Tiger muskellunge across Minnesota
Limits, records and DNR survey waters for tiger muskellunge.
- 1 (minimum size 40")limit
- 34 lb 12 ozrecord
Pick for muskellungePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of St. Louis River: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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tiger muskellunge across Minnesota
Minnesota anglers meet Tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy X Esox lucius), a member of the pike family. Under the DNR row for inland waters (statewide): 1 (minimum size 40″), June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026.
The Minnesota record weighed 34 lb 12 oz, from Lake Elmo (1999). Look for it in 21 surveyed lakes; 23 are on this site. Orchard Lake tops the gill net catch at 1.25 per net.
For the muskellunge herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 What the DNR writes about tiger muskellunge
“Two types of muskellunge exist in Minnesota. One is the pure strain muskellunge and the other is the tiger muskellunge, which is a sterile hybrid of a northern pike and muskellunge. These fish grow faster than pure muskellunge but do not grow as large. Tiger muskellunge are reared in hatcheries and stocked in many Twin Cities area lakes.”
- Tiger (hybrid) muskellunge (Esox masquinongy X Esox lucius): irregular narrow vertical dark markings on a light background with stripes merging onto the back in an interlocking pattern; paired fins with rounded tips; tail with rounded tips.identification
- tiger muskie, hybrid muskellungealso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Bag and season for tiger muskellunge
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | 1 (minimum size 40") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
tiger muskellunge in the DNR record tables
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 34 lb 12 oz | Lake Elmo | Washington | 1999 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
tiger muskellunge per gill net, best lakes
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard Lake | 1.25 | 7.45 | 2022 | |
| Taft Lake | 1 | 1.4 | 2017 | |
| Crystal Lake, Hennepin County | 0.75 | 13.38 | 2022 | |
| Clear Lake near Forest Lake, Washington County | 0.57 | 6.48 | 2021 | |
| Crystal Lake, Dakota County | 0.5 | 4.9 | 2023 | |
| Johanna Lake, Ramsey County | 0.5 | 8.49 | 2021 | |
| Lake Elmo | 0.33 | 5.78 | 2025 | |
| Lake Nokomis | 0.33 | 7.57 | 2023 | |
| Gervais Lake | 0.2 | 16.23 | 2020 | |
| Bryant Lake | 0.17 | 15.38 | 2022 | |
| Weaver Lake | 0.17 | 2023 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters for tiger muskellunge
Lake pages listing tiger muskellunge
- St. Louis River Estuary10,255 acres
- Deer Lake near Deer River, Itasca County4,093 acres
- White Iron Lake3,237 acres
- Spider Lake, Itasca County1,392 acres
- Moose Lake near Deer River, Itasca County1,273 acres
- Cedar Lake, Scott County793 acres
- Crescent Lake755 acres
- Clear Lake near Forest Lake, Washington County429 acres
- Crystal Lake, Dakota County293 acres
- Lake Elmo257 acres
- Orchard Lake238 acres
- Gervais Lake235 acres
- Johanna Lake, Ramsey County212 acres
- Lake Nokomis201 acres
- Bryant Lake180 acres
- Weaver Lake152 acres
- Bouder Lake129 acres
- Stone Lake, Carver County100 acres
- Kohlman Lake84 acres
- Crystal Lake, Hennepin County79 acres
- Horseshoe Lake, Washington County75 acres
- Keller (Main Bay)73 acres
- Taft Lake14 acres
River pages listing tiger muskellunge
- St. Louis RiverSt. Louis
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Operators listing tiger muskellunge
- Superior Pursuits Charter FishingLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Duluth, (906) 360-7513
Relatives of tiger muskellunge
- Northern pikepike family
- Muskellungepike family
Water you can reach from Tiger muskellunge, pictured
Photo: Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Wikideas1, CC0
What Minnesota anglers ask about tiger muskellunge
Which size rule covers tiger muskellunge in Minnesota?
1 (minimum size 40") (Inland waters (statewide)), season June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026.
How heavy is the Minnesota record tiger muskellunge?
34 lb 12 oz from Lake Elmo (1999).
Where do Minnesota anglers find tiger muskellunge?
Orchard Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 1.25 per net; 24 waters on this site list it.
Will the DNR stock tiger muskellunge this year?
7 rows on the DNR area stocking pages, such as Crystal.
Which other names does the DNR use for tiger muskellunge?
Tiger (hybrid) muskellunge (Esox masquinongy X Esox lucius): irregular narrow vertical dark markings on a light background with stripes merging onto the back in an interlocking pattern; paired fins with rounded tips; tail with rounded tips.
Which months allow keeping tiger muskellunge in Minnesota?
June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026
Which license do tiger muskellunge anglers carry in Minnesota?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Which guides target tiger muskellunge?
1 guide list it, including Superior Pursuits Charter Fishing.
Chase tiger muskellunge across Minnesota
Choose any Minnesota lake or stream listed above.