Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What do they taste like? : They don’t taste very good and besides, they are covered in protective slime. There are a lot better eating fish. And since the tiger muskie is sterile, each one that is kept, is gone and needs to be replaced.  It takes time and money to purchase, grow and release these fish.

What do they eat? According to many WDFW diet studies, their preferred diet is northern pke minnow. (See Diet Study, above)

CLUB QUESTIONS:

1. What is the cost of membership in Muskies Inc.?

            The cost of an annual individual membership is $35.00 and a family

            membership is $47.50.

2. What are the benefits of membership?

            One national voice.

            A 1 year subscription to Muskies Inc. Magazine.

            Members-only catch and release contests.

           Access to statistics on over 200,000 muskie captures

            on Muskie's Inc.'s website.

            Learn how to properly catch and release muskies.

            Discover where to fish for muskies.

            Learn which equipment you need to keep yourself and the muskie

            safe.

            Share experiences with other muskie enthusiasts.

            Support the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

            conservation programs.

            Provide in-put on management, regulations, limits, etc.

3. Do I have to be a member to come to the meetings?

          No. Everyone is welcome! One of the goals of the Chapter is 

          to provide information about Muskies to all fishermen.

4.   What is a Boating Safety Education Card, do I need one and if so how do I get one?

            Starting in 2008 Required Boaters Safety Education Cards are being

            phased-in in Washington State.  The State Parks Department has a

            FAQ about the cards including how to get one. The cards are valid in

            Canada and all states that require them.  Safety is a priority to

            Muskies, Inc., and we encourage our members to get a card.  The

            Parks site has a list of Course Options. A link to the State Parks 

            Dept. FAQ is on the FAQ page of this website.

FISH QUESTIONS:

1. Where did Muskies get their name?

            The species name "Esox masquinongy" comes from an Ojibwa

            (Chippewa) name for the fish -"mas" meaning ugly, and "kinononge"

             meaning fish.

2. Why is the word spelled both Muskie and Musky?

            These are regional variations of the same word that developed

             through local customs in different mid-west states.

3. Are there purebred muskies in Washington lakes?

            No, only sterile Tiger Muskies are carefully stocked by the WDFW in

            Washington lakes. The primary purpose is to control nuisance fish

            and provide an exciting sport fishery.

4.  How long do Muskies live and how big can they get?

            The answer varies depending on whether you're talking about

             Purebred Muskies or sterile Tiger Muskies and where they live.  Also

            who you ask. Under ideal conditions Purebred Muskies can grow up

            to 72 inches and in some cases live more than 20 years.  50-60

             inches and 15 to 20 years may be typical if they aren't stressed. 

             There are stories of muskies up to 100lbs. but the maximum

             verified size is lightly over 60 inches in length and about 70 lbs. in

             weight.  True muskies over 50 lbs. are very rare.

             Tiger Muskies are both smaller and shorter-lived. They can grow to

             between 40-60- inches and live 8-10 years under good conditions.

             In the last 100 years only 2 tiger muskies over 50lbs. have been

             caught by anglers. Stocked tiger muskies do not seem to live as

             long or get as big as tiger muskies within their natural range, and

             most state records are less than 40 lbs. 

5.  What is the current legal size limit to keep a muskie?

            In this state it is 50 inches. The daily bag limit is 1 fish.

            Washington's tiger muskie is mostly a catch-and-release fishery, but

            still allow an angler to keep a 50 inch (+) fish.

6. What are Tiger Muskies?

            Tiger Muskies are long, slender fish with vertical "tiger" stripes. 

            They are a cross between two non-native, predatory species: a male

            northern pike and a female muskellunge.  As with most all hybrids,

            they are sterile and thus grow relatively fast.  It has become one of

            the most exciting sport fisheries in the United States, due in large

            part to the philosophy and practice of "catch and release".

7. What is C-P-R?

            It means Catch-Photo-Release.  Muskies Inc. originated and

            pioneered the catch and release concept that is practiced in many

            species today.  Released rates have averaged 99% plus since the

            1990's.  This release program, in reality, is another stocking effort

            and does more to perpetuate this great sport than any other single

            program. The photo is taken quickly so the fish can be returned to

            the water with the least amount of stress.  Some people practice

            C-P-R-P which includes an extra photo during the release. Among

            other things this can provide documentation of the release.  If you

            take the fish out of the water to photograph it you should only keep

            it out as long as you can hold your own breath....under water!

8. If I release my Muskie how am I going to be able to brag about its weight since I won't be able to weigh it?

            There are a number of ways to calculate the weight of a Muskie

            based on its length and girth. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be

            a lot of consistency in the formulas, although they do seem to come

            up with relatively similar results. This is the formula most use: 

            Length X girth X girth, then divide by 800. Measure girth at the

            widest part of the fish.

     9.  What is the record Tiger Muskie in Washington State?

            The 31.25 lb. fish caught by John Bays from Mayfield Lake on an

            artificial lure, reportedly a plastic scampy shrimp, holds the official

            state record.  

10. What is the world record Tiger Muskie?

            The 54 inch, 51 lb. 3 oz. tiger muskie caught from Lac Vieux Desert

            by John Knobla in 1919. The largest caught by a woman is the 53

            inch, 50 lb. 4 ox. Fish caught by Delores Ott Lapp from the same

            lake in 1951.  These are the only Tiger Muskies over 50 lbs, known

            to be caught.

LAKE QUESTIONS:

  1.  Why were Tiger Muskies planted?

            To reduce the infestations of northern pike minnow, suckers, tench,

            carp and other unwanted  "rough" fish in the targeted waters. Tiger

            muskies were first introduced to Mayfield Lake in Southwest

            Washington's Lewis County in 1988 to rebuild a local Coho salmon

            population by controlling the squawfish that preyed upon them.

            Merwin Reservoir's kokanee population has also benefited greatly due

            to the tigers healthy appetite for squaw fish. (npm). Spokane County's

            Newman Lake received Tiger Muskies in 1992 to

            control carp and stunted populations of perch and bluegill. The Tiger

            Muskie has become its own highly regarded sport fishery

2. How many Washington lakes are currently stocked with Muskies?

            7 lakes: Lake Tapps, Mayfield Lake, Merwin Reservoir, Newman Lake

            and Silver Lake near Spokane, Evergreen Reservoir near Quincy

            and Curlew Lake in Ferry County.

              In the early years of the Tiger Program, WDFW  made  plants in

             several other lakes for rough fish control purposes, including Fazon

             Lake in Whatcom County, Green Lake in Seattle, Red Rock

            Reservoir in Grant County and a South Lewis County Pond.

             Note: These lakes no longer receive plants and it is unlikely any

             specimens still survive in any of those waters.

3.  Are there any Tiger Muskies in nearby states?

            Every northern state from Washington to Maine has stocked Tiger

            Muskies. Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming have them.