Unusual action at Engineer Lake

[VinceAK]

Hey guys,

I think this may be my first post, but I've been lurking for a short while. I wanted to see if anyone had any insight on what this could've been. My girlfriend and I were ice fishing at Engineer Lake a few weekends ago and weren't getting any bites. We moved spots probably 4 or 5 times. At our last spot, my girlfriend noticed that the arm that holds the transducer for my flasher started moving. She was fishing out of that hole. She yelled out and was looking down the hole and she said she saw a big fish attacking the transducer. The transducer was right at the the bottom of the hole. I didn't get a chance to see it but she said it was greenish brown color and pretty big size. Anyone ever have this happen? Like I said I didn't see the fish but I did see the arm moving a bit. I was thinking it was possibly a laker or a pike but that lake shouldn't have either in it. Let me know what you guys think.

Vince

[DannerAK]

muskrat?

[VinceAK]

Hah! She would definitely know if it was a muskrat.

[Cantgetenough]

My guess is it's the Loch Ness Monster or a hungry pike!!!!!

[Fishgod]

I second the muskrat. We had one this weekend bumping our transducer all day and he even tried getting inside our hut a couple of times.

[Akhardwater]

It could have been a big rainbow.  Depending  on water clarity and color it is possible that the bow could have looked greenish brown.  Big rainbows are curious critters, I've had them come in and nose my camera trying to figure out what it is.  I'm putting my money on a big bow. 

[kasilofchrisn]

I've fished that lake many times.
My guess is muskrat.
There's plenty of them out on that lake.
She may have just seen part of it or something.
Some landlocked salmon and a few rainbows in that lake but as you said no pike or Lakers that I know of.
A big rainbow possibly but I still think muskrat.
I've had issues with them in the past and you often just get a fleeting glimpse of them graving a quick breathe.

[Akhardwater]

I don't think I've ever seen a greenish brown muskrat.  The Op never mentioned if it came up the hole, which would suggest fish.  All the rats I've encountered come up the hole or skirt the bottom of the hole briefly.  A dead give away is all the bubbles which you usually see before you see the rat.  The way the Op describes the encounter it sounds like the critter was playing with the transducer.  Sometimes fish are attracted to the clicking sounds the transducer make I've had burbot come up and nudge my transducer in shallow water. 

[JediMasterSalmonSlayer]

I have had large northen pike come up and nose my transducer on more than one occasion while fishing over a deep column of water.

They fish come in just under the ice. I bet it was a pike. 

[jkw]

I was fishing a Talkeetna area lakes few years ago  in shallow water and had a monstrous rainbow come right in, attacked and chomped on my fish TV transducer. It left teeth marks. Pretty neat.

[jkw]

I was fishing a Talkeetna area lakes few years ago  in shallow water and had a monstrous rainbow come right in, attacked and chomped on my fish TV transducer. It left teeth marks. Pretty neat.

[VinceAK]

Thanks for all the replies. I hope it was just a monstrous bow. I'll have to go back and find out one of these days!

[maddogg]

Here's the culprit.

[bigredonice]

I had a pike bump my transducer a few years back

[kasilofchrisn]

I have had large northen pike come up and nose my transducer on more than one occasion while fishing over a deep column of water.

They fish come in just under the ice. I bet it was a pike.

There are no known pike in Engineer lake.
Nor are there any lakes connecting to or near Engineer that contain pike or that have contained pike.
Though it could be another illegal pike stocking I guess.
I have fished that lake many times.
Caught some decent landlocked salmon in their over the years and have seen a few muskrats there as well as tons of muskrat pushups and other sign they are there in good numbers some years.
I believe there are rainbows in there but can't recall catching one right now.
There is the possibility of lake trout in there as the creek does connect with Hidden lake a known producer of lake trout.