Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught

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AmericanHookers
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2013/02/18 11:46:01 (permalink)

Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught

I dont know if you guys catch these things very often, but these things are basically endangered out here on the great lakes. Got some gopro footage, let me know if any of you guys have caught these things before...
 

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    FishinGuy
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/18 12:16:31 (permalink)
    People catch them in the rivers in SW pa. But I've never caught one.
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    fishink
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/18 14:00:35 (permalink)
    Interesting catch.
     
    They are indeed rare, with the application of chemicals for lamprey control in the Great Lakes in recent years wiping them out in great numbers. They've also been harmed by silting/runoff and algae blooms.  According to some reports (like this and this group who found some with relative ease), they are starting to make a recovery. Many others claim they are continuing to disappear. I've certainly never run into any in the wild.
     
    In Appalachians and Ozarks you can run into hellbenders, which look a bit similar (without the exposed gills). I've caught several over the years. There seems to be an abundance of them in Pennsylvania's Loyalhanna Creek -- I've caught two there and saw another angler catch one too. Pennsylvania actually has one of the largest and healthiest populations.
     
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellbender
     
    They get bigger than mudpuppies, but nothing like their cousins in Japan in China that grow up to 6 feet in length.

    Indoor fishing 
    #3
    Catchabigone
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/18 18:59:21 (permalink)
    I caught one years ago night fishing in French Creek, talk about lifting one of those thing up over a bank with only the light from a lantern......creepy
    first time I ever saw one. The second one was in Tionesta Creek  

    Look to the heavens and thank God everyday that hunting is such a grand part of our lives.
    Ted Nugent



     
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    B.HINES
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/18 20:16:43 (permalink)
    Check out my profire picture. Not sure if it is a Hellbender or a Mudpuppy. I have heard people say it was both....
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    fishink
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/19 03:29:32 (permalink)
    It looks like a hellbender, but after telling me where you caught it I think it might be a mudpuppy. Hard to tell without seeing it a bit better, but the location is a good indication. Did it have visible gills?
    Mudpuppy:
     
     
    Hellbender:

     
    Mudpuppy range:

     
    Hellbender range:

     
     
    post edited by fishink - 2013/02/19 03:35:54

    Indoor fishing 
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    fish whisper
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/19 09:43:07 (permalink)
    Go to south pier at night and put a minnow on, you will catch one there is a surplus there
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    B.HINES
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/19 11:18:32 (permalink)
    It didnt have visible gills that I can recall. At least not like the one in the photo...
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    pikepredator2
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    Re:Rare Michigan Mudpuppy Caught 2013/02/22 01:58:40 (permalink)
    used to catch one or 2 of these a year when I fished north and south pier.
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