MUSKELLUNGE

Know most commonly as the Muskie. It is the largest member of the Pike family, reaching 5 feet in length and almost 70 pounds. They are aggressive ambush predators that eat anything they can fit in their mouths including fish, frogs, rats and ducks. They can take prey two-thirds of their body length and although very rare, Muskie attacks on humans do occur.  We grew up fishing in Northern Illinois where these hard-to-catch fish were known as “the fish of 1000 casts”. Though we rarely got one on the line, we would see them cruising the glassy surface of the lake at dusk with their heads out of the water like monsters.