Lamprey Eel

[Nighthawk]

Fishing buddy and I fished the river Sat. and got 7 fish apiece. One of mine was a pretty brown about 15". But the highlight of the trip was catching a rainbow which had an 8" lamprey eel on top of his head. The eel let go when I got the trout up to the top of the water, but the teeth marks were visible on the fish when I got it to hand.

[gotmuddy]

they are evil looking creatures.

[Quillback]

they are evil looking creatures.

X2.

[Ham]

well... it's all how you look at it. The Lamprey were here before the trout. I fairly routinely catch trout with lamprey on them. I've caught as many as 8 trout with lamprey attached in a day before. I do usually make the lamprey let go, but I don't kill the lamprey or anything. They are slimey and hard to get a hold of, but I toss them back in.

The lamprey have a pretty interesting life cycle. I think the Chestnut Lamprey is the only species in Arkansas that is parasitic and they only feed on other fish in the last cycle of their life. They feed on other fish for 9 months or so and then spawn and die. The young feed on decaying vegetation as they mature. Because they all die after the a single spawn, it is a self regulating population that rarely gets out of balance.

I'm not a big fan of parasities in general and certainly not the ones that will feed on humans, but I try not to kill stuff because I'm afraid of it or don't like its appearance.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I've seen them in the Pothole. As Ham said they're native to the White. here's a picture of one that came off of a

big carp. Shadow doesn't do it right, but if you haven't had the please of meeting one, it will give you an idea.

[Ham]

Prior to moving up here, I had only caught one fish in my life with a lamprey attached. It is still interesting when it happens.

I didn't mean to rain on anyone's parade.

[trout_bum]

Here's one for you.

I tried to pull it off, but it was too well attached to the fish, and I didn't want to injure it. Many times they will let go when you net the fish.

[Ham]

I hung a pretty decent Brown one day that jumped really high out of the water with a lamprey attached. That thing looked like a bronco rider getting jerked back and forth. Next big jump the Browm slung the Lamprey off. On the third and final jump, that fish slung my Zig Jig out. Lol, it was Pretty cool though.

[hoglaw]

Interesting stuff ham. And nice fish tb. I've caught more good fish 300yards in either direction from that spot than anywhere else if it's where I think it is.

The lampreys freak my fiancee out, especially when they fall in the bottom of the boat. I've always wondered if good fish will eat them or if they know to steer clear.

[Terrierman]

well... it's all how you look at it. The Lamprey were here before the trout. I fairly routinely catch trout with lamprey on them. I've caught as many as 8 trout with lamprey attached in a day before. I do usually make the lamprey let go, but I don't kill the lamprey or anything. They are slimey and hard to get a hold of, but I toss them back in.

The lamprey have a pretty interesting life cycle. I think the Chestnut Lamprey is the only species in Arkansas that is parasitic and they only feed on other fish in the last cycle of their life. They feed on other fish for 9 months or so and then spawn and die. The young feed on decaying vegetation as they mature. Because they all die after the a single spawn, it is a self regulating population that rarely gets out of balance.

I'm not a big fan of parasities in general and certainly not the ones that will feed on humans, but I try not to kill stuff because I'm afraid of it or don't like its appearance.

I really respect and appreciate the big picture that you hold to. Everything in nature has its place.