Fished Kahle Lake today and caught a few nice bluegill and some perch. Three or four of the bluegill and one of the perch had white worms under the skin and in their flesh. Anyone have any idea what they are? Thanks.

 They are parasites, the small yellowish worm/grub is in the larval stage. A lot have blackish spots on their skin fins also. Some ov the strip mine ponds 'round here have it bad. Purdy sure Heron = snail = fish.

crappy

I've read reports that crappies will get the parasite also.  Read some posts from up at Black Lake in Nw York that in spread through the crappie population.  If you read some of the post from different sites that some people will eat them anyway.  Thanks but no thanks

  From what I've read from the PFBC , the worms aren't an issue if the fish is cooked properly , so it comes down to a personal decision . In many parts of the world eating bugs is the source of their protein and in many large U.S. cities , one can purchase chocolate covered ants, bees , cicadas , grasshoppers and I don't know what else . Some cultures /countries believe peanut butter is disgusting , also macaroni and cheese . No doubt there is a whole slew of foods thought to be disgusting by another culture .

If I wanted to eat worms I would get out a shovel instead of my fishing pole .

Most panfish caught in warm waters have them. The only lake I've never seen them in is Conneaut.

ORIGINAL: Frenchy

Most panfish caught in warm waters have them. The only lake I've never seen them in is Conneaut.

I was going to say this too. If you look closely on all fish, you can see the parasites, especially on Rock Bass. I don't know about this kind of parasite you're talking about, but you can eat fish as long as you filet and skin them. Examine the meat to see if there is damage done to it and throw it away if you don't like what you see.  Any doubts, throw out.

As long as you cook it, you'll be fine. There is a reason you should never make sushi from freshwater fish, though, and those parasites are it. Many would be harmless to humans if consumed but there are others that can really mess you up.

ORIGINAL: junius763

If I wanted to eat worms I would get out a shovel instead of my fishing pole .

+1
I don't eat bugs regardless of what 3rd world countries eat.

Cook very well. I saw an episode of "monsters inside me" on AP whith this same parasite. The guy ate a bass and it was under cooked and he got real sick.