What causes lice on fish?
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What causes lice on fish?
We had a good day ice fishing at Curlew lake last weekend catching mainly trout. It seems we may have been a little deep for the perch as we only caught one. For the most part the trout we caught were healthy beautiful fish but a few of them had lice on them. One was covered in them. It's was kind of eire looking and I got a little apprehensive even touching the fish to unhook and release it. Any ideas on what causes this to happen?
- hewesfisher
- Admiral
- Posts: 1886
- Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:20 am
- Location: Spangle, WA
Re: What causes lice on fish?
They're copepods and nothing to worry about. Usually caused from stress of changing water temperature. See it most frequently in spring, especially if water temps rise quickly.
Phil
'09 Hewescraft 20' ProV
150hp Merc Optimax
8hp Merc 4-stroke
Raymarine DS600X HD Sounder
Raymarine a78 MultiFunctionDisplay
Raymarine DownVision
Raymarine SideVision
Baystar Hydraulic Steering
Trollmaster Pro II
Traxstech Fishing System
MotorGuide 75# Thrust Wireless Bow Mount
'09 Hewescraft 20' ProV
150hp Merc Optimax
8hp Merc 4-stroke
Raymarine DS600X HD Sounder
Raymarine a78 MultiFunctionDisplay
Raymarine DownVision
Raymarine SideVision
Baystar Hydraulic Steering
Trollmaster Pro II
Traxstech Fishing System
MotorGuide 75# Thrust Wireless Bow Mount
Re: What causes lice on fish?
Thanks for the reply. They sure were ugly little critters. Kind of looked like instant rice stuck on the fish
- hewesfisher
- Admiral
- Posts: 1886
- Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:20 am
- Location: Spangle, WA
Re: What causes lice on fish?
They are ugly and although I wouldn't hesitate to retain a rainbow with a few, I would release any with a heavy infestation simply because that fish would be heavily stressed and unlikely to be good table fare.
Phil
'09 Hewescraft 20' ProV
150hp Merc Optimax
8hp Merc 4-stroke
Raymarine DS600X HD Sounder
Raymarine a78 MultiFunctionDisplay
Raymarine DownVision
Raymarine SideVision
Baystar Hydraulic Steering
Trollmaster Pro II
Traxstech Fishing System
MotorGuide 75# Thrust Wireless Bow Mount
'09 Hewescraft 20' ProV
150hp Merc Optimax
8hp Merc 4-stroke
Raymarine DS600X HD Sounder
Raymarine a78 MultiFunctionDisplay
Raymarine DownVision
Raymarine SideVision
Baystar Hydraulic Steering
Trollmaster Pro II
Traxstech Fishing System
MotorGuide 75# Thrust Wireless Bow Mount