Muskie Pox in MN??

[blackdog1101]

Has there been any evidence of Muskie Pox (Piscirickettsia) in Minnesota waters? Is there a similar disease known to effect Northerns? I caught a northern in January that, after reviewing pictures on the internet, very much appeared to me to have Muskie Pox, or something very much like it. The fish was caught in Lake Minnetonka. Thanks for any info you may be able to share.

[Black_Bay]

I've never heard of it occuring here. A quick search stated that Piscirckettsia is usually associated with salmon or in areas with salmon although it was found in Lake St. Clair in the past few years.

It sounds maybe like what you saw was this: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_diseases/lymphosarcoma.html

[blackdog1101]

I suppose that's what it is, but this was a concave wound, not convex like those pictures show. Thanks for the link.

[gregg52]

i looked that up on google cuz i caught a northern on winnie bout a month ago that was just cover with black spots

and they were good size and you could actually feel em

never seen a fish like that on winnie

i ve seen those spots on some walleyes but usally much lighter and not nearly as many and usally caught more in the cutfoot weed walleyes i guess i call em

but this was way out on a hump

[RK]

Hiya -

Blackdog - it could very well have been 'cold water virus.' It's a virus that shows up during the cold water period and isn't at all uncommon in MN in pike and walleyes. It's occasionally fatal, but other than being ugly-looking, it isn't out of the ordinary. Kind of the fish version of the common cold, sort of.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm