is this a northern pike or a barred muskie?

[Fishin Pigeon]

http://h.imagehost.org/0485/IMG00224-20100813-1616.jpg

i caught this today while bass fishing on the rideau.

which one is it?

[Yannick Loranger]

pike

[Bass Addict]

Grass Pike

[Out4trout]

Juvenile Pike

Younger pike tend to be barred - they become spotted as they mature.

[Fishin Pigeon]

thanks for ruining my dreams. hahaha just kidding.

[Manny]

We caught 2 muskies the day you were supposed to go with us...

[lapointeric]

Grass Pike

Is there a specific species named grass pike, or is that what you call a juvenile pike?

E

[Bass Addict]

Grass Pike

Is there a specific species named grass pike, or is that what you call a juvenile pike?

E

Nickname I guess...

[Dore]

Thats a pike ! I think theres a way to tell the diference with the number of lines under there jaw....

Pike and Muskellunge - Let's Compare

The quickest way to tell a northern pike from a muskie is to note that the northern has light markings on a dark body background. Muskies generally have dark markings on a light background.

A foolproof method to tell the difference between pike and muskellunge is to count the pores on the underside of the jaw. The northern has six or fewer; the muskie has six or more.

Northerns also have rounded tail fins, compared to the pointy tail fins of a muskie. Paired fins under the body of the Northern Pike are more rounded than the Muskie, which has slightly more pointed fins. Likewise the tail of the musky has more pointed features when compared to the Northern Pike’s more rounded tail.

Looking at the face of a Northern Pike you see scales that are prominent above the cheek, behind the eye and toward the jaw. The Muskie has scales on its face that are primarily above the cheek and behind the eye.

The bottom line is these fish are quite similar, yet have distinctive markings. Pike and Muskellunge are among the best freshwater game-fish you will catch in your life.

[Fishin Musician]

Looks like a chain Pickerel also called a Grass pike. Look very close to a small pike slightly different markings.

Ontario Outdoors had an article on this last year.

Thanks