The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), often shortened to muskie, musky, ski, or lunge, is a species of large freshwater predatory fish native to North America. It is the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae.

Muskellunge, also known as musky or muskie, are considered a cool water species and known as the “fish of 10,000 casts” as they are very wary and elusive to recreational anglers. They are considered excellent tasting fish with a flaky white flesh.

Native Range: St. Lawrence River-Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins, from Quebec to southeastern Manitoba; south in the Appalachians to Georgia and in the west to Iowa (Page and Burr 1991). Crossman (1978) gave a distribution map.

Musky have a defined home range that they seldom stray from other than to spawn. The size of a musky’s home range mainly depends on food availability, the size of its water body, and seasonal conditions.

The foolproof way to tell a muskie from a northern pike is to count the pores on one side of the underside of the jaw. A muskie has six or more. A northern has five or fewer. Take a closer look or find out more in the fishing regulations fish identification guide (PDF).

The native range of muskellunge in West Virginia was confined to the Ohio River drainage (Bean 1908, Miles 1978). The presence of muskellunge in the Tennessee and Cumberland River drainages is among the southernmost in the United States (Parsons 1959).

The natural range of the muskie spans from north to south from Tennessee to mid-Ontario, and from east to west from New York to Minnesota. Muskie can reach lengths greater than 50 inches and weights of over 50 pounds.

The native range of the species includes parts of the high match areas: St. Lawrence River, Great Lakes basin, and northern Mississippi basin. There were areas of low match in southern Florida and Texas.

Muskies prefer cool, clear lakes with abundant vegetation or long pool areas of rivers near fallen trees and other submerged structure. They prefer water temperatures ranging from 62°F – 75°F. Water temperatures up to 89°F can be stressfully tolerated, but Musky stop feeding at 84°F.

Jul 2, 2023 · Adult muskies typically range in length from 28 to 48 inches (71 to 122 centimeters) and can weigh between 5 and 36 pounds (2 to 16 kilograms). Female muskies tend to grow larger and faster than males, often achieving greater lengths and weights.