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Fishing for Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Bowfin in Virginia.
Virginia offers unique fishing opportunities. Listed below find
information about species of fish found in Virginia 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.
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.
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.
If you offer fishing guide services for any of these fish in Virginia
we would like to include you as a resource for our visitors. We
offer a complimentary listing for your guide service on our Virginia
Fishing Guides page or you can see other options to promote your
fishing guide services in Virginia by visiting our Advertising opportunities
section.
VA Other Fishing - All About Fishing for Musky,
Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Bowfin and other fish in
Virginia.
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