Fish Iowa - Fish Species - Muskellunge

Characteristics

The Muskellunge differs from other pikes in having the upper half of the cheeks and opercles lightly scaled and the lower portion of these parts scaleless. The lower jaw has a row of 6 to 9 pores along each side. There are 16 to 19 branchiostegal rays, usually 19 rays in the dorsal fin, and 147 to 155 cycloid scales along the lateral line. The color of Muskellunge varies; it is usually olive to dark gray with dark over markings on the sides. When present, these markings will have dark spots or bars on a light background.

Foods

Muskellunge are strictly carnivorous. They eat mostly other fish, like perch, suckers and shiners. The first food of young Muskellunge is zooplankton, but after a few days of life fish are eaten. It also feeds extensively on frogs, crayfish and large water insects and has been known to devour ducklings, shore birds and even young aquatic mammals.

Expert Tip

Some fishermen have termed musky the fish of 1,000 casts. Musky are world famous for their difficulty to hook and successfully land. Be patient and use BIG lures.

Details

Before 1960, only a few Muskellunge had been collected in Iowa fish surveys. Three were reported in the Mississippi River, one each near Lansing and Harpers Ferry in Allamakee County in 1935 and one in Muscatine County near Muscatine in 1892. Single fish were collected from the Skunk River near Ames in Story County in 1892 and in Clear Lake in 1945. The latter was probably transplanted from the Mississippi River during fish rescue activities.

In 1960, the first purebred musky were stocked into Iowa waters. Fry from Wisconsin were raised at the Decorah trout hatchery, and 40 fish each were stocked into Clear Lake and West Lake Okoboji. The program has continued with annual stockings of about 5,000 fish, 6- to 10-inches long, into Clear Lake, West Lake Okoboji and Big Spirit Lake. Musky were also introduced into Big Creek Lake and Rathbun Lake in the 1970`s, but stockings were stopped after two or three years in favor of hybrid musky.

Muskellunge spawn in early spring, several weeks later than Northern Pike. In northern states they usually spawn in tributary streams and shallow lake channels rather than in flooded marshes and swamps preferred by Northern Pike. Like all members of the pike family, they simply scatter their eggs unattended over the bottom. The eggs are small, averaging about 75,000 to the quart. Incubation is completed in 12 to 15 days in 50 to 55 degrees water. A female, 36- to 46-inches long, produces up to 164,000 eggs. The average range is about 20,000 to 165,000 eggs, but female fish weighing 40 pounds can produce as many as 225,000 eggs. These fish are not long-lived and usually die before reaching age 12. A recent age and growth study for musky conducted on West Lake Okoboji showed the growth averaged 12.8-inches at age 1, 35.7-inches at age 5, and 46-inches at age 11.

Only a few bodies of water in Iowa are suitable for the development and continuation of a successful musky program. The fishery will remain very limited in Iowa, but where it is present it will continue to capture the heart and soul of anglers looking for a memorable fishing experience.

Recent stream sampling information is available from Iowa DNR's biological monitoring and assessment program.

Learn more about this fish at the Muskie Profile DNR Homepage

State Record(s)

Master Angler Catches