Northern pike vs muskellunge: how to tell them apart

Northern pikeup to 150 cm · 28.4 kg · 30 years

muskellungeup to 183 cm · 31.8 kg · 30 years

Northern pikeA resident fish of lakes, ponds and calm river stretches, often close to the bank near reeds and plants. Some pike hunt in the open water of large lakes, and it also lives in brackish water.

muskellungeNative to the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes, the Red River (Hudson Bay basin) and the Mississippi basin, stocked elsewhere in the US (FishBase). It ranges south to the Tennessee River valley near Chattanooga and was introduced to the Saint John River in Maine in the late 1960s (Wikipedia). Lives in clear, vegetated lakes, quiet pools and backwaters of small to large rivers (FishBase) and prefers shallow, cool water with plenty of cover (German Wikipedia). In summer one fish uses two home ranges, a small shallow one and a larger deep one (Wikipedia).

Northern pikeMarch to May (general guide, varies with water temperature and region)

muskellungeMid to late spring, somewhat later than northern pike, over shallow vegetated areas with rock or sand bottom; spawning lasts 5 to 10 days, mostly at night, the adults abandon the eggs and the larvae hatch within two weeks (Wikipedia). German Wikipedia gives mostly early May and 60,000 to 100,000 eggs per female, FishBase spring as the ice melts.

Northern pikeLure fishing (spinning), Static fishing with a dead bait fish, Fly fishing with streamers

muskellungeCasting large lures along weed edges and rock bars, Trolling large crankbaits, Fly fishing with large streamers (rule of thumb), Figure-eight the lure at the boat before lifting it out, because muskies often follow to the boat (rule of thumb)

Northern pikeSoft plastic shad, Spoon, Plug (crankbait), Dead bait fish

muskellungeLarge bucktail spinner, Jerkbait, Large soft swimbait, Topwater lure, Large streamer (fly)

Northern pikeLean, rather dry flesh with Y-bones along the back that can be removed in an orderly way.

muskellungeEdible but of little culinary importance; most anglers release it.

Northern pikeGerman Red List (freshwater fish 2023): not threatened. IUCN: not threatened (Least Concern, 2022).

muskellungeIUCN: Least Concern (2011; FishBase). Native populations are protected in parts of Tennessee and Ohio (FishBase); low reproduction and slow growth make populations vulnerable to overfishing (Wikipedia). Licence, minimum size and limits are set by each state or Canadian province. Example Minnesota: statewide minimum length of 54 inches since the 2015 season, with exceptions for border waters and waters designated by the DNR (Minnesota DNR news release of 2 June 2014, accessed 21 Oct 2026). In Maine, where it is not native, anglers are encouraged not to release muskies (Wikipedia). Careful when unhooking: large mouth with sharp teeth, use long pliers and a wire leader (rule of thumb).