Pike took a huge hit in the river this summer with the water temps and low water levels. The bigger fish are less tolerant of warm water than the smaller ones. LOTS of BIG dead pike were found floating from Hartford all the way down the river. I spoke with the DEP after they investigated the reports... I can't remember the exact number of fish over 36" that they found floating, but it was sickening and that was only what was floating. They night that they checked, the surface temps were 86*