In western Interior Alaska, I fished northern pike a lot. On the Yukon, the Innoko, and the Kuskokwim, I tried many years for a pike over 4 feet. I caught eight over the years at an honest 48". Never got one over that. Saw some big'uns though.
Jack
I’m surprised they get that size given the cold water and limited summer growth.
Largest in my boat client caught was legit nicking at 54” without pinching the tail. Northern Saskatchewan.
I saw one I tried to get over and help a couple rookies net in another boat. I was there up close when the line let go just after it tried to get out of the water twice. I was more than amazed. Ive guided a lot of guys to very big musky but that pike beat them all by miles, a true freak of nature. Northern Ontario.
Osky
A note on the beauties above. Those 40 plus inchers are a blast and can have some wonderful girth. Get really long and most often they start looking more slender, boat oreish like.
Osky