Beautiful By-Catch

[Jar11591]

Yesterday I was fishing a lake that is always very kind to me. It was cold, windy, and raining on and off. I was fishing for bass and was on a good shallow spinnerbait bite when this happened: My first ever Tiger Muskie

The fish swiped at my spinnerbait right next to the boat once, and I missed him. I continued to cast in the same spot and maybe 5 casts later he nailed it again and this time I got him. Not a huge one, but I was so stoked and I got to cross off another bucket-list species. Such a beautiful looking fish. Also got plenty of decent bass, mostly on the spinnerbait. Good day of fishing despite lousy weather. 

[slonezp]

Beautiful colors on her

[A-Jay]

Seriously Striped up Tiger ~

Congrats

A-Jay

[Bluebasser86]

At first I thought it was a giant pickeral. Beautiful fish. 

[RoLo]

Beautifully marbled fish!

 

Roger

[Bankbeater]

Nice going! Great looking tiger!

[Crestliner2008]

Gorgeous fish for sure! We have them stocked in our waters as well. Haven't caught one yet though.

[Esoxfreak]

19 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Yesterday I was fishing a lake that is always very kind to me. It was cold, windy, and raining on and off. I was fishing for bass and was on a good shallow spinnerbait bite when this happened: My first ever Tiger Muskie

The fish swiped at my spinnerbait right next to the boat once, and I missed him. I continued to cast in the same spot and maybe 5 casts later he nailed it again and this time I got him. Not a huge one, but I was so stoked and I got to cross off another bucket-list species. Such a beautiful looking fish. Also got plenty of decent bass, mostly on the spinnerbait. Good day of fishing despite lousy weather. 

I fish tigers everyday and that color pattern is really really unique! I've never caught one like that, it's like a tiger negative,lol. Do you know if that lake has a tiger muskie stock program or does that lake hold a population of pike and pure strains where tigers will some times be produced naturally???

[Jar11591]

3 minutes ago, Esoxfreak said:

I fish tigers everyday and that color pattern is really really unique! I've never caught one like that, it's like a tiger negative,lol. Do you know if that lake has a tiger muskie stock program or does that lake hold a population of pike and pure strains where tigers will some times be produced naturally???

 

This lake has a stocking program. No other Esox in this lake. Even the bass in this lake have a beautiful golden color to them. 

[Darren.]

Lovely markings. Nice catch!

[jbw252]

Wow - great looking tiger muskie.  Nice catch.  Thanks for sharing with us.

[WIGuide]

Awesome tiger!

 

[Jelvas]

Beautiful fish! Congrats...

[long island basser]

Cool looking Muskie, it's too bad we don't have Muskie or pike for that matter here on the Island, only pickerel.

[Dwight Hottle]

Pretty fish. Congrats on the first caught tiger. 

[soflabasser]

Congratulations on catching a nice tiger muskie.

[Jigfishn10]

Seriously beautiful fish @Jar11591. I'm jealous because that's one of the species I would love to catch as well.

 

Our State used to stock them, but I'm almost positive they don't any more. I've read reports of angler's catching them here, but it's very rare.

 

Congrats again. That's must have been quite a thrill to land that beauty!

[deaknh03]

That is truly a beautifully colored pickerel. ?

[Jar11591]

1 hour ago, deaknh03 said:

That is truly a beautifully colored pickerel. ?

 

It's funny, the few other pictures of tigers I've seen that we're pulled out of that lake have the same markings and color as this fish, including 2 that were over 40 inches. Large enough to eat the world record pickerel. At first glance, I could see how this could be mistaken for a pickerel. Similar colors but not the same and obviously the markings on it are not those of a pickerel. Tigers are the only esox that reside in this lake. 

[soflabasser]

Thats a tiger muskie for sure and one of the most beautiful ones I have seen.Looking towards to seeing you catch more nice tiger muskie!