Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: camtheman on July 05, 2009, 05:28:53 PM

Title: lamprey
Post by: camtheman on July 05, 2009, 05:28:53 PM

i saw a lamprey parasite thing in the vedder last wednesday
but i missed it

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: Dave on July 05, 2009, 06:02:22 PM

Could you add a bit more detail?  Size, was it attached to a fish, where, etc. ???

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: Every Day on July 05, 2009, 07:08:51 PM

Last year me and my friend came across a dead one around 18 inches long.
Scary looking buggers, lotsa rows of teeth.
Seen a few on smaller steelhead smolts over the years, around 2-3 inches long.
Im assuming they are not that common in the vedder.

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: camtheman on July 05, 2009, 08:53:27 PM

sorry
maybe 6"
just swimming in the water facing upstream but being swept downstream
landed like 5 rocks right on top of it but it still got away

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: hue-nut on July 05, 2009, 11:02:51 PM

see some huge ones on the Columbia river fish camera >:(

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: Rodney on July 05, 2009, 11:55:25 PM

Several lamprey species can be found in BC. These are native fish species, just like our pacific salmon, white sturgeon, various trout species, etc. More commonly seen lamprey species in BC are pacific lamprey, western brook lamprey and Vancouver lamprey. Lamprey are primitive jaw-less fish, much older than some of the more commonly known primitive fish like white sturgeon. Their life history consists of both parasitic and free-swimming phases. Parasitic should not be treated as a bad word. It is a life strategy that has been developed over a long period of time. Parasitic relationship with other species is also a natural selective force that shapes up the host species that you see today. Lamprey are anadromous, they spawn in rivers just like pacific salmonids. They are an inidicator of a stream's health, because they typically spawn in the smallest tributaries available where clean water is required. Urbanization and pollution are their biggest threat. They are more common than most expect in streams. If you see one, observe and appreciate it.

A couple of localized lamprey populations in BC are listed as endangered due to habitat loss, such as Morrison Creek's western brook lamprey (endangered) due to habitat loss (http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=593).

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: Riverman on July 11, 2009, 09:05:14 AM

Thank's for the enlightening info on our native lamprey Rod.I grew up on the great lakes where they have been an enormous tragic blight.Goes to show in the proper ecological balance nature keeps everything in order.Too often ignorance plays a destructive role for our  wild animals.

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: tnt on July 11, 2009, 02:03:17 PM

if you find dead ones ... throw them in a bag for me... itll be worth your while....

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: jimmywits on July 12, 2009, 09:08:53 AM

Quote from: tnt on July 11, 2009, 02:03:17 PM

if you find dead ones ... throw them in a bag for me... itll be worth your while....

how so ?

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: Rantalot on July 12, 2009, 09:46:32 AM

18$ a piece form stores thats why :o

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: canso on July 12, 2009, 11:26:32 AM

the babies are called Ditch eels, you can dig for them in the muck on the side of a river.

they are regulated under the regulations, since they are "fin fish".

which means the "hay" days are over :D

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: firstlight on July 12, 2009, 03:23:34 PM

Dont think your allowed to dig them anymore either.

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: poper on July 12, 2009, 04:47:52 PM

I was out on there Fraser and saw one get snagged in the side by a fisherman, it must of been 2feet long and had big teeth!I didn't know they would be current like that! 

Title: Re: lamprey
Post by: lude98r on July 12, 2009, 05:30:54 PM

Ive never seen one of these before anybody got a pic?