Colorado Fish Species: Tiger Muskie

Ahh the famed tiger muskie. A hybrid and sterile fish deriving from northern pike and muskellunge, this toothy monster has been introduced primarily for control of other species. This top-of-the-foodchain predator loves eating anything it can find. But true to normal fish behavior, it will key in on the easiest obtainable food and locate itself in the highest-probability location to obtain easy meals. The fish from our experience is spookier than muskie, not as dumb as pike, and is very well fed with the natural sources of food. This makes it a very difficult trophy to find, catch and land.

Tiger Muskie are sterile hybrids and do not reproduce. Proper landing and release are essential to the survival of tiger muskie. To ensure safety for yourself and these fish, carry long pliers with you. Large nets and cradles are encouraged if you intend to catch one. Handling the fish by hand can be dangerous, but to lift the fish out of the water briefly for a photograph, you'll need to do so. See this site for more information on handling muskie. When fishing for these fish, use line as heavy as you can muster to avoid break-offs. 80-pound braided is as thin as lighter mono and avoids many abrasion-related breaks.