Lamphreys in the Namekagon

On Monday I caught 2 smallies with large lampherys on them. They were very big and light colored. Bigger than any I have ever seen in the Croix. 8-10 inches in length. Above Trego dam.

I’ve heard about these guys too. Never one attached to a fish, but I’ve seen the standard lamprey wound, mostly on rough fish that have washed up dead on the banks.

I did a couple of days of volunteer stream survey work with the WI DNR a few summers ago. I was shocked to see the number of lampreys that turned up in what most would consider to be a premier trout river in Western WI. The field biologist we were working with said that lampreys are an indication of excellent water quality (temp, chemistry, chow, etc). Still a little creepy to see those little buggers come writhing out of the weeds towards your stream shocker probe!

Hey Brooktrout, are you talking about the Rush. I see alot of Lampreys in there.

Yep, the Rush has lampreys in spades!

That survey work was also my first opportunity to see a native tiger (brook x brown) trout. Caught one the year afterwards.

I live very close to the Rush. I spend a lot of time wandering down there hunting and fishing. It is a beautiful valley.