I do not fish the Portage Lakes that often, but hit them a few times a year with a friend of mine who has a nice 25HP BassTracker. The lakes are the most convenient for us to hit.
Last year I caught a nice size LM in Turkey foot that had HUGE growths on it's lips. It was disgusting. It looked like cauliflower ear. I didn't want to lip him! He was thin, but at least 17 inches. I think whatever had invaded him was affecting his survival. That was the first time I had seen something that grotesque on a fish, I just blew it off as a one time thing.
Today (Monday) we hit Turkeyfoot and East Res, and caught 3 big LM with significant problems. One had these red nodules the size of peanuts all over the back of his tail, and another had swollen growths on his lips like the one the year before. I also caught a super-nice 4 pounder that was the UGLIEST bass I have ever seen. His lips were pitch BLACK, his fins were blackened, and had black blotches all over his body. This was some kind of disgusting fungus. He was otherwise perfectly healthy and fought as strong or stronger than any bass I have ever caught. It was a blast to try to get him in.
Is there something going on at these lakes? Or are these common, natural maladies that occur to bass everywhere, and I just haven't come across before??
I can't stress enough, these fish, although nice 2-3-4 pounders, where the most DISGUSTING looking fish I have ever seen. I wish I had my camera to show you these guys.
Last year I caught a nice size LM in Turkey foot that had HUGE growths on it's lips. It was disgusting. It looked like cauliflower ear. I didn't want to lip him! He was thin, but at least 17 inches. I think whatever had invaded him was affecting his survival. That was the first time I had seen something that grotesque on a fish, I just blew it off as a one time thing.
Today (Monday) we hit Turkeyfoot and East Res, and caught 3 big LM with significant problems. One had these red nodules the size of peanuts all over the back of his tail, and another had swollen growths on his lips like the one the year before. I also caught a super-nice 4 pounder that was the UGLIEST bass I have ever seen. His lips were pitch BLACK, his fins were blackened, and had black blotches all over his body. This was some kind of disgusting fungus. He was otherwise perfectly healthy and fought as strong or stronger than any bass I have ever caught. It was a blast to try to get him in.
Is there something going on at these lakes? Or are these common, natural maladies that occur to bass everywhere, and I just haven't come across before??
I can't stress enough, these fish, although nice 2-3-4 pounders, where the most DISGUSTING looking fish I have ever seen. I wish I had my camera to show you these guys.