Eel Or Leech

[creek wader]

Finally made my first stream fishing trip for the year. This is not normal for me. Usually, I've been out a dozen or so times, by now.

Took my yak on one of my my usual Ozark streams. I tried a section that I've never fished before. I went solo, so I didn't have a shuttle. I had to paddle back to my put in. It limited the amount of water that I could cover. I only fished about a mile section.

The stream was low for this time of year and I was reduced to mainly fishing the holes, as the runs were quite shallow.

I started by throwing a 3" dinger, and caught a 14" largemouth, right out of the gate. A few casts later, I caught a 13" smallie on a hula grub. After that, the bass fishing slowed down for awhile, and the sunnies went crazy. The male"s fins were tipped with black, so they were well into the spawn.

I went to a 3/8 oz. spinnerbait to get away from the sunnies, but it didn't matter. I think I must of caught at least 25 sunnies before I caught my next bass. The sunnies were very aggressive, and didn't give the bass didn't have a chance to get to the lure.

Finally I picked up a few largemouth and smallies in the 12" range, before I caught a hard fighting 18" largemouth. Followed by two more in the same range.

Altogether, I only caught 12 largemouth and 6 smallies. Mostly on the spinnerbait with a few on a 3" grub. Also, at least 30 sunnies landed, not to mention another 30 or so tail biters. They kept me busy in between the bass.

Anyway, I caught a nice largemouth with, what I thought was an 8" leech attached. At least till it fell off him, while I was taking a pic. It fell in my lap and shot like a lightening bolt under my leg then to the other end of the yak. I had my camera phone in one hand, the bass in the other, still hooked up, my pole about ready to fall out of the yak, and my paddle rolling across my legs, along with this "devil" thing flying around my yak. I'm wearing shorts and trying to move my feet and legs away from this thing.

I finally released the bass, secured my pole and phone. Then fished my paddle out of the water.

I tried to grab this thing and found out where the phrase "slippery as an eel", came from. I got a few pics of it. I looked it up on the net and finally came to the conclusion that it was an American eel. I could be wrong, though. It had a row of gill like holes on both sides. A suction cup for a mouth with what looked like some teeth. It wasn't flat on the back like a leech but flat on the sides. It also, had something like a fin down the back. I dunno. You guys tell me.

[Paola Cat]

Freshwater Lamprey Eel. PC

[creek wader]

Freshwater Lamprey Eel. PC

Thanks for the info. I've seen larger eels. Caught in the missouri river. But never one the size. And attatched to a bass

[Gavin]

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/mofwis/Mofwis_Summary.aspx?id=0100089

Is this it?

[creek wader]

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.g...aspx?id=0100089

Is this it?

Yep. That's the guy.