Do we have a problem with lampreys?????

flysack

Been noticing lamprey wounds on many of the brighter fish around the lower/mid rivers the past couple weeks. Seems there's been more this year and it has to be a growing concern. Lately I've seen more with scars & wounds than those without.

Some wounds have just been downright nasty. Caught a bright hen today that had scars and open wounds for about ten inches from below its pectoral fin nearly all the way down the side of it's body to the ventral fins. Sad to see large otherwise healthy Manistees with these bloodsucker wounds and scars.

I'd say YES we have issues and I've noticed the creel guy has been asking the "any lamprey wounds?" as a question.

FS

ArcticSnowMonkey · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject:

Funny you mention this, as I just spent the day with a former employee of mine who now works for USFWS specifically on the lamprey control project around the GL. She's based out of Ludingtion, MI, but works fulltime on the lamprey control team on streams around the GL. Saw some pretty cool photos of some gorgeous stream they treated in the upper GL.

Overall, unfortunately, lampreys are alive and well in the GL. When they get done crunching last year's data I'll give and update on the status in Lake Erie.

ASM

jtrustee · Supporting Member Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 14

I Fish an eastide unmentionable fairly often and have also noticed an increase in lamprey marks. Yesterday I had another three that had wounds.

flynpin · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

Last few outings had me with two very nice fish with lamprey wounds-one each day vs no lamprey marks in all previous yrs. I would say that something is up.

.Driftabugger. · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 17

I'd have top agree FS the majority of the fish I've hit this year have been scared or bleeding as well and was wondering the same thing. It'll be interesting to see what results Monkey puts up.

woodmanj · Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 80

I wonder how the lampricide treatment helps...saw the "CAT" in N.Y. last year, and it turns the water an ugly "pea soup green"....anybody know of the results?

ArcticSnowMonkey · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: lampreys

schmitter1 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Cleveland, OH

I actually foul hooked a lamprey that was attached to a steelhead on the Conneaut in the fall. I have never actually seen one those things before -- they are ugly!

trekker · Supporting Member Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 90

I caught a walleye in the Maumee Friday that had a few wounds on it. Anybody know if they've enacted the ballast laws yet?

Reel Easy · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 90 Location: Brownhelm Twp.

I have noticed more Lamprey marks this year as well.The good thing is those fish survived .What bothers me more is not knowing how many didn't survive,and how many will die from the wounds.

flysack · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject:

Here's a couple pics of some adults from a few years back on the Grand.

FS

leakywaders1964 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 1 Location: huron ohio

New at the trout fishing but I can definately tell you that I have caught these suckers stuck to walleye in the western basin West of port clinton. Caught 1 walleye last weekend with a smalleel attached.