Figure "8" Muskie Club Shawano Wisconsin

Scientific Name	Esox masquinongy
Distribution	Found as native in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Hudson Bay (Red River) and Mississippi River basins. It has been introduced elsewhere in the USA. Muskie inhabit only about one percent of North America's fresh water.
Size	Maximum Length: 183.0 cm (Approx. 72.05”) Maximum weight: 32 kg (Approx. 70.5 Lbs.) Maximum reported age: 25 years
Habitat	Muskie is usually found among aquatic plants at the sides of channels, or off rock shelves and offshore shoals in clear lakes and quiet pools/backwaters of rivers and creeks. They will move to shallow waters in the fall. Muskie are solitary, lurking hunters that feed on other fish for at least 95% of its diet. They will also eat crayfish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, snakes and waterfowl. Generally, Muskie will take advantage of the most abundant prey species of appropriate size. Some information appears to indicate that Muskie may prefer to feed on suckers, minnows, carp, and bullheads when given a choice. Large Muskie will generally consume larger prey and can swallow items that are almost half of their overall length.
What do they Look Like?	Muskie sport dark, vertical bands on light background. They can be spotted or clear. Tips on the tail fin are more pointed than those found on the closely related Northern Pike (Esox lucius).
Spawning	In late April and early May as water temperatures warm above 49 F. (9.4 C.), muskies move into shallow, weedy areas to spawn.