deformed northern???????

[Guest]

Hello everyone!
I was out fishing today and caught a northern. When I pulled it out it's whole back was kinda hunched and it's head looked like those salmon where it curves down. Just wondering what was wrong with it??????
Thanx..

[hawgTime]

nb

More than likely, the fish sustained an injury when it was a little guy causing the deformity, or it may be a birth defect, or a tumor.

mike

[Guest]

I hope you threw it back...especially if you got it in MN(season is closed).

[Ybone]

Sometimes the injury was caused by a spear. The fish escapes the spear and survives but the bone structure has been deformed. If you fillet the fish you can sometimes see the path the spear took through the fish by the scar tissue.

[Guest]

Getting hit by a motor prop can do similar damage.

[Guest]

I know exactly what happend to the gator. I am sure you caught him on Mille Lacs, in front of LAKESIDE RESORT. He probably ate some of their food that someone tossed down the hole. Poor fishy never had a chance.

[Guest]

thanks for your responses guys. Yes I did throw it back. It probably was a deformity and that's what I thought. C ya guys later

[Gonzo]

I caught a Muskie in Lake Minnetonka two years ago that had a growth coming out of its lower jaw. The growth was a piece of skin that was in the shape of a half circle about five inches in diameter. Although it was ugly, the fish seemed fine, and that piece of skin was helpful to hold onto and unhook it for release. Maybe they're mutating for C&R!