Muskie or Northern??

[CaptainMusky]

Its a muskie. Northerns have white spots on a dark background. Muskies have dark spots or bars on a light background. Of course the body of water you may be on and the strain of fish in there may determine how prevalent the markings are, but I would say that is a muskie for sure.

If you have a pointed tail fin (versus rounded) its also a muskie for sure, BUT, tiger muskies have rounded tail fins like the northern so that doesnt always mean that a rounded tail fin is a northern.

You can also tell the difference by the number of pores in the jaw.

The MN DNR site has a very good description of the distinctions.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/muskellunge/biology.html

[Nick Kuhn]

I don't think it's so cut and dry as pike or muskie. There's types of pickerel it could be at that size. To be a muskie though I'd say it would have to be a natural fish caught between July and August based on that size.

[goblueM]

you gotta look at the head and the fins.

yeah, thats what is bugging me. the snout looks too short, the head too triangular, and the body proportions don't look like an esox to me (specifically the depth of the body given the length), and the anal/adipose fins seem too far from the caudal fin

it just looks wrong. but again, maybe its the angle and apparently its just me that thinks it isnt even esox

[spearchucker]

that almost looks like a big Logperch to me doesn't really look like Esox family at all. guess it could be the strange angle though

I don't think it looks like a Northern or a Muskie either. It looks like a perch or sauger maybe? Mutation?

[NoWiser]

You aren't the only one. I'm not a gambling man, but if I were, I would bet the farm that that is neither a pike, nor a muskie. It has the right colors, but not the right shape.

Also, Bronzebrother, your fish was a tiger.

[goblueM]

ok good to know i'm not the only one. If i had to lay money down, i'd say its a pretty healthy-sized Logperch. Especially if it was caught in a reservoir rather than a natural lake

[hunterjoe]

that almost looks like a big Logperch to me doesn't really look like Esox family at all. guess it could be the strange angle though

+1 Exactly what I was thinking.

[CaptainMusky]

Now that I look at it again you guys have me thinking. I expected it to be either a pike or muskie based on the topic, but now looking at it more, it does have some iffy characteristics that make me wonder.

[SmellEsox]

goblueM is right. That is a logperch.

[RK]

Pretty cool paint job on those logperch. Neat looking animal.

[BigJohn]

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/fish/pubs/muskellunge.pdf

[BigJohn]

Hey, I don't disagree, just can't see the front dorsal fin. I will ask if it had teeth. It is pretty hard to tell from the photo but it was caught in a man made lake that was built in the 30s

[BigJohn]

After talking with the kid that caught, pretty sure you experts are correct, not esox at all. I have lived and fished in this area most of my 49 years and never seen a logperch darter.

Thanks for the help.

[pureinsanity]

First pick is a northern!

[BigJohn]

http://gallery.nanfa.org/v/members/Nate+Tessler/nativenorthamericanfreshwaterfish/Percidae/Percina/

I think slenderhead darter now!

[50inchpig]

LMAO - definitely a northern

[goblueM]

not a slenderhead, not big enough, and it has vertical stripes rather than the blotches of a slenderhead darter. its 100% logperch

[Musky Buck]

Original post but pike but why not count the pores under the chin, isn't that a for sure forget which route it is more or less for pike or ski ?