If You Fish Lake Conway - PLEASE READ

CEB and I were talking today about the crappie we have been catching at Conway over 10 inches. Most of them have sores on them, and the meat (filet) is granular. CEB has only seen worms in one of the fish. I have seen the same thing in the fish I have been catching over 10 inches.

CEB and I talked to Kelly Winningham today. She is a fish biologist with the AGFC. She wanted to know if there were any other fishermen that were catching fish like this in any other area of Lake Conway other than Gold Creek.

This is not to alarm anyone. She said the fish were fine to eat, but she said she would like to know if they were being cought in any other area. She also said if you can drop a couple of the fish you catch (with the sores on them) off at the Mayflower office, and tell Tom Blythe(sp?) to get them to her, that it would really help her out. Tom's number is 877-470-3309. Tell Tom that Kelly Winningham (Hot Springs Office) wants him to get them to her, and if he has any questions to call her.

We have the same thing in the fish during certain times of the year. I have seen some of the fish with sores on them and when you cut the fillet off it will have a tumor looking red knot on them. One of the guys fishing with us cut open the tumor and found a worm inside. Scared the bejesus out of me, so I started a thread on it. Everyone said it was common and that you should make sure to cook the fillets thoroughly.

I have also seen numerouse fish like this. a couple of weeks ago when I filetes my fish 4 or 5 had the red sores on them. I will try to keep a better eye on them next time I'm cleaning them. Where abouts is the office to drop off these fish.

I don't know where the office is. That is why I put the number on there.

The AGFC has a location on Hwy89 east of Mayflower.

Roughly 2-3 miles east of Bates bait shop.

Look for the sign on hwy 89.

Cought a good mess this morning, and only had one with them on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeepster04

We have the same thing in the fish during certain times of the year. I have seen some of the fish with sores on them and when you cut the fillet off it will have a tumor looking red knot on them. One of the guys fishing with us cut open the tumor and found a worm inside. Scared the bejesus out of me, so I started a thread on it. Everyone said it was common and that you should make sure to cook the fillets thoroughly.

---

Hey Jeepster, what I saw on those wasn't the typical worm. I've seen lots of them, and you can just cut that section of fillet out. This looked more like granulation tissue. It ran throughout the tissue on both sides of the fish. Guess I'll get back out there this week and find a few more "samples"...:cool:

Chris - granulation tissue sounds more like a disease than a parasite. I'm off tomorrow (Veterans Day) and am planning on going up to Gold Creek at sunrise if it's not coming a deluge and will keep my eyes open. I've seen the occasional sore on the outside of the fish (both crappie and bream and have seen that for years) but not the granulation though I have been surprised at times at the color of some crappie filets. Occasionally they'll be almost reddish brown.