What Did I Catch?

[Caleb McPherson]

Hello! 

I'm a transplant to Minnesota and have been here for about a year and a half now. I'd never seen a Northern Pike or a Muskie until I'd moved over here and I caught a 24" Northern? Today. I think. I'm not positive this isn't a Tiger Muskie but I'm just not sure of myself. I know that Pike are generally spotted but that's not always the case. I'm hoping someone can tell me for sure. Either way it went back in the water about 2 seconds after this picture was taken and seemed to be pretty happy to get away from me.

Google suggests to me that this is a Tiger but asking some friends from the area they seem to think it's just a Northern. HELP!

[leech~~]

It's a Tiger.  Welcome to the forum.

[Caleb McPherson]

Thank you! That would be the first Muskie of any kind for me then! 
And thank you for the welcome! 

[leech~~]

8 hours ago, Caleb McPherson said:

Thank you! That would be the first Muskie of any kind for me then! 
And thank you for the welcome! 

 

To tell you the truth. I have lived in MN all my life and have caught 1000's of Northerns. But never a Tiger yet.

I have never really tried to though or may be fished a lake that had them?

[DonkeyHodey]

100% it is NOT a northern.

I'd go ~95% this is a tiger (but I can't rule out it's not actually a muskie...--The tail shape/pores under the jaw/scales on the cheeks can sometimes help.  So, if you could be so good as to catch it again and provide some additional pictures, that'd be great)

Regardless, it's 100% beauty.  Nice fish!

[eyeguy 54]

Dandy Tiger. sure is pretty!

[gim]

Tiger Muskellunge.  If you were fishing a lake that the DNR stocks with them, it was a stocked fish.  If not, you caught a very rare naturally-produced hybrid.  Here's one I caught last July.

[Wanderer]

Here’s a regla muskie from Canada last week.  Never caught a tiger but have had run ins with them on the city lakes of Minneapolis.  Cool fish in all locations and all types!  Congrats on your first!

 

 

[Caleb McPherson]

Someday I'll get a big one. I did pull a 19" Largemouth out of Weaver lake last year. The largest bass I've ever caught. 

[Wanderer]

We have pretty good bass fishin’ in MN.  19 is a good one.