Angling Vulnerability of Esocidae

Five yearling northern pike (Esox lucius). muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), or their F, hybrid ("tiger muskie") were stocked in duplicate 0.2-ha ponds in April, 1974. Two additional ponds were stocked with a combination of five fish of each of the three forms. In 58 hours of angling from April to September, northern pike were 3.1 and 4.2 times more vulnerable than tiger muskies and muskellunge, respectively. No fish were caught in 18 hours of fishing from 15 June to 13 August. Repeat catches accounted for 35. 6% of the total catch; hooking mortality was negligible (1.7%).