How to Tell a Northern Pike from a Muskie

Muskies and Pike are both voracious predators, both cannibals, not spooked by boats, strong fighters built for speed and jumps and sudden dives. There's an easy way to tell them apart and you need to learn it because they each have a different set of fishing regulations. Also, most people don't eat Muskies because they're rare compared to Pike. They're rare compared to Pike because Pike eggs hatch earlier in the spring and when the Muskie hatch the Pike fry are bigger and eat them if they can catch them. Things even out later in life as with most things.

[@bloodjunkie1919]

It's so interesting to see Norway excluded from the range of the pike, because we have waters where they came naturally and weren't released.

[@justinmcintire7595]

That's really cool to know man

[@mattu3936]

From South Dakota, love fishing Northern. That was a great catch!!

[@DouglasConlin]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@roccojc8071]

Nice catch!

[@larryenticer6961]

We seen a big one as long as canoe

[@kelliemariemarshall]

We only have pike in the uk liverpool so this is educational and more important some good old fishing!

[@Robin-pe1se]

Ya blender

[@davidbrothers2765]

I bet that was a good meal nice catch

[@ralphh4131]

I'll live to be 100 and I'll never be able to tell the difference between a pike and muskie

[@DouglasConlin]

Ralph H. Its easy: Light spots on a dark background means its a Pike. Plus, Muskies are rare compared to Pike.

[@hargoniyamaki5168]

The tail points are sharper on a Musky and more rounded on a pike.

[@scottconlin964]

Not bad!

[@rockrider5798]

2:12 she us mad, just send she back in water🙄

[@DouglasConlin]

She was mad.
She was also delicious!

[@davidbrothers3788]

Did you eat him was he good ive never had pike before ive heard they taste like walleye

[@DouglasConlin]

Yep. I thought I'd have some leftovers but he was so good I just kept eating! I hadn't had a meal that big in a long time. Pike have a row of Y bones but if you slice them out they taste as good as Walleye.

[@davidbrothers3788]

@@DouglasConlin did you fry him or grill him thats a nice northern but they arent really known as a good eating fish because of the bones but ive had several people tell me different how is your health these days

[@alejandromartinez-zd6qs]

I’ve never caught one :(

[@2strokesmn466]

I’m actually kind of afraid to catch a pike or scary to me kind of I don’t know I’ve never what I have caught one ice fishing but never seen one and just plain water in the lake on frozen you’re scary I don’t want to catch up on any tips on how to maybe catch them and not be so afraid?

[@DouglasConlin]

Pike are dangerous when you get your hands near their mouth. Grab them like I did in the thumbnail, behind the head where it meets the gills. Watch out, the gills can be very sharp too.

[@2strokesmn466]

Thanks

[@tomsmith459]

what a way to treat the pike,disgusting,, people like you give anglers a bad name,,absolutely no respect for the fish,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@night5025]

Much bigger problems then someone handling a fish not up to your standards. Plus he was going to clean and eat it anyway so what does it matter.

[@scienceisfun5989]

Yeah I wish you would have at least gilled him and bled him quickly vs. letting him hang and die slowly. Ikijime or spiking the brain/spinal cord and quickly dispatching the fish will actually make it taste better according to most reviews.

[@scienceisfun5989]

@@night5025 more of a being a good human thing vs efficacy issue. I’m not against hunting or being an outdoorsman by any means but I think we are knowledgeable enough as a species to do our best to make the process humane. Yeah it doesn’t really affect us either way but it is the right thing to do. Would you rather be eaten alive by a bear or killed almost instantly by a tiger bite to the neck.. I’m picking the tiger every time.

[@catherinedupre814]

They are tasty, in spite of the bones

[@deBebbler]

How dare you not handle that vicious cannibal with razor sharp teeth more humanely?! You're a monster!
But seriously, nice fish. Cheers from Northern MI

[@masterjolteryukai3919]

Well, Pike f'ing stink!!! That and musky are bit harder to come by, and are more distinct in features.

[@DouglasConlin]

They say 10,000 casts to hook one Muskie. I stopped at around 50. If I ever hooked one I wouldn't eat it, cuz they're rare, not so with pike.

[@masterjolteryukai3919]

@@DouglasConlin State of ten thousands lakes, holds the fish of 10000 casts. I hear ya. Biggest I've ever gotten is a 42 inch and about 4 pounds