KraTToR Posted May 27 Report Share Posted May 27 I've caught 3 of these, in 3 different waters, over the last couple of year. Looks a lot darker than the "Tiger Muskie" pics i've seen online. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrowMan Posted May 27 Report Share Posted May 27 Looks like a juvenile Northern Pike to me. They often have that colour pattern when young. You can count the "pores" on the underside of the jaw to be sure. Does the water you're fishing have both species ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted May 27 Report Share Posted May 27 Too young to call it a Tiger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KraTToR Posted May 27 Author Report Share Posted May 27 I doubt its a Juvy, i've seen small pike and they look nothing like this. This one was close to 30" so again, not a juvy. Very interesting. BTW, yes, both species exist in the waters I was fishing, one was the Massassauga park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrowMan Posted May 28 Report Share Posted May 28 Like I said, unless you counted the pores on the lower mandible, it's difficult to confirm one way or another. I'm certainly no expert in fish ID...however, two things have me thinking its a Pike, and not a cross. Google "juvenile Northern Pike images"...all kinds of examples with that exact colour pattern. I've caught many myself with that colouration in lakes that the nearest Musky was more than 200 km away. Second, I had a cottage on Wahsoune Island right in the middle of Massassauga PP for several years. Never saw a Tiger, never heard of one....but I did catch young Pike that looked exactly like that. I may be wrong, but for whatever reason Pike and Musky just don't seem to hybridize in Georgian Bay. Although not always the case, Tigers (and pure Muskies) typically have darker stripes on a lighter background. In the Kawarthas you will see olive coloured Tigers, but its a dark stripe on light. The photo is a typical mature Tiger (49") from NW Ontario's Eagle Lake this past September....big head, rounded fins...Tiger traits vs Musky. If you want confirmation, find Gord Pyzer on Facebook. Gord knows his toothy critters. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KraTToR Posted May 28 Author Report Share Posted May 28 14 hours ago, CrowMan said: Like I said, unless you counted the pores on the lower mandible, it's difficult to confirm one way or another. I'm certainly no expert in fish ID...however, two things have me thinking its a Pike, and not a cross. Google "juvenile Northern Pike images"...all kinds of examples with that exact colour pattern. I've caught many myself with that colouration in lakes that the nearest Musky was more than 200 km away. Second, I had a cottage on Wahsoune Island right in the middle of Massassauga PP for several years. Never saw a Tiger, never heard of one....but I did catch young Pike that looked exactly like that. I may be wrong, but for whatever reason Pike and Musky just don't seem to hybridize in Georgian Bay. Although not always the case, Tigers (and pure Muskies) typically have darker stripes on a lighter background. In the Kawarthas you will see olive coloured Tigers, but its a dark stripe on light. The photo is a typical mature Tiger (49") from NW Ontario's Eagle Lake this past September....big head, rounded fins...Tiger traits vs Musky. If you want confirmation, find Gord Pyzer on Facebook. Gord knows his toothy critters. Definatly worth looking into. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted May 28 Report Share Posted May 28 Good call on Gord, I'm sure he'd be happy to help. Shoot him a message on Facebook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dara Posted May 30 Report Share Posted May 30 Snot rocket...toss it back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rizzo Posted May 31 Report Share Posted May 31 That fish is nearly 30 inches? I would agree to me it looks like a juvenile pike...but 30 inches aint no juvenile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted May 31 Report Share Posted May 31 I don't think that fish is close to 30 inches lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted May 31 Report Share Posted May 31 1 hour ago, BillM said: I don't think that fish is close to 30 inches lol Specially when you compare it to the shoe beside it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BITEME Posted May 31 Report Share Posted May 31 On 5/27/2024 at 10:26 AM, KraTToR said: I've caught 3 of these, in 3 different waters, over the last couple of year. Looks a lot darker than the "Tiger Muskie" pics i've seen online. Thoughts? I ve caught lots of pike that look like this in the spring in a certain Halton creek …. Looks like a hammer handle! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted May 31 Report Share Posted May 31 54 minutes ago, lew said: Specially when you compare it to the shoe beside it. I'm thinking 30 centimeters myself and I concur with those who said juvi northern. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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