Talk:Muskellunge

Photo

Somebody should put up a better photo, the only one on this page is of a small musky. Nwbh 00:50, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

Name

"The name muskellunge is thought to be a corruption of the Ojibwa words maskinonge meaning "ugly fish" and lunge meaning "lake trout." Another possible etymology stems from maggue allongee, the name given to the fish by early French settlers meaning "long face." "

The name is made up of two german words "Muskel" (muscle) and "Lunge" (lung). Is this only a coincedence? Even, if it is, shouldn't it be mentioned in the article?

Two musky species

Some fisheries biologists / scientists believe that there are two species of muskellunge. One - the riverine or great lakes strain. And two - the lacustrine strain.

The true giants are derived from the great lakes strain. These are the fish that can grow to 60+ pounds. This strain of musky is primarily located in larger bodies of water. Some examples are; Georgian Bay, Lake Erie, St. Lawrence River, Ottawa River, Niagara River, Lake St. Claire, Leetch Lake. This strain of musky usually spawns over gravel / stony bottoms. Because they normally do not spawn in weed beds and often spawn into late June, they interact well with northern pike. The great lakes musky can attain a length of 58 inches, but rarely any longer than that.

The lacustrine strain of muskellunge are a strain found in the Kawartha Lakes region of Canada and most of the lakes found in the state of Wisconsin. This strain doesn’t grow as large and its population is often supported by stocking. The lacustrine strain rarely surpasses a length of 55 inches. When they do, they’re typically slender fish.

World record

The IGFA All Tackle World Record for muskellunge is 67 pounds 8 ounces. The NFFHOF World Record is 69 pounds 11 ounces.

Both records were caught in Wisconsin in 1949.

The NFFHOF record is presently being disputed by the World Record Muskie Alliance.

Once this dispute is settled, and it’s this author’s opinion that it will be disqualified, the WRMA will then investigate the 67 pound 8 ounce IGFA record. This record will also most likely be disqualified.

Most musky fanatics outside the state of Wisconsin believe that Ken O’Brien’s 65 pound musky from Georgian Bay should be the All Tackle World Record. This fish was captured in 1987 and if you compare the pictures of this fish to the other supposed records, you’ll understand the discrepancy.

Muskie envy, anyone?

Nah, here's a photo of the world's biggest Muskie in Hayward, WI. --Bobak 18:33, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Musky subspecies

I can't find any technical info on this. For example, the Silver Musky is apparently a subspecies but I can't find its subspecies name (or really much info at all).--Our Bold Hero 18:55, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

GWAR

I think someone should mention the mention of this fish on the GWAR song "Nitro Burning Funny Bong".

More Trivia

In the 1980's Madison, Wisconsin had a AA [AAA?] baseball team called the Madison Muskies.Bplipschitz 15:10, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

Just Wondering

Is there any written account of muskellunges eating humans?

• No I have been fishing 37 years (competitively for 5) and no such incident has occured. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.230.254.207 (talk) 03:59, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

• • Muskellunge is not large enough to eat a human being. However, there have been humans bitten by muskellunge on occasion. SurgeArrest (talk) 18:39, 22 April 2024 (UTC)

Removal of external link

I was recently challenged on an added external link to a website hosting no ads, no ecommerce, and only information on the muskellunge regarding fishing, handling, management, and biology. While I can understand the removal of my link from the page - due to the guidelines at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:External_links I feel that this should be followed throughout the page. The site "muskiesinc.com" located in external links has paid advertising and an ecommerce section to it and I would request that it comes down. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.70.2.21 (talk) 16:46, 15 June 2011 (UTC)

Sources

What's the source on the Muskellunge being the largest species of the family?

Seeing that Northern Pike has the largest known specimens, I mean. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.109.56.248 (talk) 16:29, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

Apex Predator

The claim that this is an apex predator is immediately questioned by saying adults are preyed on by large birds of prey. So is it an apex predator or not? 86.167.121.7 (talk) 01:13, 18 October 2023 (UTC)

• Adult muskies would be too large for a bird to prey upon them. An adult muskie could eat a duck or other waterfowl! SurgeArrest (talk) 18:36, 22 April 2024 (UTC)