Pike and Muskellunge - compare the differences

Northern Pike and Muskellunge What's the Difference?

The Northern Pike and Muskellunge are both members of Esocidae family. Both are fantastic game fish in Canada (and across parts of the US). The “Muskie” is Canada’s largest freshwater fish, next to the Sturgeon.

But how do we tell a pike and muskellunge apart? Well, at first glance and to the untrained eye, they are easy to mix up. Take a look at the information below to help determine which fish is which the next time you are out on the water.

Northern Pike

The Northern Pike is a fish that is much longer than it is deep. Typical markings on a pike are light spots on a dark background.They are capable of growing more than three feet long and weighing beyond thirty pounds.

Pike and muskellunge, pike and muskie, canada northern pike fishing, canadian pike fishing, fishing Northern Pike have a range far greater than any other freshwater game fish in North America. Pike can be found throughout the northern half of North America stretching from nearly coast to coast. Pike prefer clear, shallow, vegetated areas of lakes and larger rivers. Pike are rarely found in areas lacking stumps, aquatic vegetation, or other cover.

Spawning takes place soon after ice-out in shallow waters. Up to a half a million eggs from a large female can be produced during spawning. A young pike will usually attain a length of fix inches by the fall. The fish can live as long as twenty five years or more.

The pike is a fun fish to catch simply based on its size, strength, and fighting spirit. The meat of the northern pike is white, great in flavor, and has a flaky texture, but it does have a lot of bones. They can be removed however if you take your time.

Muskellunge

As mentioned the “Muskie” looks quite similar to its cousin, the Northern Pike. It too has a long, laterally compressed body with a long head and large mouth. The body color’s highlight dark markings on a light background – opposite of the Northern Pike.

The muskellunge is found in the fresh waters of eastern North America. In Canada, the muskellunge can be found in rivers and lakes from New Brunswick, through the lower Great Lakes and into Manitoba.

The preferred habitat of the muskellunge is warm, heavily vegetated lakes. They can be often found in stumpy, weedy bays. The also flourish in slow vegetated rivers.

Muskellunge are solitary fish nearly all the time. The only time it seeks companionship is briefly at spawning time. As it prefers cover, it is rarely found far from the protection of sub-emergent plants.

Similar to its cousin, the muskellunge spawns in the spring immediately after the ice melts. Spawning takes place in shallow, heavily vegetated areas. Within two weeks of hatching, young muskies begin active feeding.

The growth rate is quite fast in the first few years. Usually the adult muskellunge moves little except when it is swiftly darting after prey. Fish, such as perch, suckers, larger minnows and sunfishes, form the largest part of their diet. What is a Tiger Muskellunge? It is simply nature at work! The muskellunge and the northern pike can on occasion produce offspring which produces a shorter, more robust fish with pronounced markings.

Pike and Muskellunge - Let's Compare

The quickest way to tell a northern pike from a muskie is to note that the northern has light markings on a dark body background. Muskies generally have dark markings on a light background.

A foolproof method to tell the difference between pike and muskellunge is to count the pores on the underside of the jaw. The northern has six or fewer; the muskie has six or more.

Northerns also have rounded tail fins, compared to the pointy tail fins of a muskie. Paired fins under the body of the Northern Pike are more rounded to the Muskie, which has slightly more pointed fins. Likewise the tail of the musky has more pointed features when compared to the Northern Pike’s more rounded tail.

Looking at the face the Northern Pike you see scales that are prominent above the cheek, behind the eye and make their way toward the jaw. The Muskie has scales on its face that are primarily above the cheek and behind the eye.

The bottom line is these fish are quite similar - yet have distinctive markings. Pike and Muskellunge are among the best freshwater gamefish you will catch in your life.

Become familiar with the successful strategies for catching pike and muskellunge. If it is a fish in the twenty plus pound range that you crave, take a look at some of the techniques that work well today on this site.