OK folks, I know this is going to bring a slug of, "No Photo No Proof" comments but here it goes. I was pike fishing at the POR on Saturday the 9th. I was very surprised to hook, are you ready for this? A Tiger Musky in the 24 to 26" range. Ya I know, your thinking does this guy know the diffrence in a pike and a tiger musky? Yes, I do. I have been catching pike for 20 years now. I do know what they look like. I have personally only caught 2 tigers but I do know the diffrence. This fish was more on the silver side, had stripes more so than spots, and had the typical shreaded tail of a tiger musky. UNFORTUNATELY, the fish removed himself from the hook about 5 feet from the boat. When I first saw the fish, I told my partner, "That's a tiger musky" he agreed and I can't tell you how dissapointed I was that he got off at the boat. Not because he was a big fish, but because I would love to have gotten a photo of the fish with a distinctive location in the background showing that it was actually caught at the POR. I fished that stretch several more passes trying to hook him again, to no avail. You will just have to take my word for it. To the best of my knowledge there have been no tigers planted in the POR system. Also to the best of my knowledge, there is no path of water that would allow that fish to travel from a lake that was planted and get to the POR, therefore this fish is the case of the preverbial "Bucket Biologist". I can only imagine the person that tossed the little fella in there was thinking how interesting it might be to see the look on someones face if they caught that tiger down the road when he was 20lbs or so. He lives on so that may still happen. Could that person have been thinking he was planting tigers in the POR so they could spawn there? If so, someone may want to explain the sterile hybrid issue to them. I have been told that tiger muskies do produce eggs but the males are unable to fertilize them. Can someone substantiate that for me? If that is true, could a pike fertilize the eggs of a tiger? At any rate this goes to show we will never see the end of people transplanting fish from one body of water to another. God help us if they ever bring a snakehead up here.Take it for what it's worth. Happy Fishing

kevinb

10/11/2010 1:17:00 PM

Certainly interesting and a bummer too. I can only assume that this tiger was pulled from a stocked lake and dumped into
the river. Granted,a tiger won't cause a problem in the river but one less in the lake that its suppose to be in.

sparky1doug

10/11/2010 1:49:00 PM

First we've got Pike in Newman, now Tigers in the POR. WDFG has got to be beside themselves. God bless the management folks who are trying to stay on top of it. I will take it upon myself to find this rogue fish and return it Newman. Next I will catch that darn Pike in Newman and send him to the POR. I feel this to be my duty, ha ha.

YJ Guide Service

10/11/2010 2:43:00 PM

I've been fishing up there a bunch here lately and have seen a couple Pike that were almost looking like Tigers they had the lighter colored bodies and darker almost stipes but they were definitely Pike. Don t know if it has something to do with the water cooling down or the cover that they were sitting in. With all the idiot bucket biologist we have here you can never discount anything now. People don t understand the damage fish can do to a body of water that they werent meant to be in. The fish i saw were up by the island above Davis slough. All i can say is please everyone don t transfer fish from lake to another. If this continues to happen we will see lakes that we all fish closed down cause of these bucket biologists. If anyone has any questions about Pike or Tiger Muskie get a hold of us at Chapter 60 Mountain Muskies.

Lucius

10/12/2010 8:45:00 PM

It would not surprise me in the least that some one "bucket biologist" a tiger to the POR. Although, small pike if faded in color and their spots still developing and so their spots look more like stripes, many have confused a small pike for a small tiger. Take for example the following post:
http://www.fishexplorer.com/fxrforum.asp?action=det&pid=51126

I even asked the division of wild life about this picture and he said it was a tiger. I must say I was disappointed in the biologist to respond with his answer can anyone looking at the picture and has any remote knowledge of pike can see that this is a pike. Rounded fins, black spots on the fins... Now with that being said I can see how one might mistake this pike for a tiger while in the water 5' from the boat. Either way definitely interesting story and now everyone will be on the look out for a rogue tiger. That for sharing AJ's dad!!

AJ's Dad

10/13/2010 6:21:00 PM

It was the tail guys. The shreaded tail that is common to muskies that really gave it away. I'm going back up there this Saturday. I will fish that stretch of river like a mad man. If I hook the bugger again, there will be no question. I will get a top quality photo and post it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset that people wonder if it was really a tiger. I can't wait to get back up there and see if I can hook him again, but it's that 15lb or bigger pike that I'm looking for. Hope I can dodge the duck hunters. Happy Fishing Guys.

Leave a Comment:

Login

Flag

×

Why is this comment inappropriate?

Close Submit

Delete this comment? Provide reason.

No Yes

Edit

×

Cancel Save