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