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Fishing for other Musky, Tiger Musky, Northern
Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Longnose Gar, Spotted Gar, Bowfin
and Paddlefish in Missouri.
Missouri offers unique fishing opportunities. Listed below find
information about species of fish found in Missouri which may not
be featured in the main section of AA- Fishing.com.
Musky - Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
World Record: 69.9 lbs
The largest of the pike family, they are found in about half the states,
primarily the northern and northeastern states. They prefer clear water
with temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees. Also known as musky, muskie
and great pike, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush
their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures
(salt-water sizes) and heavy line when fishing for muskellunge. They
will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and
are exceptionally strong for short runs.
Tiger Musky - Muskellunge
Esox lucius ~ Esox masquinongy
USA Record: 51.2 lbs.
The tiger muskellunge is a cross of the musky and northern pike. Male
Tiger Muskellunge are most often sterile yet some females are fertile.
Tiger muskies tend to be smaller than non-hybrid muskies but grow very
fast. The body is often quite silvery with brownish fins and tail, without
spots but displays broken vertical markings. Like their parent, they
eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also
eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures and stout line when fishing
for tiger muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are
known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.
Northern Pike
Esox Lucius
World Record: 55 lbs
The northern pike is a valient fighter and prefers water temperatures
from 58 to 70 degrees. Also known as jack, jackfish, great northern pike
and pickerel. While they have been transplanted into most states with
cold water, they are native to the northern states and are abundant in
the north-eastern states. Northern pike are basically olive in color
with white and/or yellow bellies. The northern pike has light-colored
marking on a dark body whish is opposite that of their cousins the muskies.They
are an ambushing predator that eats frogs, crayfish, birds and virtually
any fish they can get into their mouth. Use spinners, fish-immitating
lures, jerk-baits or cutbait and fish close to cover.
Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
World Record: 9.4 lbs.
A freshwater fish in the pike family easily identified by the "chain-like
marking along its sides. It can be found in the northwest, northeast
and southeast sections of the USA. Its primary food source is smaller
fish and is known to lie in wait to ambush its prey. While it can be
eaten it is not considered one of the better sport fishes for table fare.
The chain peickere can be caught on fish-imitation lures and live or
cut bait. Watch the sharp teeth when handling. Prefers water temperatures
from 62 to 70 degrees. Also known as pickerel, eastern pickerel, pike,
grass pike, jackfish, jack and others.
Sauger
Stizostedion canadense
World Record: 17.7 lbs.
Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin
the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water in the
60s to low 70s. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from
a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and
the rough covering of the gill area. Due to their resembelance to pickerel,
they are also known as gray pickerel spotfin pike, gray pike, river pike
and others. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come
by, this is the time to fish for sauger.Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits
imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish near the bottom and experiment with
presentation action and speed.
Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
World Record: 5.3 lbs
The Longnose Gar can be found in lakes and rivers and prefers quiet backwaters
with temperatures ranging from 80 to 90 degrees. Also referred to as
gar and garfish, It has a long, sword-like mouth loaded with sharp teeth.
They are nocturnal feeders and eat most smaller fish. They can be taken
on live bait, fish-imitating lures and nylon string "gobs designed
to entangle in their teeth. Most longnose gar are taken by bowfishing
or spear fishing. The meat is somewhat tasty but quite bony.
Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
World Record:
Its range covers the northeast and into the southeast areas of the United
States. It prefers quiet, clear water and backwaters, slow-moving creeks,
rivers and sloughs. Named for the dark spots that cover its light-colored
body, the spotted gar is a predator feeding on various kinds of fishes,
frogs and crustaceans. Like most gar they are hard to catch on hook and
line. The best method is live minnows or other small fish. Most spotted
gar are taken by bow fishing or spear fishing.
Bowfin
Amia calva
World Record: 21.5 lbs.
Found in waters around Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, the
bowfin prefers water temperatures of the warmer climates. It has an exceptionally
long dorsal fin which extends back to the tail, made of about 50 spines
or rays. Near the upper tail is an eye spot. They have very sharp teeth
and a nasty disposition when hooked. Handle with caution. They are most
often caught on cut bait and crayfish. They put up quite a fight and
are not considered good eating. The bowfin is also known as dogfish,
mud pike, mudfish, grindle, swamp bass and others.
Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
World Record: Over 600 lbs.
If you didn't know what they were, you might think you caught a shark
if you were to land a paddlefish. They have a powerful, sleek body and
a tall, rear dorsal fin.
Prefers water temperatures from 50 to 70 degrees. Also known as spoonbill,
spoonies, spadefish and shovelnose. They are filter-feeders so catching
them with conventional tackle is out of the question. Most are taken
with bow and arrow, spears or by snag-fishing with large treble hooks.
If you offer fishing guide services for any of these fish in Missouri
we would like to include you as a resource for our visitors. We
offer a complimentary listing for your guide service on our Missouri
Fishing Guides page or you can see other options to promote your
fishing guide services in Missouri by visiting our Advertising opportunities
section.
MO Other Fishing - All About Fishing for Musky,
Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Longnose
Gar, Spotted Gar, Bowfin, Paddlefish and other fish in Missouri.
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