Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

[LadyFish]

<br /><br />Also at the bottom of this link there is a weight calculator for bass/walleye and pike/musky thats pretty cool.<br /><br /> Weight Calculator

 

[JB]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

And besides that, muskys are smarter than most fishermen. <br /><br />Pike are dumber than a rock, but still a bit smarter than the average liberal.

 

[NathanY]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

With the exception of color, every fish in that pic look exactly the same.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

real test is in how they fight nate.<br />that's why they so sought after....

 

[John_S]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

Are the three variations of Muskies seperate species, or possible within the same species or comes as a variation in size or male/female? Most small Muskies I've caught tend to be of the clear or golden variety, where the bigger ones seem to be more spotted or barred. I also know of a couple of large Muskies, that looked like candidates for a NY Tiger record, turned out after genetic analysis to be Muskie.

 

[DJ]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

The environment (water color) will have some effect on the "hue" (color). However, the markings are relatively consistant.<br /><br />It gets even more confusing when you throw in "Pickerel".

 

[PAkev]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

Are the three variations of Muskies seperate species, or possible within the same species or comes as a variation in size or male/female? <br /><br /><br />From my understanding the Tiger Muskie is a hybrid result of a female Muskie and a male Northern Pike or it may even be vice versa. Perhaps one of the Muskie Gurus can verify. Tigers are also sterile and therefore are often used in stocking programs to enable fisheries management to control their populations a little better than the real McCoy. Tigers also tend to be a little smaller than mature muskies of the same age.<br /><br />Kevin.

 

[John_S]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

A while back NY did allot of stocking of Tigers, many times to reduce the carp population. Tigers were stocked in the Susquahanna. State Tiger record was caught in a feeder stream to the "hana". Haven't heard much about Tigers, lately. PA also stocks Muskies in "hana", but I hear they clip the fins to id them as stockers. Tigers and the barred colored Muskie are hard to tell apart. NY's general regulations have a slightly different season for Tiger's VS Muskie. Became too much of an issue on the river, so the special county regs have the same season.<br /><br />Many people do confuse chain pickerel and Northerns. Grew-up catching both of these species, so thats not one of my problems. ;-)

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

Nate..I can tell you don't fish for the gator..<br /><br />Lf..Here is a proven method on how to tell the difference.<br /><br />1..open mouth with thumb on lower jaw(Use thumb you really don't need)..<br />2.. Take middle finger and feel just to left of jaw..<br /><br />On muskys the third tooth over will be bigger..<br />With northern the second tooth will be bigger..<br /><br />3..If you still have finger or thumb left pull the tongue out and check for spots..<br /><br />I hope this helps ya <br /><br />PaKev your right....In southern Ohio you will find alot of the spots and barreds..<br /><br />The Tiger is the most sought after warrior because of the fight one will give ya and the rarity it is caught...<br /><br />I figure I have over 100 hours wrapped up this year so far and have netted 8..Biggest is only 36"<br />Fall is the time of the gator..They go into a frenzy feedn mode..This is the time you throw the lumber at em..

 

[John_S]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

"The Tiger is the most sought after warrior because of the fight one will give ya and the rarity it is caught..."<br /><br />The fight comes from years of fustration of not being able to reproduce! )

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

Never thought of it that way John_s...Here are some of my toys...These are the 2003 models..Figure I have picked up about fifty or sixty more this year.. <br />

<br /><br />

 

[aspeck]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

Muskie are much better looking!

 

[John_S]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

Toys??? Maybe ammunition, artillary, or weapons of choice, but not toys!!!! ;-) While I have a good selection and quantity (from a number of ebay frenzy buys!) of light arms, have only marginal heavy weapons, like yours. <br /><br />I catch about half dozen muskies a year, but never hit the river just to target them. Always fishing for bass or walleyes first. About half the ones I catch are on light armor, fishing for eys/smallies. The other half, come from switching to heavy armor when a muskie seems to be nearby. ie small eyes just shutdown, followed your last retrieve, etc. I have also been known, to take my time reeling in a dink (small walleye). ;-)

 

[Barlow]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

best musky bait is a 10-12" walleye.<br />-BUT-<br />You didn't here that from me or on iboats .... <br /><br /><br />nice hardware GF .... I'm definately bringing the kevlar suit, chain mail and hockey helmet next summer ... did i leave anything out?<br /><br />BTW- pike and muskys will suprise you in the least expected ways - some will come to the boat like a dead log and stay that way.. others will pull you around for a half hour and refuse to cooperate then lay down ... -or- etc ...<br />-> doesn't matter if it's a tiger or a natural in my experiences.

 

[timbo1963]

Re: Musky/Pike? How to Tell the Difference

Easiest way to tell a musky from a pike is to look at the tail. Musky is pointed pike is rounded. If the tail is bit off it is a pike!