Northern Pike and Muskellunge are two of North America’s favorite freshwater game fish. This is part of the reason that people have trouble telling them apart. Species include: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Tiger Muskie, Leech Lake Pure Muskie, Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass Pumpkin seed Sunfish, & Bluegill. The sensory pores vary from 5 to 8 on a side, but usually have 5. Pike & Muskie both look a little like Barracuda ? Pike will go for much larger prey in autumn when they’re stocking up for the winter. They’re two different species with different behaviors, markings, and distributions. Aim for a “follow” (the sight of a fish chasing your lure) and you might be rewarded with a hookup. There is very little difference to me whether the fish in the pan is walleye or northern pike. He says, “just hit the right spots where they are and a MEPS does just fine!” (I caught a 36 inch Muskie last year with a MEPS– My tackle box is getting streamlined), Replied on August 16, 2019 Count the pores. Aug 16, 2019. You can catch Pike in most of North America, From the northwest of Alaska all the way over to Labrador in eastern Canada. They’ll take a variety of large streamers and sliders. Be sure to check back in when you finally land one. Monsters like this are a serious challenge! Being members of the same genus, both pike and pickerel share many features in common, yet there are some exhibited differences between them. They’re both ambush hunters that hide among thick vegetation, waiting for a meal to swim their way. If you want the best chance of landing a Muskie, stick to the Great Lakes and the rivers around them. I don’t think that we have any Muskies around here, but the Pike is one of the most common fishes to catch on our lakes besides with the Perch and Walleye and some of those Pikes grow pretty darn big. A Rapala (or other) split minnow is my absolute go to. 05-17-2015, 09:53 PM. They live in and around the Great Lakes, and down along the Appalachian Mountains as far south as Georgia. Take a look at the scales on their face. While Muskie and Pike both prefer clear waters, Pike typically tend to swim around weedy areas, particularly when it’s time for them to spawn. Pike are a classic fly fishing target. In this article, you can delve into the world of “Muskie vs. Pike.” Learn how to tell the two fish apart and where you should go to find them. It’s always best to start at the beginning. That is, unless the shallows get too warm or there’s more food farther down. It’s great to hear that you released it unharmed. he only uses a #4 now cause it is easier to cast – lol. Here at Baitshop.com, we are all about that fishing life – plain and simple. Muskie and Pike are often around the same size. I caught a muskie on a popper. Both fish prefer clear water, probably because they’re sight-based hunters. They were also introduced into Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg, but catches in these lakes are very rare. However, that’s about as far as the similarities go. Northern Pike and Muskellunge are close relatives. A muskie will have seven or more per side, while the northern pike never has more than six. Sounds like a load of fun! However, Muskie do grow to be much bigger than Pike. Pike have scales all over their cheeks, while Muskie only have them on the upper half. Their outlandish looks, large size, and rarity put them high on many anglers’ bucket lists. Muskie and Pike are both long, pointy, freshwater fish. Replied on January 29, 2020 Understanding when to use leaders and what types work best with various lures and fishing presentations is the fast track to Esox fishing success. Last summer was my first foray into the Muskie world. northern pike beets muskie it is smarter had bigger teeth and more aggressive muskies teeth were for tearing meat northern to grip and rip . They’re more temperamental than sensitive, though. Egg production per pound decreases slightly as female Walleye and Northern Pike age, however, egg size, health, and viability increase significantly with age. Use a wire leader if you want to keep your lure. She is our Baitshop.com Beauty of the Month for October. Wow, I bet that really made the trip. Pike are a classic fly fishing target. Most anglers use large spoons, shallow-running plugs, or spinnerbaits to catch Pike. I hope you get to take on a Musky one day, too. Many ponds develop populations of stunted bluegill, and adding more predators can help – provided that the right predator species is added. Replied on August 12, 2020 Both species have