Musky, Tiger Musky, or Northern Pike?

For those of you who are OBSESSED with catching that keeper Musky (yes, I even subscribed to the Musky Hunter Magazine and ordered their merchandise), I suggest that you learn to differentiate among these three fish that all look very similar: Musky, Tiger Musky, and the Northern Pike.  They come from the same family - a blended sort of family.

There have been many instances when a large-ish fish with scary teeth has arrived in the boat, and no one but myself is able to identify said fish.  It's not hard, people.  Look at the diagram, and don't insult the cooler fish.

Northerns are stupid, more plentiful, and easier to catch.  Muskies are smarter because they've been around longer, and because they can't be kept unless they are a certain size: they live and learn... and begin to believe.

The Tiger Musky exists because the breeding seasons overlap between the Northern and the Musky, and sometimes the Musky eggs get fertilized by the Northerns, thus creating the Tiger Musky.

The trophy Musky has managed to elude me so far, but not forever.  

Here's my favorite XL Musky story:

We were fishing for panfish at the edge of the island where there is a channel and dropoff.  Using a bobber and a worm, I was after what was getting the most action: sunfish.  I got one!  It was time to reel like a crazy person, and skip that tiny body across the water (Mark says I reel way too fast). 

Furiously reeling, I was surprised when all of a sudden I couldn't reel anymore.  "Give it it to me!" Mark scolded as he reached for my pole, assuming that it was user error on my part.  Couldn't move it.  Must have been stuck on something.  He handed my pole back as we were about to head in to retrieve my hook.  

All of a sudden, the line started to move.  I tried to reel, but it was too hard.  I told Mark to get the net, and he said to bring whatever it was over to the side of the boat.  All I could do was pull because the reel wasn't doing anything.  As he leaned over the side of the boat, an enormous head rose out of the water and scared the crap out of him.  He screamed and jumped back.  We all started screaming.  From the opposite end of the boat, all I saw was tail.  As soon as the fish saw Mark and the net, it let go, leaving me a huge sunfish with no fins.  He must have seen the crazy sunfish flying through the water and went to eat it as I was reeling.  Alas, he got away never to return, leaving me only with the best fishing tale ever!

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