Thursday, January 08, 2009

First ice fishing trip 2009


Lots of firsts in these photos. Beside the obvious....the first perch of 2009 it's also the first fish I've ever caught on a fly (bait) that I tied myself.

Thanks again to Rick my friend and fly tying mentor.




I found the pattern for this small, mostly eye, fly on the web. It was for "catching perch" and it sure seems to have lived up to it's billing.




Speaking of firsts...this is the first time I've seen a perch with this obvious parasite (?). Does anyone know what it is. We caught several perch today with these parasites / tumors (?).

01/29/09 UPDATE: Via Fish Health Specialist in Madison says:

"I am 99% sure that the fish has Lymphocystis. In addition to infecting skin and causing growths on walleye, I have seen the growths on y perch and bluegill.

Lymphocystis is caused by an iridovirus (same kind of virus that causes LMB virus disease). The growths tend to slough off when the water temps increase in summer. Not visually appealing, but are not thought to harm the fish or people."

Thanks RB for facilitating the communications.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You could always email your jpeg of the Perch over to the US Fish & Wildlife Services Conservation Office in Ashland - Ashland@fws.gov

I'll be you'd get an answer.

Us said...

Mmmmmmmmm, perch. xo landm

Anonymous said...

That's a jig, not a fly.

acs55812 said...

Google "Lymphocystis"

acs55812 said...

opps I just read your update--never mind