parasites on Kokes

cptdarel · 11-21-2006, 07:49 AM

I fished Whiskeytown in Calif. in the mid of Sept. nice little 18"er, found that it had parasites on the fish, copapods?, I gave the fish to my bud, he fileted it and skinned it, said it was better than a fresh ocean salmon. how common is this in Lakes? and any other fish get them?

FallRiverGuy · 11-21-2006, 08:27 AM

I don't know how common they are in the California lakes, but as far as I know, they are only found on fish from Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus in Oregon. They are not suppose to affect the quality of the meat. As for other fish being infected I don't know.

Rick on Rogue · 11-21-2006, 03:21 PM

A lot of the rainbows in Lost Creek Lake (30 mi N/E of Medford) have the skin parasites but just brush them off and the fish eats fine!

Aufish101 · 11-21-2006, 06:44 PM

I have also seen them on the Kokanee in Odell. Not many but once in a while you'll find them by the fins.

Aufish101

Rosco · 11-21-2006, 07:05 PM

I have also seen them on rainbows in Foster Reservoir.

RODACTION · 11-22-2006, 11:06 AM

I caught a few last year at Dorena lake last year, and the fish had some type of parasite. They actually had a sign posted at the boat ramp saying that the parasite was harmless and the fish were fine to eat.

I released all of the fish, the next day I talked to a fish and game officer and he said the fish get the parasite when the water is warm, as soon as the water cools the parasites will be gone. The water temp was in the high 70's then (on the surface)

FishnMike · 11-22-2006, 11:23 AM

Cptdarel,

I live in Calif too. We see those on the trout here a lot in the foothill lakes. Kokes are more resistent to the pods then trout and the only lake I see them on the kokes regulary is Don Pedro. Usually you will only find them on the gills of the kokes.

They are only a surface parasite and don't harm the meat at all. But they are ugly.

FishnMike

Mokai · 11-22-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RODACTION

I caught a few last year at Dorena lake last year, and the fish had some type of parasite. They actually had a sign posted at the boat ramp saying that the parasite was harmless and the fish were fine to eat.

I released all of the fish, the next day I talked to a fish and game officer and he said the fish get the parasite when the water is warm, as soon as the water cools the parasites will be gone. The water temp was in the high 70's then (on the surface)

Good thing you released them..There is a bad mercury problem in the Cottage Grove area lakes..All the mining they use to do..

Dullhook · 11-22-2006, 02:28 PM

Here's some information on these critters... which may be more than you'll want to know :grin:

... which seem to be from the family of Parasitic Copepoda.

http://web.mala.bc.ca/goatert/PARASITE/PARACOP.HTM