Lamprey Invasion, More lampreys this season then ever

That mark on the pike wasn't made by a lamprey.

I also don't think that damage is from a lamprey

hey Disco, i just got my first coho with a small lamprey still attached a few days ago. i was going to take a pic, but it slid off and slipped out of the boat via my port scupper......damn

Definitely not a lamprey wound. Pike and muskie get a parasite sometimes that causes the fish to rub itself on a hard surface to the point of damaging its scales and skin. Then sometimes that wound can get infected but it usually heals up nicely like the pike in that picture. It looked to me like that was going to heal properly. I have more information on stuff like this if anyone wants to be bored reading it.

Sure I'd like to read. Please, share.
Thanks.

Sure I'd like to read. Please, share.
Thanks.

I will start with a rock bass I caught last year. There are many parasites and bacteria that affect the health of a fish. Unfortunately there is much debate on causes and affect so I suggest looking up (Diseases in fresh water game fish) and make your own decision if you catch a fish that looks sick. You can also take a picture and call the MNR. So this rock bass might have had Viral hemorrhagic septicema so it did not go back in the water. This may sound silly but I wash my bucket out every time I go fishing, just like you are supposed to clean your live well and boat when you take it out of the lake. I also spray my lures with Isopropyl not only does it clean them the hooks don't rust because I dry them off.

Here is some information on this. Like I said take the time and make an informed decision if you catch a fish you may think is sick.

This next one is easy to see on a fish and there is alot of articles out there on it. I have seen this on one pike and one muskie although it is more common than we think. This one is disgusting but worth the read. Both fish I caught definitely had this and went in the wood stove and were cremated.

This next one I have seen a couple times as well. This is the most debated. It can just be from spawning or it can be from parasites. Abrasions on the skin of a fish can be hard to figure out sometimes so again I recommend reading up on these to make a good decision on what to do with the fish. There are many fish diseases or parasites I have not seen, that's why I say read up on them to stay informed. There is also the common black spots or white spots in the flesh of a fish. I just cut them out then freeze the fish.

Great read Crappeeeman.

Thank you

My buddy just came back from lake O. Used a colleagues boat out of Burlington.

Every fish they caught (4 fishermen) 15 fish total had lamprey markings.

ya, pretty much all the matures have scars........really sad


good thing is one or two hits usually won't kill them, but we needthat program up and running again big time........these fish have enough to contend with already

100%

Does any species of fish in the great lakes target lampreys?
I would have thought salmon, lake trout etc would eat those snake looking things?