08-25-2012, 07:52 PM
That is most definitely a tiger muskie.
All the pike I have ever caught (hundreds) always have had five pores on each side under the jaw for a total of ten. Muskies and tigers vary, can have six to ten under each side but always more than five, never just five.
By the time a pike gets that big it has the distinctive markings of a northern pike. The great lakes strain muskies in the Niagara river and lake Erie near me will by the time they are that big have spots and usually no bars. The Chautauqua muskies that size have a mix of bars and spots but the bars are wider than on your fish.
I guess all I can say is once you've seen enough of all three you will immediately know which one you are looking at.
Juveniles smaller than that can be difficult to tell apart because they are all similar when less than a foot or so long.
No mistake about it, I am positive that is a tiger.
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All the pike I have ever caught (hundreds) always have had five pores on each side under the jaw for a total of ten. Muskies and tigers vary, can have six to ten under each side but always more than five, never just five.
By the time a pike gets that big it has the distinctive markings of a northern pike. The great lakes strain muskies in the Niagara river and lake Erie near me will by the time they are that big have spots and usually no bars. The Chautauqua muskies that size have a mix of bars and spots but the bars are wider than on your fish.
I guess all I can say is once you've seen enough of all three you will immediately know which one you are looking at.
Juveniles smaller than that can be difficult to tell apart because they are all similar when less than a foot or so long.
No mistake about it, I am positive that is a tiger.
[signature]