What it looks like
- very large, elongated fish (second-largest in Ontario)
- dark vertical bands on light background, at times spotted or clear
- green-gold, brown, grey or silver back
- lighter sides
- beige to white belly
- partially scaled cheek and gill cover
- 12-18 pores on underside of lower jaw
- tips of tail fin more pointed than northern pike
Size
- length: 71-137 centimetres (28-40 inches)
- weight: 4-11 kilograms (8-23 pounds)
- Ontario record: 29.5 kilograms (65.0 pounds)
Similar fish
How to tell the difference between Northern Pike and Muskellunge
Where it is found
Range
- from the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes basin, north to Lake Nipissing and west to Lake of the Woods
- use Fish ON-Line, an interactive mapping tool, to find specific lakes and rivers
Habitat
- concealed among aquatic plants at the sides of channels
- rocks and offshore shoals in lakes and rivers in summer
Angling tips
- peak fishing periods are in June and in the fall when water temperatures begin to cool
- medium-sized fish are plentiful in the summer months
- bite all day, but morning and evening, when baitfish activity peaks, are best fishing times
- province-wide size limits
- use heavy casting tackle with long rods and strong line to catch this large, strong fighter
- handle carefully, using a large net or cradle, pliers and gloves, to avoid injuring the fish or yourself
Common baits
- large plugs, including large bass plugs
- in-line spinners
- spinnerbaits
- surface lures