I think Lampreys are a pretty common occurrence in some waters but I got to wondering just how wide spread are these creatures across the country?
Have any of you have experienced Lampreys in the state you live in?
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I think Lampreys are a pretty common occurrence in some waters but I got to wondering just how wide spread are these creatures across the country?
Have any of you have experienced Lampreys in the state you live in?
Ones they have on Great Lake are different Sea Lampreys . Ones here in the South are Chestnut Lampreys, We usually see them on Crappie in my area each spring .
I've seen them up in Michigan but not so much here in Indiana.
I hear they are in Ohio, but never seen any
Lot of them in Lake Champlain here in Vermont - they treat a lot of the feeder streams here every year.
I've never seen them here in Pa on the lakes I fish.
I occasional see one every once in a great while on East fork of the White River in southern Indiana. They don't get as big as the ones in the Great Lakes.
We see them every once in awhile. Slimy and gross. I usually grab them with a pair of pliers and sling em!
Never seen one in Ms.
Seen them in North Louisiana on Caddo Lake it's been years though
Native lampreys (i.e. not sea lampreys) are an indication of good water quality.
I've seen a couple here on KY and Barkley Lakes. I've seen several fish with the sores on them where the lampreys have been attached.
The guy in that video treated them much better than I would have. Sidecutters to the head would have been my choice.
Well for those of you who might wonder, here is a short entertaining as well as educational video. It includes helpful hints on what to do with the spinal cords and the blood of lampreys.
We have a large population of lamprey eels here in the Ct. River system (in MA). I've never found one attached to a crappie however.
Someone educate me on Lampreys. Never seen one and have no knowledge about them. Are they good for fish, bad for fish? What purpose do they serve in the environment? Can you eat fish that have had Lampreys attached to them, or not? What effect do they have on the fish? I don't even know enough to ask the right questions about them.
They look like leaches, nasty little blood suckers. That make great walleye bait.
Think about a regular American Eel, only instead of a mouth like one of those, lampreys have a round suction cup in their face, with rows of rasping teeth. They cling onto larger fish and suck out the blood. Sort of like a vampire. LOL! I've seen them as large as 3 - 4 pounds. They migrate from the sea however, so their introduction normally requires a river dumping into the ocean.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanr3
Never seen em here or south Louisiana when I lived there.
I shot a carp summer before last that had one on it. Scared the heck out of me when I saw it. Looked like something in a horror movie. Didn't know what it was until I sent pics around.
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I've caught bass at Pickwick that had them attached. Freaked me out first time I saw it.
Thanks, sound like leeches.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crestliner08
No doubt, I would show them critters the same hospitality I show white bass.. don't like nothing pestering my crappie friendsQuote:
Originally Posted by mrdux
And never seen one in MS, let's hope it stays that way.
When I lived in the Portland Oregon area lampreys were part of the vocabulary. They migrate up Willamette Falls yearly. The locals harvest them in pretty good numbers. I have fished down river from the falls and the current is crazy. I was told before I went up there that there are nine different currents in that area. I fished it and caught spring chinook while there but never went back. Too many prop busting rocks and crazy current.
Pacific lamprey harvested at Willamette Falls - YouTube
Awesome! That actually looks like fun. Kind of freaky, buts looks like it would be a great time.
Interesting for sure I had no idea there were several varieties of them and they were that common . We don't have them in Texas to the best a my knowledge . We got sirens but hey don't attach to a fish like a Lamprey and they are amphibians . Btw do them things bite with that sucker full a teeth on hands and such ? Or just fish ?
They are somewhat common in the lake I fish in north Alabama. I'm sure a fish with one on it would be fine to eat, but I can't get past the thought of it. If I catch a crappie with one on it, I pull it off, throw it in the bottom of the boat and let the crappie go. I've never given one the chance to bite me, but I don't think they could.