Fresh Water Lamprey In Crawford County

[Driftless]

http://youtu.be/3OfvHYv8BEc

four of them. Looked like they were spawning maybe.

First time i have seen one close up and now I saw 4 all at once.

[Driftless]

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=835

[itchmesir]

that map is a little off... there are definitely lamprey in the Root and in streams around Rushford, MN

[Driftless]

looks like a really nice meal for a big brown.

looked like they were spawning.

Had heard they were in local trout streams but this was the first time I had seen them and then there was 4 at once.

the stream i saw them in is known for brook trout.

[s t fanatic]

for some reason we had tons of these things in our streams of s.e. mn. two years ago. i havent seen them lately. i noticed them in the spring and then didnt seem to see them as we moved into summer (when i say we had ton of them i mean there were literally thousands of them in a few different streams that i frequent.)

[Driftless]

photo from yesterday

a big brown articulated leech now would catch some monster browns or a soft brown jig imitation.

[Driftless]

A hatchery existed along Kettle Brook in Connecticut, in the mid 1950s. There was a cross exposure to the trout they had there and American Brook Lamprey were introduced to our streams. Now they are quite prevalent in our Midwestern streams. They are typically 3-10 inches long. They are considered non-parasitic lamprey. Brook lamprey are only found in clear, cold brooks and small streams. Their skin is leathery and smooth and without scales. Adults have a dark back, pale belly, yellowish fins and a dark blotch at the end of the tail. They have disc like mouths with teeth. The teeth are poorly developed. They are unable to attach to a fish. Male lamprey grow bigger than females.

They spawn in late spring near the end of April in Wisconsin Streams.The males with help from the females construct small nests by picking up pebbles with their mouths and moving them to shallow depressions. The sticky eggs are deposited in the nest and adhere to the sand and gravel. The embryos hatch in about three weeks. Young lamprey float downstream upon hatching and eventually burrow into the sand and silt where they live for 3-7 years. They feed on microscopic life and animal matter (protozoans, diatoms, algae, desmids, and pollen). Adult lamprey change colors just before they emerge from the silt and rocks. Adult brook lamprey cannot eat because they are not equipped with a functional small intestine and only live for four to six months.

I found a couple nests yesterday in a stream in Crawford County. There were four of them building nests. At first I bristled and thought seriously about stomping on them. I resisted the temptation and rightly so. I research them the last two days. They are not like their great lakes cousins. Killing anything no matter how ugly and not eating it is not what I believe in.

My next thought was where can I find something that looks like them because they have to be excellent table fare for big hungry browns. My search was rewarded with me finding some brownish green articulated leech flies that will fit the bill. I also found some soft plastic lures too. Going to give it a try soon on local streams.

[DARK30]

I came across a few in the Root this weekend too...might make a good bait you say? Never thought of that.

[itchmesir]

Black or Olive Rabbit Strip Diver on sink tip would probably mimic a lamprey well..

[popriveter]

I netted a few from the little cannon last spring. I had seen them only one time before and had been worried the first time that they might be parasitic lampreys. But, I'd read the truth about them before netting them last spring, so I was able to appreciate them without hesitation and let 'em swim away healthy.

They are a really cool looking creature.

[Johnny_K]

Thanks for not killing them. As you found out they are not parasitic and are good water quality indicators.

[flyfisher03]

The MN DNR recently published a brochure on lampreys. Here is a link to the pdf version.

files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/education/minnaqua/lampreyrochure.pdf

[itchmesir]

cool bit of info there flyfisher03.. thanks!