the next bite

[tracker man]

while watching the next bite on tue they caught a 14lb eye.it had a very large growth on one side and a number of growths on the other side.this spring i caught an 11 pounder that had a very large growth on the top dorsal fin.what are they? has anyone caught fish like this? are they safe to eat?
be safe and good fishing glenn

[T Mac]

I ddin't see the show... but I think I know what your mean, because I have caught quite a few with sores at times.
In early, cold water, especially up north, it is not unusual to catch walleyes with cold water fungus (or whatever the correct term is)...those growths that look like red sores, bloody, warty looking type growths.
No problem for eating. It's just in the skin.

T-mac and others, Chip J. (a fishing friend)showed me a picture of a 6# or so eye he caught last winter over at Roosevelt and that thing had a BIG tumor on its side. It looked like there was a tennis ball or baseball trapped under its skin!! Really looked nasty. Judging by the picture, it looked quite healthy and normal except for that huge growth on it.. He released it but thought after the fact that it would have been a good candidate to give to the biologists over there to take a look at and learn from..Oh well, too late once they hit the water...Maybe the next guy who nets it will think quicker..

See ya, RJ

We see it fairly often here in Wisconsin. You see it in the cold weather, but rarely ever see anything like it in the summer. We call them cold-water sores. They do look gross, but I'm guessing they must go away when the water warms up.

I've caught more than one walleye at Mosquito Reservoir that was literally covered from head to fin with wart type growths on them.

They were released to fight another day.

[Gary Parsons]

It's caused by a cold water virus and results in these sore looking warty type growth's, some of which get to be pretty large. I hope you liked the show. Best fishes.

Gary Parsons

[tracker man]

yes i realy like the show.thanks for the reply.
be safe and good fishing glenn

More info:

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/images/p...eye_tumors.htm


http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/_documen...20diseases.pdf

SS

[Tezz32]

who cares all they do is add weight to your fish. i wish all my tourny fish had tumors!

[manitobawalleye]

dermal sarcoma is quite common on big fish up here
on the red river and lake winnipeg

manitoba .... a 100,000 lakes
how many walleyes ????
i will never have enough time....