Author Topic: Odd Fish On Jig in Lake George (Read 4988 times)

200013964 · « **on:** Jan 20, 2009, 06:50 AM »

Does anyone know what this may be ?

Had a Fat head, and a fin that ran the length of it's back, the eyes on top, and side fins that fan out quite a bit.

Caught it Yesterday.

Thanks,
Tim

flyman1002 · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 07:01 AM »

Looks like a sculpin to me.

coldbum · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 07:01 AM »

Sculpin

coldbum · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 07:02 AM »

http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/Cottidae/cottidae.html

200013964 · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 07:04 AM »

I knew I could get the answer here.

Thanks guys.
Tim

coldbum · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 07:05 AM »

Lakers love them

Pasquatch · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 08:59 AM »

Sculpin. Cool.

I would love to have one in a tank for a bit.

Jack Magnum · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 10:06 AM »

Quote from: 200013964 on Jan 20, 2009, 06:50 AM

Does anyone know what this may be ?

(Image removed from quote.)

Had a Fat head, and a fin that ran the length of it's back, the eyes on top, and side fins that fan out quite a bit.

Caught it Yesterday.

Thanks,
Tim

That be laker candy

reubenpa · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 10:23 AM »

lakers go nuts over them!!!!

o2rmk800 · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 10:30 AM »

could you legally use them for bait?

coldbum · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 10:34 AM »

I think as long as you use them in the water you catch them you are ok?

hardwater Rick · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 10:42 AM »

wow looks almost like a gobbie Are they even in lake LG
very similar

coldbum · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 10:44 AM »

it is def. a sculpin

no gobies in LG. yet

bigredonice · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 11:27 AM »

its a sculpin, like coldbum said, the lakers do love them. they live around the rocks and in the grass beds. I've even caught big perch that spit them up. One of the most common and widely distributed fish species in the state and a good indicator of excellent water quality.

Wellsy · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 11:35 AM »

Quote from: bigredonice on Jan 20, 2009, 11:27 AM

its a sculpin, like coldbum said, the lakers do love them. they live around the rocks and in the grass beds. I've even caught big perch that spit them up. One of the most common and widely distributed fish species in the state and a good indicator of excellent water quality.

I don't know about the water quality part

I've netted them below lock 7 on the Mohawk and that is definitely not what I would call quality water....quality fishing, but not quality water.

bigredonice · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 11:42 AM »

Quote from: Wellsy on Jan 20, 2009, 11:35 AM

I don't know about the water quality part I've netted them below lock 7 on the Mohawk and that is definitely not what I would call quality water....quality fishing, but not quality water.

cool. they are considered an indicator species. Finding them in a stream is considered indicative of the stream being able to support trout. when we electrofished streams in college to determine if they held trout, if we found sculpins, we catagorized the stream as able to support trout. Obviously the lower mohawk gets too warm for trout, but although it may be turbid alot of the time, the water quality is quite good for a large, heavily developed river.

Here's a quote from the IOWA DNR;

The mottled sculpin has often been called a "trout indicator" and usually where there are sculpin populations, the water generally holds trout as well. Trout fishermen sometimes use mottled sculpins for bait when they are fishing for large brown trout.

http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/mottscul.html

jeg in albany · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 11:44 AM »

Wellsy,

I would describe the water quality below Lock 7 on the Mohawk as "interesting".

crappiekid · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 12:40 PM »

Good post Big Red very informative

Wellsy · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 03:45 PM »

Quote from: bigredonice on Jan 20, 2009, 11:42 AM

cool. they are considered an indicator species. Finding them in a stream is considered indicative of the stream being able to support trout. when we electrofished streams in college to determine if they held trout, if we found sculpins, we catagorized the stream as able to support trout. Obviously the lower mohawk gets too warm for trout, but although it may be turbid alot of the time, the water quality is quite good for a large, heavily developed river.

Here's a quote from the IOWA DNR;
The mottled sculpin has often been called a "trout indicator" and usually where there are sculpin populations, the water generally holds trout as well. Trout fishermen sometimes use mottled sculpins for bait when they are fishing for large brown trout.
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/mottscul.html

O.K and good link...I checked that out.
You are obviously more educated on the subject than I am, but I think we are referring to different opinions on what quality water is. Yours is an educated one sharing information in reference to the question asked. Mine is just the response from first hand experience of seeing sculpin in the same water with six legged frogs and bullhead that have three lips and tumors the size of golf balls.

Stuck-on-Seven · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 20, 2009, 09:28 PM »

never heard of or seen one of these before....is it kind of like a mud puppy??

coldbum · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 21, 2009, 05:03 AM »

wikipedia says:

The mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdii, is a freshwater sculpin (family Cottidae) found widely although unevenly throughout North America.

As the name suggests, its coloration is a combination of bars, spots, and speckles randomly distributed. The large pectoral fins are banded. The first dorsal fin is made of slender and somewhat soft spines, and just barely joins with the second dorsal. Maximum length is 15 cm.

It feeds primarily on aquatic insect larvae, but will also eat crustaceans, small fish, fish eggs, and some plant material. In turn, the sculpin is preyed upon by other fish, notably trout. Favored habitat is well-oxygenated and clear water, such as over gravel riffles in mountain streams, springs, and along rocky lake shores.

Spawning takes place during early winter and late spring. The male's head becomes darker, and he selects a protected nest site, such as under a rock or ledge. After courtship, the female enters the nest, turns upside down, and deposits her eggs on the ceiling, where they adhere. Typically several females will deposit eggs in a nest, then the male fertilizes and guards them, fanning the eggs with his pectoral fins.

Mottled sculpin occurrence is discontinuous in its range. It is widespread from the Tennessee River north to Labrador, while separate populations are found in the Missouri River, the Columbia River system in southern Canada, and the Bonneville system of the Great Basin.

Neversink Jimmy · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 21, 2009, 09:34 PM »

Quote from: jeg in albany on Jan 20, 2009, 11:44 AM

Wellsy,

I would describe the water quality below Lock 7 on the Mohawk as "interesting".

I grew up right near Lock 7 on the Niskayuna side... That water is interesting, indeed. I spent more time than I would like to admit jumping off the Rexford Bridge or swimming along the cliffs by the bike path. As you can see from the photo below, the water quality must be good, since I seem to have turned out alright:

ChautauquaDawg · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 21, 2009, 09:42 PM »

LMAO

Got Ice? · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 21, 2009, 10:07 PM »

Quote from: coldbum on Jan 20, 2009, 10:34 AM

I think as long as you use them in the water you catch them you are ok?

Looks like a spoonhead scuplin, they are endangered like the deepwater scuplin. Can't use them for bait or your fish tank.

News:

Author Topic: Odd Fish On Jig in Lake George (Read 4988 times)