Concerned about Lampreys

[nancyb2]

I have a concern about the Lampreys i am seeing on the fish being caught, most of which are Browns. We actually boated 6 lamprey on fish and saw more on fish that released as they were being netted. I actually foul hooked one on a spoon down 12 ' over 20'. I have fished the Lake by boat since the early 80's and i have never seen the lamprey this bad. Is anyone else seeing an issue or maybe a pattern. I wonder if the DEC may need to act on the stream treatment to help control the populations. I know in the past they have done this but i am not sure of anything that may be in the wind.

[Mortigan]

We haven't exactly been hammering them but we haven't seen a marked fish or lamprey yet this season fishing out of Sandy or I-Bay.

[Jolly II]

We've had a couple of fish this season with scars, and one laker that had a lamprey attached, but not that bad. Talking with biologist this winter they said they are still treating the main lamprey spawning tribs, as well as trying to keep up with newly discovered tribs.

Perhaps you are seeing something related to their spawning pattern, like they are staged in the lake within a mile or 2 of their spawning tributary.

Just my thoughts

[King Slammin]

Haven't seen any out of Olcott yet. Only boated about 35 fish so far though.

[Lund SSS]

Haven't seen any out of Olcott yet. Only boated about 35 fish so far though.

Fished out of Olcott last Fri. and had to remove 3 different lamprey ..... there's a few "extra pieces" now

[Has Been]

A few years back A company out of Canada was contracted to treat Sandy Creek w/ lampricide.

[jonboat]

We went 6 for 9 Sunday (kings and browns) out of Fair Haven, and none had lamprey, or even scars on them. Could be a localized thing. Maybe where you were fishing was near an untreated lamprey spawning bed. Might be worthwhile to ping the DEC and let them know the area you were fishing. Could be a small trib in the area that is playing nursury for those nasty little buggers.

[bandrus1]

cayuga is bad... really bad.... ever fish has 1 and most cases 2

[LongLine]

Some of our Browns & Bows have had lamprey scars on them. Kings & Lakers have been clean. Kind of strange...seems like the reverse of other years.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Big Water]

Two of 20 Kings last weekend had lampreys on them. Three others had scars. There are now 2 less lampreys in the lake.

[Big Water]

Two of 20 Kings last weekend had lampreys on them. Three others had scars. There are now 2 less lampreys in the lake.

Somehow the post was doubled. There are not 4 less lampreys.

[Mortigan]

[pikeopay]

Fishing out of Oak Orchard on Monday 5/7 I caught 9 browns, 4 of them had Lamprey marks on them and 1 of those had 2 marks on him, none of the fish actually had a Lamprey on it. What was strange to me was that these were the first fish in the past 3 years that I had seen with the marks on them so I wondered if this was something new.

[LongLine]

What's new is that they're going after Browns. For the last few years, more "resistant" Laker strains has been introduced into Big-O.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[fish or swim]

I have a concern about the Lampreys i am seeing on the fish being caught, most of which are Browns. We actually boated 6 lamprey on fish and saw more on fish that released as they were being netted. I actually foul hooked one on a spoon down 12 ' over 20'. I have fished the Lake by boat since the early 80's and i have never seen the lamprey this bad. Is anyone else seeing an issue or maybe a pattern. I wonder if the DEC may need to act on the stream treatment to help control the populations. I know in the past they have done this but i am not sure of anything that may be in the wind.

Great Lakes Fishery Commission

We need your help! Become a sea lamprey hunter.

http://glfc.org/sealamp/lampreyhunter/stopinvader.htm

How you can help: Take a short tutorial and follow the instructions on the website for submitting data.

http://glfc.org/sealamp/lampreyhunter/stopinvader.htm

Simply follow through the 5 pages on the website. When you are out fishing you will have to record fish caught, fish with lampreys attached, fish with wounds and then submit this information through the website.

Additional Information:

Sea Lamprey need to be poisoned in their spawning streams to sustain ecological balance in the Lakes

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/116707109.html

Sea Lamprey numbers shot up again Lake Michigan last year

http://ipr.interlochen.org/ipr-news-fea ... sode/12632

Native Lamprey species co-exist peacefully in the Great Lakes

http://greatlakesecho.org/2011/02/08/th ... rspective/

Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Sea Lamprey section

http://www.glfc.org/sealamp/

Become a Sea Lamprey Trapper

http://www.glfc.org/sealamp/catchdb/index.html

[Captain Carl Bish]

We have had 4 fish since April 28th with Lampreys on them. Two of the fish were Atlantics, one a king and the other a small laker. Three of the fish we released, saving their lives. I think the lampreys must have just entered the lake the last week of April, might be a temp thing, I am not sure of the physiology of the critters.

[fisherms]

All who fish cayuga know the lamprey status.. Few come in without evidence, even salmon..Now go to the DEC site an see the real picture,$$$$$..

[High Bidder]

Fished at Mexico 2 weeks ago. 3 out of nine fish had lampreys attached. I was amazed that they wouldn't let go after being thrown in the cooler. I had to cut them in half until they released. 2 of the lampreys were about 12" long and the other about 18". I also was amazed at the number of lampreys. Most of the bigger salmon had lamprey marks.

High Bidder

[LongLine]

HB - 18" is a big lamprey for this time of year.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Silver Fox]

I fished this past weekend and landed many fish with lampreys. Also seen a lot of fish with scars. Not good.

[ Post made via Android ]

[fieromx3]

didnt know what a lamprey was but heard alot of talk about them... decided to look up pictures of them so i know what they are and all i have to say is THANKS!!!! im probably going to have nightmares of those things!! they are kinda scary looking

[Mortigan]

Don't get much uglier

[hawkeye625]

Fished from the bar to olcott throughout the derby week and wilson to bar memorial day weekend. Had 9 fish with lampreys, a dozen or so with marks and actually caught one on a milotto spoon (at least it had 2 of the 3 points of the treble in its mouth).

Killed them all. Talked with several other guys that got a couple, but for some reason not the #'s we got. Mostly salmon and 1 laker.

Makes a guy think twice before swimming.

[Mortigan]

I've never heard of a lamprey trying to attach itself to a person swimming or wading. Have you?