forked tails, but Muskie have much more pointed forks, while Pike tails are more rounded. Sure sounds like a great way to spend the summer! Known as “water wolves” and “the fish of a thousand casts” respectively, Pike and Muskie are two fish that absolutely do not come quietly. Live bait also works, as long as it’s the right size to attract their attention. There are also simple observable differences between the species. They’re very rare in the wild, but they are stocked in some waters. So you know how to identify Muskie vs. Pike, but where should you go to catch them? Do you have any tips of your own on telling the two fish apart? Baltic Sea Fishing: A Complete Angler’s Gui... © 2019 FishingBooker.com. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Have had a ton of discussions with various fishermen about spotting the differences between pike and muskie. Will try out the Mepps this summer! Sep 2, 2020. Please indulge a couple of out of state questions. The world record northern is considerably smaller than that. Both species have forked tails, but Muskie have much more pointed forks, while Pike tails are more rounded. Egg production per pound decreases slightly as female Walleye and Northern Pike … However, they’re not the same or varieties of the same fish. Aim for a “follow” (the sight of a fish chasing your lure) and you might be rewarded with a hookup. The IGFA record for Pike stands at just over 55 pounds, 12 pounds short of the record for Muskie. Northern pike are found in a wide variety of waters, but the muskie doesn’t seem to adapt to as many cold-water environments, limiting its range. In addition, I always understood that muskies were pretty much “lone rangers”, whereas northerns were always found with others. But while you are in Wisconsin, visit the LARGEST pike … However, their markings will always be darker than the rest of their body. Count the pores. They live in and around the Great Lakes, and down along the Appalachian Mountains as far south as Georgia. One big musky might eat a lot, but nowhere near as much as all those pike. Pike have 4–5 pores on each side, Muskie have 6–9. Color and size aren’t always reliable, as Muskie vary a lot in both. One of the things the DNR officer told me when we were talking. Ended up hooking several more northerns including a 39” sow! Northern Pike and Muskellunge are two of North America’s favorite freshwater game fish. I grew up 50 years ago as a teenager fishing the northeast portion of Lake of the Woods in Ontario between mid-June and mid-August. However, there are three easy ways to identify the fish on the end of your line. IDO » Community » Forums » Fishing Forums » Fishing by Species » Muskie & Pike » Muskie VS Pike. A tiger muskie can’t breed as a result, so they are much rarer than even their musky cousins. Pike and Muskie have special pores to detect movement in the water. Even so, there are a few go-to tactics for both species. Good luck on the Muskie hunt – I guess they call them “the fish of a thousand casts” for a reason! I caught my first Musky just two days ago, a 36-40 inch fighter in the St. Clair River. Love this post. One of the oldest records in North Dakota, the impressive 45-inch, 40-pound tiger muskie – a cross between a northern pike and a pure strain muskellunge – caught in 1975 is one that will be difficult to break, as only a few waters exist where such large hybrids may still be lurking. This is the fish that occurs when a muskellunge and a northern pike mate. Does any of this seem contradictory to today’s thoughts on the differences between pike and muskie fishing? Just make sure you’re using weedless flies if you don’t want to take half the lake away with you. Aug 11, 2020, I read the stuff that you guys from “up there” and get kinda green around my own gills. This wasn’t our first encounter with a Muskie… Lots of pike as well – similar setups, but we generally found the pikes liked the midsized daredevils more than the big doctors. Both these fish are apex predators who use every bit of their strength and agility in the fight. A northern pike usually has 5 pores on a single lateral side of the jaw (10 in total). -Female Northern Pike mature around 5-6 years, grow considerably faster than males, and live considerably longer.