Key Distinguishing Markings:

* In general, identifying the muskellunge from the hybrid is fairly easy, though it can be more difficult with some individuals.
* The tiger muskie is named for the prominent light-colored, branching bars on a dark blue-green background; some of the light-colored pattern continues across the back.
* Muskellunge, on the other hand, have much less prominent, non-branching, dark bars on an olive to tan background with no pattern across the back.
* Chin pores, located on the right and left bottom surface of the lower jaw, will usually number 6 or 7, up to 10, per side on muskellunge.
* Chin pores on tiger muskie number 5 or 6 per side.

Size:

* The muskellunge, or muskie as it more commonly called, is one of the largest freshwater game fish in North America

Habitat:

Muskellunge/Tiger muskie use a variety of habitats seasonally from deep open water to shallow cover such as weeds and fallen trees. In rivers, they usually occupy the deeper pools with reduced current.

Food Preference:

* Muskellunge are opportunistic ambush predators, feeding primarily on other fish.
* Unlike sharks, muskie’s teeth do not mesh to take bites, but are simply to hold their prey, which they must swallow whole.
* The literature indicates that muskellunge prefer to prey upon large, soft-finned, fusiform (cylinder shaped) species such as suckers, fallfish, minnows, and small carp. These forage fish are very abundant in the Potomac.
* Due to their size and their ability to prey on fish up to forty-five percent of their own length, muskies occupy a unique niche in the river.

Spawning:

* Muskellunge initiate spawning during April or May when water temperatures exceed 50°F for several consecutive days. Tiger muskie are sterile hybrids and do not reproduce.
* Spawning takes place near aquatic vegetation, debris, and leaf litter over a period of a few days.
* The eggs are broadcast over a fairly large area and settle to the bottom.
* No parental care is given.
* Surviving eggs will hatch in twelve to fifteen days.
* At first, muskies grow very rapidly reaching approximately twelve inches by the end of their first growing season, twenty-four inches by the end of the second, and thirty inches by the end of their third.
* Females grow faster and live longer than males; the maximum lifespan is about twenty-five to thirty years, though it is usually much shorter.

Fishing Tips:

* Tackle for muskie needs to be stouter than tackle used for bass and walleye.
* A medium-heavy muskie-action casting rod with twenty pound test monofilament or braided line works well.
* A hard monofilament or wire leader is necessary to prevent the line being cut by their teeth.
* Large crankbaits imitating suckers and fallfish and bucktail spinners are the most popular lures for muskie.
* Anglers not familiar with handling these fish may want to stick with single-hook lures such as spinnerbaits to start with.
* Due to their limited numbers and value as a trophy sport fish, most muskie anglers release their catch to fight again.
* Several tools are needed to make releasing muskies safer for both the fish and the fishermen. Foremost is a large needle-nose pliers or a hook-out (pistol grip pliers) for removing hooks while keeping fingers a safe distance away from their teeth.

Family: Esocidae (Pikes)
Order: Esociformes
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)