Muskellunge, musky, muskie, lunge, Wisconsin muskellunge, northern muskellunge, maskinonge, tiger muskellunge (used for the muskellunge/northern pike hybrid).

Meet the muskellunge -- a lean, mean fightin' machine that's the most sought-after trophy fish in Wisconsin; yet it still takes the average angler more than 50 hours to catch a legal muskellunge. Named the official state fish in 1955, this ferocious member of the pike family is often known in fish stories as "the one that got away." Why do some anglers only fish for muskellunge? Because having a muskellunge on the other end of the line is like having a tiger by the tail. The muskellunge will confound the angler with its aerial acrobatics, one moment leaping completely out of the water to shake the hook; the next lying still on the bottom like an unyielding snag. These famous fighters have been known to drag the line underneath the boat and wrap it around the nearest submerged tree stump. They will crack rods, strip reels, bend hooks, mutilate the bait and do whatever else they can to escape. Hooking a muskellunge is a first class fresh-water thrill no angler will ever forget. The natural home for the muskie is in the northern lakes and rivers. It is a solitary fish and lurks in weed beds, shady shoreline waters with overhanging trees, or other protective cover. Anglers usually have the best luck fishing during the daytime. Large plugs, spoons, and bucktails that have "action" are the best artificial baits. A live fish bait 10-12 inches long is also good. Have a camera and a large landing net ready when you catch that big one!