-The Larger female Walleye and Northerns are better spawners. Replied on January 25, 2021 Oct 12, 2020. Aug 12, 2020. Tiger Muskie are a hybrid of a female Muskellunge and a male Northern Pike. In the 1980s, red spot disease, a bacterial infection that impacts only muskies and northern pike, all but wiped out Pymatuning's muskie population. The disease seems to have run its course and the lake's muskie … Northern Pike and Muskellunge are two of North America’s favorite freshwater game fish. My 7 year old and I were out bass fishing (his favorite because of the casting) when he had a Muskie follow his bait to the boat. Caught him in Kingston NJ dam. Known as “water wolves” and “the fish of a thousand casts” respectively, Pike and Muskie are two fish that absolutely do not come quietly. “For me, there are a couple of critical points for a Musky rod to perform effectively. Use larger baits later in the year. They can show up in smaller rivers and ponds, as well as all the places Muskie tend to inhabit. Like the northern pike and other aggressive pikes, the body plan is typical of ambush predators with an elongated body, flat head, and dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins set far back on the body. The easiest way to distinguish Muskie and Pike is by looking at the tail. My first one was totally by accident when reeling in a Bluegill that had taken my leach. Muskie normally live in large rivers and medium-size or large lakes. You can follow most of the tips for Pike fishing when going after Musky: Fish the weeds. Bucktails and jerkbaits are best for casting, while diving plugs are a common lure for trolling. Northern Pike Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758. I was casting near some lily pads and a stump. Minnesota Muskie Farm, Inc. is a family owned fish farm. Muskellunge (muskee, muskey, or muskie for short) are much larger than northern pike. Pike are less fussy about where they live. Getting your fish eaten is bad enough without also paying a fine for it. Between stocking efforts and cleaner water, several states in the Northeast boast trophy musky fisheries, and even more waters in our region are developing fisheries rapidly. They’ll take a variety of large streamers and sliders. However you’re fishing, Pike have a mean bite, so make sure to use a heavy leader. Northern Pike and Muskellunge are two of North America’s favorite freshwater game fish. Pike vs Pickerel. In 1994 it was purchased and has been growing healthy certified disease free fish; VHS included. If beaver damns exist outside of a large lake, you should catch a lot of quality fish. That really depends on the species. Started fishing randomly with very little experience. Having a little extra length on a fast action rod to keep the rod tip deeper in the water on the retrieve and to make deeper movements boat side than a 9-fo… In this map, we wanted to give a broad overview of where each species lives, so that people can understand the difference in their distribution. I’m a Floridian and while I love my Bass, our most common large fresh water gamefish, I am dying to pull in one of these beauties. You should be able to identify your fish without feeling its face, though. Muskies have highly variable dark vertical bars on an olive to dark gray base… They do have the same sleek design, for sure. Muskie are also famously hard to hook, hence the nickname “fish of a thousand casts.” They’re difficult to trick and impossible to predict. Thirty years ago, this article would be limited to the lakes and waterways in northern Minnesota and Ontario, but today musky fishing is a much different story. Check the tail. Nice article BTW and very informative! They’re both from the genus “Esox” along with other Pikes and Pickerels. There is also a hybrid called the Tiger muskellunge (or Tiger Muskie). MassWildlife does not have a warm water hatchery in which to rear esocids but usually obtains a small number of 3–12" fish each year from the New Jersey Division of Fisheries and Wildlife through a cooperative exchange program. 2. They both have several things in common. Unlike the pure muskie, the Tiger muskie is a hybrid mix between a muskie and a Northern Pike. Anal fin ray counts are the same as the musky, 16 to 19, but more than the Northern Pike. However, because it is a crossbred fish between two species, it … They may have strong, thick bars, faint spots, or no pattern at all. The lobes of the caudal (tail) fin in muskellunge come to a sharper point, while those of northern pike are more … We always did well on the river with spinner baits and I would look for a weedline that came to about six or 8 feet within the surface. Big flies attract Big fish, and that’s how we all like it right? He was sitting in water about 2 ft deep and my luck i threw popper right at him. If you want to learn more about the northern pike and muskie, you should also check out these articles: Northern Pike (Complete Species Guide With Pictures) Pike vs Musky (How to Tell Them Apart) Muskie Teeth (Pictures, Facts, And Myths) Feature image courtesy of Johnny Delaney. Where are you thinking of fishing? 