way but it prefers to lay in ambush, using its markings, a disruptive pattern of spots and bars to render it invisible to its prey. In this way it can make the best and most energy efficient use of this 'tool' that nature has provided.
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