Sauger with issues and a fishing report

First the fishing report: got the family out on Pepin on Saturday. Caught lots of sauger, most 12-14″ long. Got a few eaters and had a good time despite the wind and waves. Ended up anchoring to get our bearings from all the motion and started catching fish so we stayed there. Jigs and minnows mainly. Now, second, what’s up with this sauger? It was shaped this way all the time, not like it’s just having a spasm or something. Not sure what to think by my kids sure thought it was something to see! This guy hit hard and was full of life when he hit the water so it doesn’t see to be slowing him down but when he gets bigger I’m not sure how you’ll be able to accurately measure it!!

Isnt that crazy, my dad and I caught a very nice walleye just a couple days ago on lake pepin that had the same issues. From my understanding, it is mostly seen in fish that are severely affected by some type of parasite that causes what we call scoliosis. I believe the fish usually live but would assume if the parasite stresses the fish out to the max it may not make it. Just my thoughts, could be wrong.

We’ll catch one or two of those on P-4 every year.

I recognize that thumb! Nice catch brother

That needs to go into the Strange Odd and Mutant fish thread!<<<

We seem to catch a few like that every year too.

We get some of those on pool 14 . Those twisted hump backs taste the same if you can follow the spine with a knife.