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Fish ID on White Bear - Northern or Muskie?


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I caught my first Muskie last weekend...doesn't mean much really,'cept the one I caught looked just like that one from the top.

I've caught lots of Northerns.

It's a Muskie.

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SERIOUSLY! It was THIS big!

[This message has been edited by buzbunni (edited 06-04-2004).]

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  • iFishMN.YT

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Musky- another reason is WBL is a pure hammer handle lake- i've never seen a pike even close to 10 lbs come out of that lake.

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Tiger--- My final awnser :-) Definatly not a Pike. Pike generally are much darker in color. This bad boy is green!

Rip some lips!

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Pike ARE green!!!!!

They're not red,yellow,blue or orange...they are green.

Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike smile.gif

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Doop,
Show me a light green pike and I will be a believer. Pike are dark or black in most cases with yellow or light colored markings. Some lakes with higher mineral or stained water will change the coloring in some fish though.

I have a friend that does taxidermy and I help air brush some of his work and we use very little green paint on pike.

I also fish Cass Lake/Leech(muskie capital of the state) for muskie and have seen many Leech Lake strain of muskie that looks just like the one pictured. The muskie that are in the Metro waters are from the Leech Lake strain and most not all, tend to be hybred. (metro area rearing lakes)

Your right, very good.... Pike are not pink or purple either.... good observation!

(Tiger-- Northern/muskie Hyrbed.)

Hopefully the picture was sent to the DNR and settle this confusion and if it's a pike...... Your the man DOOP! :-)

Have a good weekend,

Autumnhunt----Gone fishing!

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Autumnhunt
I did indeed send the picture to my contact at the DNR. I should have confirmation soon as to whether this is a PIKE or a SKI..

I still think its a pike!

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Good,
Can't wait to hear the results. I will be shocked if it's a pike, but you never know.... Ok, maybe a chameleon pike...? hehe.

Thanks. :-)

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If indeed its a Muskie, I owe someone a sucker minnow.. haha..
Wondering why whats taking him so long to get back to me.. Maybe he's debating with his co-workers also so he doesn't give me false information! haha..

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Thanks for all the responses. It seems as if muskie wins for the poll, but I'm still not sure.

Let's here it for that clear water on WBL. Granted it was only in about 2-1/2 feet, but it sure made a nice picture. I've had 2 other "muskies" follow a hooked crappie this spring. I would have to say the muskie are pretty active out.

Have a good weekend.

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I can tell it was a muskie just by looking at it's head. Howerever thinks it is a northern is crazy.

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I honestly think it's a slimer because it looks like you can see the greenish/white pattern on the side of the fish....that was the first thing that stood out to me.

It's a distinct possibility that I'm color blind...but all the northerns I've ever caught have a green color to them. smile.gif

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Autumn~
Do a search on the internet for northern pike....tell me what color northern pike are now.

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This is a nice metro ski!!!!!!! Big metro Pike are spooky and Muskies are not. I've never seen a 40" Pike in 2 FT of water in the metro.

Brian (aka muskieschaef)

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Pike or Muskie? Let the DNR decide to tell us that they can't tell because of the fishes pose. They'll need a side shot but I still vote for Muskie.

I could use one of them sucker minnow's too... but I don't think I'm in the betting pool.

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I have to say a Muskie, and I hope to get a close up view of one like that in the next couple of days on the end of my line!! Hooray for Muskie opener, it's finally here after a painful 7 months.

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Guys

I have to say PIKE.....
here is the reasons why:
1) look at the fin color and shape....
2) look at the darkness of the head....
3) I caught 2 pike today that had a pink/red tint to them.

that is just my opinion debate it if you want....

------------------
If it was so easy to catch fish.... they'd call it catching and not fishing

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Asian Carp.......................

Just kidding. My vote is Muskie. Muskie are much more carefree. I have never witnessed a pike in 2 1/2 feet of water even think about being close enough to get a picture of them.

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How can you "Tell by its actions" that its a muskie? I've seen northerns coming to shallow water to chase the sunnies. I see that all the time at Bald Eagle lake

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Last night around 7:00pm I was fishing on White Bear Lake and was pulling in a 21" walleye and a Muskie that had to go close to 4 feet long followed it up to the boat. It sat motionless in the water about 5 feet under the surface for about 10 seconds. I dipped the walleye in the water to try to get it to come closer but it wouldn't.

Also, earlier this year I was fishing spring crappies right near the Matouska Park boat landing and about a 10lb muskie went after a crappie I was pulling in.

I might have to start muskie fishing!!!

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If you have ever seen a pike up in the shallows it does not sit still it is always moving unless they are spawning and pike are one of the first fish to spawn so at this time of the year you know it is not a pike up that shallow moving slowly. There was a statement that a pike was seen up shallow chasing sunnies. My point exactly chasing sunnies. At this time of year a pike will sit still for a second and if you make any slight movement it will take off in a hurry in a different direction. The muskies have just finished spawning so there are still a little lethargic.

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Still leaning muskie, but I dont think we can absolutely sure. We can point out all the colors, fins and head shapes, but with the angle of the picture we cant tell for sure, could be either, again my vote be muskie, mainly because of behavior and size for that lake, and especially if youve seen some more ski's around that dock area. It is possible to see a Northern that shallow THIS time of year. If it were mid summer I would say NO WAY.

------------------
"Better get the net!"
-Fishin Chad

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Definatly a muskie. Just by the way it is acting.

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a ski, and allot of muskie fisherman like myself can attest to this, but you can tell almost by the light glossy look on the top of the head and mouth. When you see them up close like that you just know that its not a northern. pike have a much darker look to them when they are that close in the water. pluss I think there mouth looks a little differant too. just my 2 cents.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

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