2) Short answer, patience, especially with Muskie! Unlike the pure muskie, the Tiger muskie is a hybrid mix between a muskie and a Northern Pike… In spring, the waters are cold and the fish are slow, so they’re happy with much smaller baits. 48 inches in long with a yellow buzz bait lure that has red accents. Both can reach … Muskie have a much more limited distribution. I’m glad you enjoyed the article! Known as “water wolves” and “the fish of a thousand casts” respectively, Pike and Muskie … Good luck on the Muskie hunt. Pike are found on all continents that fringe the North … Musky are much more limited in their range, although both fish like the same kind of habitat and hunt in a similar way. Look at their markings. In the end, i had to call my neighbor to get the fish out of the water, we took a couple pictures of the catch and then we watched as this monster swim away. ‏Muskie and Pike, Pike and Muskie. You can follow most of the tips for Pike fishing when going after Musky: Fish the weeds. Being part of the same ”Esox” family and swimming in freshwater, they are every fisherman’s dream. raider. It was the middle of the day on father’s day last year. Have you ever managed to catch a Musky? It’s harder to get Musky to bite, but you should always be happy to see either fish on the end of your line. Here are the basics on where to find Pike and Muskie. General Pike Knowledge The muskellunge (aka “musky” or “muskie”) is one of the really amazing freshwater fish, especially up north, and the bane of many a devoted angler’s existence. Thanks for the comment. ‏Muskie and Pike, Pike and Muskie. Northern Pike and Muskellunge may have very different distributions, but they have similar tastes in habitat. I thought they tasted almost as good as walleyes, but you really had to watch out for the forked bones when eating them. I’ve lost a couple northern because I was bass fishing w too light a rig. Northern pike also have fully scaled cheek plates, while the cheeks of muskie are scaled only on the upper half. Nov 2, 2020. They fight hard, grow huge, and look awesome. We had a fun conversation about how the Muskys had ended up in the lake and other fishing things but I will not soon forget my almost costly Tiger Mucky. But what about fresh water dangers like Musky, Northern Pike, Gar, Freshwater Eels, etc? It was about 26 inches but put up a fight and got my blood pumping. Even getting one to bite is an achievement, never mind bringing one that size to the boat. Juveniles have oblique bars of light and dark extending up from a white belly. 3. He giggles at all the guys in using “way too big of lures”. Muskie are also famously hard to hook, hence the nickname “fish of a thousand casts.” They’re difficult to trick and impossible to predict. Thanks for lettin` a greenhorn ask a couple of questions and fair winds, following seas and full coolers all summer long! Most anglers use large spoons, shallow-running plugs, or spinnerbaits to catch Pike. The Predator nets were engineered to handle the… Some areas may contain "Silver Pike", which is a mutant color variation of a Northern Pike. 6. Pike, musky, and tiger musky … The lure that I used was red & white Abu Garcia HiLo, if I remember correctly. White and flakey and virtually no fishy taste. Just got a place this summer near Pickerel Wisconsin on a smaller lake. The words Muskie, Musky or Muskellunge are derived from the Cree Indian word Maashkinoozhe, which means ugly Pike. The Northern Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy masquinongy) native to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The northern pike is most commonly olive green to dark green in color and has light to white bean-shaped spots all over its body. Grew up fishing for muskie and northerns on St Lawrence (Thousand Islands). This is part of the reason that people have trouble telling them apart. Leave a Reply . Pike and Muskie have special pores to detect movement in the water. Musky are a more prestigious catch because they’re so unpredictable, but Pike definitely deserve legendary status, too. Let’s talk about the Tiger muskie (Tiger Muskellunge) for a minute. 