Muskie vs. Pike

Muskies are occasionally confused with northern pike. Muskies have dark markings on a light background while pike have light markings on a dark background.

Scientists use an eight-point check list to positively identify a particular fish as a pike or a muskie. Detailed examination is obviously not possible for an angler with a fish thrashing at the side of the boat. The most precise method in this case is to count sensory pores on the underside of the jaw. These pores appear as small holes outlining the jaw bone. Muskies will have a total of 12 to 20 of these submandibular pores. The northern pike will have nine to 11.

In bodies of water where the pike and muskie coexist, hybridization sometimes occurs. Pike/muskie hybrids appear to have heads much too large for the body. They have a color pattern which usually consists of very distinct heavy striping, sometimes mixed with spots. Trophy-sized hybrids are exceedingly rare.

Click to Listen!