White parasites on catfish, what the..?

[EBass]

All the cats I've caught so far this year have had little white parasites on the fins/tail. I've caught them in the Mississippi and the Crow. Some decent 2lbs and some yearlings. Every single one has these parasite on the fins and tail.

Does any one know what they are? They are all Channel Cats.

Later, EBass

[CANOPY SAM]

I might be wrong, but they may be Echinococcus granulosus. You see them in a lot of fish that inhabit warmer water during the summer. They're little parasitic worms.
They're supposed to be harmless to humans, but I'd cook those cat fillets really well just the same. I kinda get the jitters thinkin' about them little critters squirmin' around in my gullet. Although, there probably aren't to many critters that could survive in my gullet for very long! Har Har Har!!!!!

[EBass]

But the water is still cold/cool. Perhaps fish viruses can mutate just like other viruses. Like this SARS thing, but for fish. Or maybe the worms have more tolerance for temps. I don't know, but they look like zits. Poor fishies!

[deadeye]

I have also gotten quite a few fish down there with those same things on them. They are usually just on the fins, but sometimes on the gills as well. As far as I know they are pretty much just a leech, I have caught cats from other, cleaner rivers and filleted them out and I have yet to see one with those worms in the meat. I wouldn't get to worried about it but if you really want to know what it is, try giving the DNR HSOforum an e-mail, they will probably tell you what it is and if it dangerous or not. I don't think it is since I have eaten a couple cats that had them on their tails and I am still here. ><>
deadeye

[CANOPY SAM]

Even though the water is cold, we have to remember that most of these cats just spent several months laying pretty still and tight to the bottom in the depths of some deep hole somewhere.
They're easy prey for little bottom dwelling parasites and such.
It would be really fun to cold water dive and watch their behavior under the ice. I actually caught my first cats under the ice this winter, and even saw a couple pretty big "cruisers" with an aquaview late this winter when the ice was really thick.