Pike Identification from muskies

[Pike Stabber]

I would greatly appreciate some helpful advice/tips on how to tell the difference between northern pike and muskies when we are looking at them from above. i believe this is very important for the newcomers (like me) to understand so we dont make the mistake.

thanks guys/gals!

[Scott M]

There used to be a pamphlet or handout, not sure if the MDAA made it or MN DNR, but it had an image from the Les Koube darkhouse series and a little narrative about telling pike and muskie apart with pictures of each species staring at a decoy in a spear hole as viewed from above. The nuts and bolts of it was to remember that pike are easiest to tell by light markings on a dark background versus muskies having dark markings on a light background. Because of countershading, both species will seem dark from above, but if you have enough light, you'll be able to see the contrast of background and marking. A number of spearers have told me they identify muskies as having a "greenish" hue to them versus a "black" color on pike, as viewed from above. Hope this helps. Know before you throw!

[mainbutter]

I look for the pike pattern, horizontal dash marks on a greener body. Clear body or with spots on a more golden background is what I look for in muskies. It's really hard for me from the top down or from a distance, especially in non-clear water.

[terrible_fisherman]

I tend to avoid lakes that have both unless the water is very clear. If water is clear you can tell the difference pretty easy by looking for what Scott said above. I have seen a few in the hole and they do look quite different if you are used to the way a pike looks in the hole.

[muskiemanAD]

As stated above the Muskie will be a little greener then the pike. However if the water is not real clear it can be rather tough to tell apart. If your on here asking and new at spearing maybe try some waters that have Pike only in them first till you get some experience under your belt...

[MJ1657]

Best advice I can give is treat it like your deer hunting with no doe tag. Its not quite light yet and you can't tell if the deer has horns. You don't squeeze the trigger until you know.

Don't release that spear until you know. Its really that simple.

[Jameson]

All good advice so far. In my experience muskies glow gray and pike look almost black.

muskie:

Pike:

The old strain of muskies that was once commonly stocked, the Shoepak (sp?) strain, were much darker than the currently common muskie strain that is stocked.

[Gordie]

Best advice is "If you don't know don't throw"

As Jameson pointed out the muskies have a gray glow or a reddish glow to them at least in my experiences with them.

[Pike Stabber]

excellent responses, the pictures were perfect to clarify!

thanks to all!

[shamalex72]

Another example of what muskies look like down a spear hole.

[LunkerCity]

Usually muskie will have a much more pointed snout, shaped live a V. A pike will have a more rounded snout, like a U. From the muskies I've seen in a spear shack, its fairly easy to tell, but that was on a lake with pretty good visibility.