Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Updated 2026-07-28 15:04:13

Lake Erie-2021-2025 -> 2.0 Other Managed Species -> Muskellunge Catch Rates

Maintain muskellunge populations to sustain catch rates near the long-term average

In the Lake Erie Basin, the most prevalent muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) fisheries occur in Lake St. Clair and the upper Niagara River. Muskellunge are not easily assessed through traditional sampling techniques. Therefore, angler catch rates (fish per angler hour, fish/hr) from agency charter reporting programs and local muskie clubs provide the most reliable information for determining population status. Charter catch rates in Lake St. Clair during the 2021-2025 reporting period (average 0.08 fish/hr) were below the long-term average (0.10 fish/hr).  Similarly, angler catch rates in the upper Niagara River (average 0.05 fish/hr) during the same period were below the long-term average (0.07 fish/hr). Declining trends in annual angler catch rates in Lake St. Clair were evident over the reporting period while the angler catch rates in the upper Niagara River increased.

Figure 1. Annual and average catch rates (fish/hr) of muskellunge in Lake St. Clair (LSC) and the upper Niagara River (UNR), 1995-2025.