Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) - 3 Common Patterns
Muskie Diagram
Please use the diagram show above with the pictures below, to properly distinguish members of the muskellunge family.
Clear
Paired fins have more pointed tips.
Sometimes, a faint indication of marking pattern is present on posterior 1/3 body in “clear” variation of muskellunge.
Spotted
Caudal fins with pointed tips.
Barred
Coloration with vertical dark markings on a light background.
Juvenile pattern similar to adult.
Background colors of fish can vary slightly depending on environmental characteristics of the body of water and its geographic location. One marking pattern may dominate in an area, but all 3 can be present.
Hybrid "Tiger" (Esox masquinongy x Esox lucius)
Caudal fins with rounded tips.
Paired fins having rounded tips.
Coloration having irregular narrow vertical dark markings on a light background with stripes merging onto the back in an interlocking pattern.
Sometimes the sides exhibit an alternating pattern of stripes and spots, or narrow paired-bars on a light background.
Pattern never resembles that of a northern pike.
Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
Paired fins having more rounded tips
Caudal fin with more rounded tips
Has a coloration pattern of light "round to oval" horizontal rows on a dark background.
Some areas may contain "Silver Pike", which is a mutant color variation of a Northern Pike. "Silver Pike" lack the characteristic spots of Northern Pike and have a "dark to light" greyish/blue side. "Silver Pike" have similar fin colorartion as a normal Northern Pike.