3) Seasons, limits etc. Keeping Muskies is frowned on by a lot of anglers, though. They are smaller than true muskies but can grow up to 1.5 times faster in the first year. Whether you’re a die-hard Muskie fan, a proud Pike lover, or a complete beginner, you can always learn more about these majestic creatures. Pike and Muskie both thrive in and around the Great Lakes. A detailed guide to telling apart northern pike, musky, and pickerel! 3) Lastly, legalities… Is there a season? Most of the muskie fishermen I knew threw big plugs, reeling in fast and throwing out again as quickly as possible — and it seemed that a lot of them were successful in rocky areas that had a few weeds, rather than in big weed beds. The northern pike usually has 13-16, again counted on only a single lateral side. Sure sounds like a memorable first catch, made even better by the safe release. Test the lure out before you fish. Hi and greetings from Finland! Pike and Muskie are both amazing fish to catch. 1. Are they a regional variety? learned how to fillet out the y bone. Let’s talk about the Tiger muskie (Tiger Muskellunge) for a minute. Baitshop.com is a fishing lifestyle and culture brand that brings anglers together through our digital community to collectively share about anything and everything fishing related. That sounds quite a fight – and a big surprise when you realised what you’d hooked! The most obvious include horizontal spotted pattern (pike) vs. vertical lines (musky), rounded tail fins (pike) vs. pointed tail fins (musky), and 5 or less pores on the lower jaw (pike) vs. 6-9 on musky. Jonsey. Muskie vs Tiger Muskie. Pike are less fussy about where they live. Jan 10, 2016 - How to tell the Difference Between Musky / Tiger Musky & Northern Pike Beyond North America, you can find them within the same northerly range all the way around the world. Average size is about 7-10 pounds and the further north you head the bigger they get, Replied on August 20, 2020 Beyond North America, you can find them within the same northerly range all the way around the world. Aug 20, 2020. Caught a rare tiger muskie on Caldron Falls Reservoir in Wisconsin a few years ago. What’s your favorite Pike fishery from your travels? It is a carnivorous fish. Jan 10, 2016 - How to tell the Difference Between Musky / Tiger Musky & Northern Pike See more ideas about pike fishing, fish, musky fishing. I should say that I caught a bunch of Pike with a MEPS #3 this summer (Dyrberry Lake, Ontario). Color and size aren’t always reliable, as Muskie vary a lot in both. A tiger muskie isn’t an actual sub-species but a hybrid. I’ve never had a bad day with this lure as long as I’m fishing in the right areas. However, that’s about as far as the similarities go. Alligator gar, northern pike or muskie ? Before we delve into the details of both fish, here are some common questions people have about Pike and Muskie. BTW, we ate a lot of the northerns we caught, and we ate the one and only muskie I ever caught during those times. Look at their markings. In northern pike and muskellunge, the head length is about one-quarter of the total body length. Pike will go for much larger prey in autumn when they’re stocking up for the winter. One big musky might eat a lot, but nowhere near as much as all those pike. Your Muskie habitat distribution is way off. They don’t call them “Northern” for nothing, after all! The best place to look for either fish is in thick weedy sections of rivers or lakes. 05-17-2015, 09:53 PM. In this article, you can delve into the world of “Muskie vs. Pike.” Learn how to tell the two fish apart and where you should go to find them. They’re two different species with different behaviors, markings, and distributions. However you’re fishing, Pike have a mean bite, so make sure to use a heavy leader. Are Tiger Muskie a subspecies of Muskie? The number of lateral line scales are intermediate between the parent species ranging from 129 to 141. ... Home / Q&A / Q&A with Joe Bucher: Night Fishing Muskies vs. Northern Pike. All very fair questions. Muskie are indigenous to North America but generally many lakes with Muskie south of the Great Lakes are lakes where Muskie … Branchiostegal Rays: Count the # of bones (they look like ridges of the skin) on the lower jaw, beneath the gills. Pike and Muskie will generally stick to shallow, sluggish water and rarely go below 40 feet deep. That is, unless the shallows get too warm or there’s more food farther down. That really depends on the species. Northern pike, by comparison, are everywhere, as any angler with a shiny hook should realize. Musky are much more limited in their range, although both fish like the same kind of habitat and hunt in a similar way. Are they a regional variety? I catch and release fresh water fish