I've also heard different fishermen rumours about big pikes. Some say that they taste like wood. And some say that they have non-healthy concentrations of substances like mercury. But, that doesn't concern me, because I never manage to catch the big ones, for years it has always been the younger ones =)

Back in the 1970's or so the local water used to be heavily polluted. Foamy, stinky, and so much mercury in the fish that they actually tasted bad. I've heard the local people telling a lot of stories of those times. But, luckily enough, nowadays the waters here are cleaner and clearer!