| Muskie is the nick name giving to
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| | competitor, the northern pike, which can
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| Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) which name
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| | be identified by the light marks over
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| comes from the Ojibwe word
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| | their dark body. Body's colors vary from
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| "maashkinoozhe" (ugly pike), although
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| | light green, silver and light brown.
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| some citations refers the name is from
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| | Northern Pike have 5 or fewer sensory
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| the French "masque allongé" (long mask)
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| | pores on the underside of their jaw,
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| a modified Ojibwe etymology. Muskie is a
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| | while Muskellunges have six or more.
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| relatively rare, large and elusive
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| | There are also a sterile hybrid of the
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| freshwater fish of North America, more
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| | tiger muskie and the northern pike
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| often found in Minnesota.
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| | stocked in several lakes in the Twin
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| This fish is the largest member of the
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| | Cities metro region, easily identifiable
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| pike family, Esocidae, with 3 recognized
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| | because of their dark markings over a
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| subspecies: Chautauqua Muskellunge (Esox
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| | light background (similar to a muskie),
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| masquinongy ohiensis) - Tiger Muskellunge
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| | but with rounded tail fins, like on
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| (Esox masquinongy immaculatus) - Great
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| | northern pikes.
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| Lakes Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy
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| | Muskies resemble Northern pike in
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| masquinongy)
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| | behavior and appearance, with flat heads,
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| All the subspecies are present in the
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| | elongated bodies, as well as dorsal,
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| areas where muskie live, including the
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| | pelvic and anal fins set far back of the
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| Great Lakes (region north to Canada),
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| | head. They grow as big as 2 to 6 feet (71
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| Chautauqua Lake, Lake Ontario, the Ohio
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| | to 183 cm) and weigh around 66 pounds (30
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| River system, the Saint Lawrence River,
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| | kilograms).
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| Hudson Bay, and in the Upper Mississippi,
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| | Depending on their habitat, sometimes the
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| generally preferring cold, clear lakes
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| | marking of Muskellunges break up into
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| and large rivers.
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| | spots, or is totally absent in turbid
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| Subspecies have also name variations,
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| | waters. In addition, the lobes of the
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| such as Wisconsin Muskellunge, Barred
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| | tail fin in Muskellunge usually come to a
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| Muskellunge, Allegheny River Pike, Jack,
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| | sharper point than those observed of the
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| Pike, Ohio Muskellunge, Barred
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| | northern pike.
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| Muskellunge, Ohio River Pike, and
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| | There is a website that has great
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| Unspotted Muskellunge, all of them
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| | information on most species of freshwater
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| lurking among weeds and floating plants,
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| | fish. It has details that pertain to each
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| waiting for the opportune moment to
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| | species of fish such as habitat,
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| strike.
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| | spawning, eating habits, the best lures
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| Shared preferences make northern pike,
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| | and baits and more, the website is
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| muskellunge and even the American eel
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| | called: Fishing Stringer, and can be
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| occur in the same body of water,
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| | found at this url:
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| generally leading to incidents of
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| | By Robert W. Benjamin
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| interbreeding. Muskellunge eat fish,
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| | You may publish this article in your
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| small muskrats and sometimes ducklings,
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| | ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as
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| thanks to their tooth-lined jaws.
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| | long as it is reprinted in its entirety
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| Muskellunges are usually light colored
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| | and without modification except for
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| with long bodies and dark bars running up
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| | formatting needs or grammar corrections.
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| and down, opposite of their close
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|
