Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Author Topic: Ling Cod in the Fraser  (Read 11548 times)

Driller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 225
  • Keeping it real.
Ling Cod in the Fraser
« on: October 09, 2012, 08:12:32 PM »
Has anyone ever caught one?  I caught a small Ling Cod the other day while sturgeon fishing.  It was maybe 8" long.  I couldn't believe it.
Logged
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

Dave

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3411
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2012, 08:42:11 PM »
Years ago a buddy, Keith Temple, caught a large burbot, 6 lbs or so, at the mouth of Yale Creek while fishing chinooks.  I have also seen them angled at Stoner, near Prince George.
Logged

Bandit420

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 142
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2012, 01:21:23 PM »
Probably just a large freshwater sculpin
Logged
If you're not fishing, you're not living!

Driller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 225
  • Keeping it real.
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2012, 02:35:45 PM »
I will try to post a photo tonight.  Trouble is I've only caught a couple of Ling Cod.  I've seen sculpins before and I have some in my fly box.  I'm going all in on this one.  I think this was a freakin Ling Cod.  I studied it pretty good.  THe colours the tail the body shape, the size of the mouth.  It engulphed a chunk of Lamprey that was half the size of the body or close, and the 9-0 hook!  I was really suprised to be able to un hook it and it swam off like nothing happened.  Picture to come tonight.
Logged
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

Driller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 225
  • Keeping it real.
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2012, 06:30:15 PM »
Logged
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

troutbreath

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2908
  • I does Christy
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2012, 06:39:42 PM »
cabazon
Logged
another SLICE of dirty fish perhaps?

Driller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 225
  • Keeping it real.
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2012, 07:03:15 PM »
Nice one.  I was hoping my picture would show the pattern and colour a bit better.  It sure as hell looked like a Ling cod.  I checked out sculpin pics and bullhead.  It looked nothing like those.  Cabazon photos I see look a little more like it.
Logged
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

coldfinger

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 65
  • always thankful
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2012, 07:11:18 PM »
When pissed off , did it have horns just above the gill plate, behind the the eyes? If so, it's a BIG freakin Bullhead.
I've caught them up to 18 inches long before. And they looked just like that. Only, for sure, if it was a bullhead, it would have big nasty horns! Awesome fish and a bit of a surprise no doubt.
kool
Logged

bbronswyk2000

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3909
  • Not affilaiated with any club.....
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2012, 07:12:22 PM »
Logged


Belong to the "4 F Club"
Fishing, Football, Fitness and Family

Every Day

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2260
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2012, 07:49:19 PM »
Did it have lots of teeth? If it did that would eliminate Cabezon.
Logged

Rodney

  • Administrator
  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 14820
  • Where's my strike indicator?
    • Fishing with Rod
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #10 on: October 10, 2012, 08:54:36 PM »
There are over 750 species of sculpin on this planet. In the Fraser River itself, depending on how far upstream you are from the mouth, there are over a dozen species. All of them are commonly called bullhead. While cabezon is a sculpin species, the Fraser River is out of their range as far as I am aware of. Their typical habitat is around kelp beds. The one in the photograph, from what I can see, might be either a great sculpin or a very large prickly sculpin.
Logged

Driller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 225
  • Keeping it real.
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2012, 08:56:43 PM »
To be honest I dont remember the teeth.  I just remember the smooth skin and the long tapered tail.  At first I was " what the hell is that?". I first said it must be a sculpin, then I was thinking pike minnow, but I ruled that out right away, but then I said "it's a ling cod!". My buddy and I both caught a couple recently and I was sure that's what it was.  Looking at the picture now, it doesn't do it justice.  Ill just have to go and catch another one and take better pics.
Logged
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

StillAqua

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 489
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #12 on: October 10, 2012, 09:37:55 PM »
Rod called it...it's a sculpin (Cottus, aka bullhead).  Can't tell the species from the photo though. Lots of big ones in the lower Fraser.
Logged

Fish Assassin

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10848
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #13 on: October 10, 2012, 09:51:41 PM »
Another vote for the bullhead
Logged

blaydRnr

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1551
  • nothing like the first bite of the season
Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
« Reply #14 on: October 10, 2012, 09:59:50 PM »
definitely a juvenile cabezon which belongs to the sculpin family....great eating and common in the lower fraser. i remember catching them in campbell river and the average weight use to range anywhere from 10-20+  pounds.
Logged