Muskellunge
New York's largest predatory freshwater fish, stocked and managed as a trophy fishery known for its rarity and difficulty to catch.
- Scientific name
- Esox masquinongy
- Family
- Esocidae
- Adult size
- Commonly 30–40 inches; capable of exceeding 50 inches.
Identification
Long, torpedo-shaped body, duck-bill snout with heavy teeth, and light vertical bars or spots on an olive to silvery background — the pattern is the reverse of the closely related northern pike.
Habitat
Weedy bays and clear lakes and rivers with abundant cover.
Diet
An apex ambush predator that feeds almost exclusively on other fish.
Angling
Known as 'the fish of ten thousand casts' for its low catch rate; a dedicated trophy fishery with strict length limits in most New York waters.
Where Muskellunge is stocked
When Muskellunge is stocked
Top Muskellunge waters
Chautauqua Lake
Chautauqua County · 4 species · 80 records
Last stocked October 2025
Cassadaga Creek
Chautauqua County · 3 species · 53 records
Last stocked March 2026
Allegheny River
Cattaraugus County · 3 species · 40 records
Last stocked October 2025
Bear Lake
Hamilton County · 3 species · 35 records
Last stocked October 2025
Conewango Creek
Chautauqua County · 2 species · 34 records
Last stocked October 2025
Lower Cascade Lake
Essex County · 2 species · 30 records
Last stocked October 2025
Olean Creek
Cattaraugus County · 3 species · 26 records
Last stocked October 2025
Findley Lake
Chautauqua County · 2 species · 20 records
Last stocked October 2025
Middle Cassadaga Lake
Chautauqua County · 2 species · 18 records
Last stocked October 2025
Upper Cassadaga Lake
Chautauqua County · 2 species · 18 records
Last stocked October 2025
Lower Cassadaga Lake
Chautauqua County · 2 species · 17 records
Last stocked October 2025
Great Chazy River
Clinton County · 2 species · 15 records
Last stocked October 2024
Waneta Lake
Schuyler County · 1 species · 15 records
Last stocked October 2025
Chautauqua Lake (S)
Chautauqua County · 1 species · 13 records
Last stocked October 2023
Chautauqua Lake (N)
Chautauqua County · 1 species · 12 records
Last stocked October 2023
State Ditch
Cattaraugus County · 1 species · 10 records
Last stocked October 2025
Chemung River
Chemung County · 1 species · 7 records
Last stocked October 2025
Frequently asked
Where is Muskellunge stocked?
Muskellunge is stocked in 17 waters across 1 state: New York.
When is Muskellunge stocked?
Muskellunge is typically stocked in fall, most often in October, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Muskellunge are stocked?
About 3,731,997 Muskellunge have been stocked on record since 2011, across New York.
What size Muskellunge are stocked?
Stocked Muskellunge average about 7.4 inches, based on sizes reported by New York.
What does a Muskellunge look like?
Long, torpedo-shaped body, duck-bill snout with heavy teeth, and light vertical bars or spots on an olive to silvery background — the pattern is the reverse of the closely related northern pike.