Fish Profile - Muskellunge

The largest member of the pike family, the muskellunge, or musky, is also a very large freshwater game fish. It often grows to more than 40 pounds.  Muskellunge generally live in cool lakes and large rivers, sometimes staying in moderately swift water.

Similar in appearance to northern pike, muskellunge differ by having scales only on the upper half of both the cheeks and gill covers, and 12 to 18 sensory pores on the undersurface of the lower jaw. Although actual body color ranges from barred to spotted to plain, muskies always have a light background with dark markings, just the reverse of the northern pike. Muskellunge are extremely rapid growers, reaching ten to 12 inches in length by the time they are eight month old. Like other pike, females grow faster and larger than males, explaining why most trophy muskies are female.

Muskellunge have similar spawning habits to other pike, spawning in mid to late spring. Muskies generally spawn slightly later than northern pike, and in waters where the two species occur together, later spawning puts them at a disadvantage. The earlier-hatching young northerns will eat young muskellunge.

Because of their large size and rarity, muskellunge are held in high regard. Their unpredictable nature fascinates people. It can take an experienced musky angler as much as 50 hours of fishing to catch one of these giants. A large musky has tremendous strength and may take up to one hour to land. Although muskellunge are tasty, most anglers now practice "catch and release" to help ensure the future of limited populations.

Species Facts

Science Name: Esox masquinongy Other Names: muskellunge, lunge, maskinonge, great pike Ideal Temp: 60 to 70 World Record: 69 lbs. 15 ounces Techniques: Live bait, casting, fly

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