as I’m sure most of you do but just wondering… what do they taste like? What’s your go-to setup for landing huge Pike? The pike, however, seems to have a more diversified appetite. Their outlandish looks, large size, and rarity put them high on many anglers’ bucket lists. Both these fish are apex predators who use every bit of their strength and agility in the fight. I’ve caught many pickerel and Pike from Virginia up to Quebec. However, they’re not the same or varieties of the same fish. A pike would be on it very quickly and they were huge…. As I always say, the best lure is the one the locals use. "Silver Pike" have similar fin colorartion as a normal Northern Pike. Even small Pike put up a fight. Down south now and I miss “northerns’ quite a bit…, Replied on October 23, 2020 Esox is the only extant genus of the Family: Esocidae. Where it has been found. On the other hand, you don’t catch them every day, so you could say that it equals out. Tiger Musky also have rounded tails, helping you tell them apart from regular Musky. Aug 18, 2020. Tiger Musky also have rounded tails, helping you tell them apart from regular Musky. Just took a few pictures and released it for someone else to try to get. Cast repeat etc… They would jump on the spinner baits constantly. Replied on August 18, 2020 Use larger baits later in the year. Muskie can vary a lot in color and pattern. They’re very rare in the wild, but they are stocked in some waters. You can find both fish in all five lakes and the surrounding rivers. Helpful article! Muskellunge have one of the most varied spellings of any species. Thirty years ago, this article would be limited to the lakes and waterways in northern Minnesota and Ontario, but today musky fishing is a much different story. The best tip you can have for Muskie fishing is “be patient.” Even experienced anglers won’t claim to reliably catch big Musky. … Even then, these guys are famous for their acrobatic displays and their skill at throwing the hook. Was a bit of a fight, but super fun. The Northern Pike is primarily a freshwater fish with a wide distribution in the northern hemisphere. Known as “water wolves” and “the fish of a thousand casts” respectively, Pike and Muskie are two fish that absolutely do not come quietly. Muskie or Muskellunge, is a freshwater beast, relatively uncommon but native to North America. Northern Pike and Muskellunge may have very different distributions, but they have similar tastes in habitat. Some areas may contain "Silver Pike", which is a mutant color variation of a Northern Pike. However, if we do update this map, we’ll be sure to keep the St John River in mind. Caught my first northern on a #4 red and white Mepps my buddy from work swears by. Caught plenty of northerns using big Daredevil Spoons. Jan 29, 2020. Whether you’re a die-hard Muskie fan, a proud Pike lover, or a complete beginner, you can always learn more about these majestic creatures. These large, predatory species are every bit as fast and mean as their sleek torpedo-shaped bodies imply. Learned a bunch of info from locals and got some new gear. Pike have scales all over their cheeks, while Muskie only have them on the upper half. I forgot to add that Northern Pike feed on Musky after spawn which is why the Musky populations need stocking more often than the Northerns. They were also introduced into Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg, but catches in these lakes are very rare. In Ontario I would normally grab a yellow perch and hook him through the back and just let him swim. When he saw the Gilly, illegal to use as bait, he got kind of ticked and I protested my innocence. Make sure to handle the fish gently and keep your hands well away from its mouth as you flip it over! Muskie have a much more limited distribution. Let us know in the comments below! Tiger Muskie look even more impressive than regular Muskie, as if that was even possible! Replied on September 2, 2020 I hope this helps! I would always take extra lures with me however today’s leaders should be good on large lures. For those who are not avid fans of fish, many would think that “Pickerel” is the term for the hatchlings of a Pike. Northern Pike and Muskellunge are two of North America’s favorite freshwater game fish. The best tip you can have for Muskie fishing is “be patient.” Even experienced anglers won’t claim to reliably catch big Musky. They fight hard, grow huge, and look awesome. ) for a reason the “ eye hold ” and “ Musky ” are both accepted spellings and most use! 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