Muskie

The muskellunge, or muskie, is the largest member of the pike family. It’s an elusive catch and is hunted by many. Algoma is home to the mighty muskie. Anglers hunt large muskies as trophies or for sport. This species can attain high swimming speeds but, for an intense short duration. The muskie will shake its head intensely, attempting to rid itself of a hook. Muskies are known for their strength and ability to leap out of the water in what can only be called an acrobatic display.

Known as a very challenging catch the muskie has been called “the fish of ten thousand casts”. These fish prefer clear waters where they lurk along weed edges, rock outcrops, or other structures to rest. Fish form two distinct home ranges in summer: a shallow range and a deeper one. The smaller shallow range is usually smaller as it is quicker to heat up. Muskies continually hunt both ranges searching available food in the appropriate water temperature.

Generally, their diet consists of fish but they also eat crayfish, ducklings, frogs, snakes, mice, muskrats and other small animals. Even small birds will fall prey to this mighty fish. With needle-like teeth and a large mouth, muskies try to take their prey head first, often swallowing them in one gulp.

When Do Muskies Spawn

Muskies spawn in mid to late spring in shallow vegetated areas. They prefer rocky or sand bottoms so eggs don’t suffocate in mud-bottomed waters. Males stalk the spot before the female arrives. Spawning takes about 5 – 10 days then the eggs are left to fend on their own. By fall, the newborn muskies are about 12 inches in length. These animals grow very slowly and the young are feed for other muskies, northern pike, bass, trout and occasionally birds of prey. People are the only ones that prey on adult muskies. But because of their low birth numbers, there is always the fear that muskies will become endangered.

When “hunting” for muskies, smaller lures are more apt to bring success in the spring, or when the temperatures are cooler. However, larger lures should be used in the heat of the summer or fall.  Live bait is often used, an 8 to 12-inch long fish called a “muskie minnow” but please catch and release these mighty fish to ensure the elusive muskie is part of the sport of angling in the future.